I am sure that most people who are interested in the history of the Goldfields of Western Australia will have heard the story of the two gold stealing officers were cruelly murdered and their bodies dismembered and thrown down a mine shaft just outside of town at Millers Find. A great deal has been written on this crime both at the time and since. Two men were convicted in a sensational trial in Kalgoorlie and both were sentenced to death by hanging in Fremantle Gaol.
The two men, both then married with children, were all that remained of the once six-man Kalgoorlie Gold Stealing Detection Branch squad, which was set up to curtail illegal gold trafficking in the Goldfields. Left to patrol the entire area, the two officers surprised two gold thieves at a secret gold treatment plant on April 28, 1926.
The pair shot and killed both officers and, with the help of the local publican from the Cornwall Hotel, used a carving knife and handsaw to dismember the officers’ bodies and burn their remains in a furnace.
The charred body parts were thrown down a disused mine shaft at Miller’s Find, almost 10 kilometres south-west of Kalgoorlie.
They were eventually discovered on May 12 and three local men – Phillip Treffene, William Coulter and Evan Clarke – were eventually arrested.
The publican, Evan Clarke, turned in evidence against the other two men, who were found guilty of murder and hanged.
I recently attended a memorial service on the Norton Gold Mining lease to commemorate the lives of these two men who gave their lives while in the police service. Fittingly it was held on Police Remembrance Day and as you will see an impressive memorial was erected. Members of the public are now allowed to go onto the lease to view the memorial by following the sign on the Kalgoorlie to Coolgardie Road. Norton Gold funded the entire project.
Pitman and Walsh Memorial at Millers Find.
Although a good deal has been written about Gold Stealing Detective Walsh there is not a lot written about Alexander Pitman.
He was a man who spent most of his police career in the Western Australian Goldfields. Indeed if you do a search of the name ‘Pitman’ in the WA Newspaper on TROVE you will see a great number of entries where he was the arresting officer or part of a case.
He was born in Victoria on the 2nd October 1872. He was recorded as being ft 11 inches with brown hair and eyes and he was described as ‘of ordinary appearance’. He was a married man and before joining the police force was a labourer. His first wife, Mary Atkins, died in child birth. Mary Angela Fitzgerald was his second wife, they married in Mt Sir Samuel, WA in 1901. They had three children, Frank (Francis Alexander born Lennonville 1905), Aimee E, born Boulder 1912, Peggy, (Mary Bridget born Lennonville 1904). The family lived at 73 Moran Street, Boulder in 1920 but before his death his wife and children had moved to Perth and he gave his address as the Police Station in Piesse Street, Boulder.
Gold Stealers by Brian Purdue
If you would like to read the full story I can recommend the above publication which was written by Brian Purdue, a relative of one of the officers investigating the case. It can be purchased from Hesperian Press @ www.hesperianpress.com
Walsh’s and Pitman’s funeral in Perth on 17 May 1926 was a procession watched by thousands, and attended by a large number of police officers. The memorial to the two policemen was originally of low interest, however, in the year of the states centenary it was unveiled by the Governor .
Funeral of Alexander Pitman 17.5.1926
The memorial was originally erected outside the police building in Adelaide Tce , East Perth, moved for a time to the WA Police Headquarters, and is now located in the WA Police Academy at Joondalup.
Pitman and Walsh Memorial at Joondalup Acadamy.
Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
- The Railway Arrives in Boulder – a quiet affair - 16/11/2024
- Beware of Victorians Bearing Gifts – - 16/11/2024
- A Wedding at Maybe – - 16/11/2024
Moya, I have and have read this account of the Police murders “The Gold Stealers”. A hard slog in parts but very interesting. Congrats again on your award…..you do a wonderful job. Cheers Pamela Bryant
Thank you so much Pamela
Hi Moyà, it was a sad tragedy , the Pittman and Walsh murders. My brother Steve, remembers watching a movie made about this story at school in c1977. He tracked down the movie and I believe the historical society now have a copy and I believe it is called Hand of Gold.
Hi Christine I have not heard of this film but I will see if the Historical Soc has a copy, may thanks
I have recently joined this site and find it full of interesting articles and stories.
Researching VINCENT/WOOD in WA
Rene Pezy, Kadina South Australia
Hi Rene
Thank you for your kind words, if you can send me some of your names Im happy to search my records not on line as yet!
Regards Moya
Yet another valuable contribution Moya
Hi Moya
Thanks for writing this great article. Alexander Pitman was a distant relative of mine (2nd cousin, 4 x removed). Thankfully the perpetrators of this dreadful crime got what they deserved.
Hi Moya,
Alexander Pitman was my great-aunt’s husband. He was killed the year before my Dad was born (Brian Smith, still going strong at 90, whose mother was Angela Pitman’s (nee Fitzgerald) sister: Amy Louisa Fitzgerald.
Thanks for the article, I’ve updated ancestry.com.au with some of the facts.
Regards
Michael Smith
Mosman Park WA
Just to clarify things, Mary Atkins was his first wife who died in child birth. Mary Angela Fitzgerald was his second wife.
Hi Natalie Thanks for letting me know, I have no corrected the story.
I am related to the pitman family and I would like to thank you for your research and input of this story totally amazing when you look into your family history
Hello Francis- I am also related to the Pitmans and am the great niece of Alexander Please feel free to contact me
We lived in 9 Davis Street Boulder after Dad completely refurbished it inside and out in 1947 after returning from WW2. We lived there until late 1952. Only found out many many years later from a guest speaker and man involved with writing up Pitman and Walsh story from police records that one of the culprits to their murder was living there when the murders took place.
I am trying to find out information on Evan Clarke, in particular a story that he was “promised land” near Broke Inlet in exchange for turning king’s evidence. Having recently moved near to that area we have been told of this story which a few long-time locals recall hearing about from their parents, etc. Can anyone shed any light on this, or on what happened to Clarke (I did read he was offered/given a new address and identity).
Alexander Pitman is my great great great uncle!
Hi Lydia I have been told that the photo of Alexander Pitman’s wife is the only one that has been found so far.