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An important collection of Family Documents relating to the…
Sale Title:
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Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
5-Dec-2014
Lot No.
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Description:
An important collection of Family Documents relating to the Colin Ross 'Gun Alley' Murder case, comprising an archive of letters largely written by members of Colin Ross' family prior to his arrest up to shortly after his execution, including in chronological order: 1. A letter dated January 9 1922 from Lizzie, Ross' mother, to Lillie, Lizzie's first cousin, three days before Ross's arrest discussing the investigation and hoping 'The detectives will be able to get at the murderer soon.', 2pp. 2. Two handwritten notes by Lillie, believed to have been written during the trial. 3. A letter of sympathy from an unknown hand to Mrs Ross dated 15 January, 1922, 1p. 4. A letter written from Lillie to Colin in gaol during the trial, not dated but probably late February, 1922, discussing the celebration planned for when he is acquitted. 5. A letter of sympathy from a woman named Ada to Lillie, not dated but believed to have been written shortly after Ross was convicted on 24 February, 1922, 1p. 6. A letter from Lizzie to Lillie discussing an appeal against Colin's conviction, not dated but believed to be early March, 1922, 1p. 7. A draft 'An Appeal to Your Sense of Fairness', possibly intended as a newspaper advertisement, 1p. 8. A letter written by Lizzie to Archbishop Lees seeking support, not dated, though written by Lizzie and signed 'His heartbroken mother Elizabeth Ross' the style of the letter indicates that it was composed by her cousin Lillie, 5pp. 9. A letter written from Lillie to Ross on the eve of his execution, not dated, but presumed to be 22 April, 1922, 2pp. 10. A series of poems written by Lillie relating to the agony caused by Colin's execution, 1p. 11. A letter from Lizzie to Lillie, c. May, 1922, written in the aftermath of Ross's death. 12. A letter of support written to Lizzie after Ross' death by a man named Fred Cahill from Newcastle, West Perth, 3pp. A complete transcript of the content of all the leters is available for inspection. These letters graphically portray the unbearable pain and anguish that Ross's family were experiencing, culminating in the realisation that their loved one would be executed for a crime that he had not committed. Colin Ross was tried and convicted for the murder of Melbourne schoolgirl Alma Tirtschke. The 'Gun Alley Murder', as it became known caused widespread panic amongst the public and as a result the Melbourne Police Force were under immense press to make an early arrest. Despite flawed evidence, Colin Ross was arrested and convicted, largely based on forensic evidence linking Ross to the crime. However, the case was re-opened in the 1990s when the prosecution's case was found to be flawed and forensic tests conducted at the time proved inaccurate. Based on this new evidence in 2008 Attorney General Rob Hull announced that a miscarriage of justice had occcurred and Colin Ross was granted a posthumous pardon. This was the first pardon ever granted to a judicially executed person in Australia. Literature: Morgan, Kevin: gun Alley, Murder, Lies and Failure of Justice, Simon & Schuster, 2005. The Saturday Age, 17 June, 2006, p.9.
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified