Blake the Bold – a ripping yarn

In the town of Mt Magnet, one of the local public figures, a police constable, became very unpopular due to his making a point of closing the Grand Hotel at night whilst allowing the Royal Mail Hotel to keep trading.  This situation came to a head when he arrested a man for swearing in the Grand Hotel and held him without bail.

Hepburn Street, Mount Magnet

The following ditty was to appear in the local paper:-

I’m Blake the bold
and I’ll have you told
I’m here on dooty bint
to stop your quarrels
and mind your morals
by act of Parlimint.

Tennis and ball
I won’t have at all
and cards ye cannot play
and ye’ll not pitch a wicket
or av a game of cricket
on the lowley sabbath day

I’m a dandy cop
when I’m on the hop
The drunks and larrikins flee
or I’ll chain them tight
both day and night
to a Government Mulga tree.

Shortly after this he was transferred to Cue.

Mt Magnet Police Station

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My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

Comments

  1. James Parker says

    Great little story Moya, especially having worked at both Cue and Magnet. I don’t think I’ve seen that old pic of the station. A new one was built in 1979 then replaced again in 2012.

  2. Steven Balcombe says

    A good story Moya. As a former police officer I had a laugh, and wondered if the publican of the Royal Mail was a former detective I once knew! But my friend had the Royal Mail in Meekatharra!

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