The Famous Narromine

Mystery

By
EDWARD GREEN

*

One of the Most Remarkable Cases in the Annals of Australian Criminal
History Is Given to Our Readers in the Following Narrative—A Story of Murder
and Missing Men—Police Travel 5000 Miles for Clues—Circumstantial Evidence

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FROM THAT sorely pressed land, Aus-
tralia, comes one of the most astounding
stories of criminal activity ever known. It
is a sordid story of greed and murder and
ordinarily would have no place in the pages
of THE SHOULDER STRAP were it not for
the fact that here is a record of investigation
covering thousands of miles and ending
in a conviction on circumstantial evidence
thus ending forever, in Australia at least,
the myth that a man cannot be convicted
of a capital offense on circumstantial evi-
dence alone.

The principal in this remarkable case was
1 man named Moss, alias Stirling, alias
Clancie, alias Brown, alias Hill, alias Bark-
er, alias Clarke, who gave his age as being
61. It was later revealed that from the age
of 17, or a period of 44° years, Moss had
been more or less a thorn in the side of the
police of New South Wales. Cunning as
a fox, he had flouted the law on every oc-
casion until he at last reached the inevitable
point where he found himself gazing up
at the rope that the law had looped around
his neck. Even then he displayed little re-
morse for his series of diabolical murders.

A CRIMINAL’S CAREER

There is no way of telling when Moss’
career of murder really started. As far
back as his criminal record extended there
were reports of missing men, but none of
these were traced to him. Our story ha3
its start on the 13th of December, 1938,
when a bush worker and plaiter of leather
goods, one William Henry Bartley, camped
at a billibong situated on the banks of a
river near Narromine. He had a bicycle
and a large amount of skilfully plaited
leather goods in his possession. He also had
some personal property.

Just across the river was an old age pe.
sioner named Neville. The old man saw
Moss and Bartley meet. He was somewhat
surprised, as Moss had his camp just a short
distance away from his, Neville’s, on the
same side of the river. He watched the
couple as they sat under a coolibar tree and
seemed to be discussing certain subjects.
Neville thought nothing more of it when
the pair moved away. That was the last
time Bartley was seen alive.

On December 17, Moss went to Narro-

SUMMER EDITION

Alone Brought Death Penalty.

mine. He was in possession of Bartley’s
leather goods and his bicycle. Neville saw
him selling the leather goods.

“Where is Bartley?” Neville asked.

“Oh, he had to go away for a short time.
He asked me to sell this stuff for him,” Moss
replied easily.

If Neville thought this strange he said
nothing about it, but accepted Moss’ ex-
planation without further question. Others
too asked Moss where Bartley was. To all
he gave the same reply.

On December 17, the same day that Nev-
ille had talked to him, Moss was arrested in
Narromine and charged with being drunk
in a public place. He was dealt with by
the court for this offense. No mention was
made of Bartley at this time.

Moss was fairly quiet for a day or two,
but on the 21st of December he returned
to Mack’s Reserve. Here he met a man
named Timothy O'Shea, a bush worker and

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prospector. Neville saw the two men to-
gether.

Neville began to wonder about Moss.
Why did the man take so easily to stran-
gers? It was odd, Neville thought, that
Moss never made up with anyone who
was penniless. He always could be found
with someone who had valuables of some
sort in their possession.

Neville was more surprised than ever
when he saw Moss in possession of O’Shea’s
property, which consisted of two horses, a
sulky, and other personal items. O’Shea
was not to be seen.

Moss was in high spirits. He remarked
to Neville that he had been very lucky in
coming into possession of the horses and
other things.

“O’Shea won third prize in the State
Lottery,” he explained. “He went to Syd-
ney to claim it. He gave me these things.”

Neville was puzzled. How did it happen

“The Pause that Refreshes’—Hair Trigger Lake, Forbidden Plateau, B.C.

—Photo by B. C.

Government Bureau, submitted by Const. W. H. Davidson.

Page Fifty-seven

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