Evening Mail – Fremantle 23 March 1908, page 1
No one will deny that Harry Goninon Smith, who at 8 o’clock this morning paid, on the scaffold at the Fremantle Prison, the last penalty for the supreme crime in the criminal calendar, was the murderer of the man, William John Clinton at Day Dawn. No one will question that the crime was of an appallingly atrocious nature. And – if we can judge by the expression of public opinion — so far as it has been expressed — the miserable murderer met his just deserts at the grim hands of the hangman.
Never was his guilt in question: never, if the system of capital punishment is right — and there are none of us mortals capable of definitely settling that problem— was there a fitter subject for the gallows than Smith. Many hold that capital punishment forms a violation of our social system; that the carrying out of the maxim, “A life for a life,” is nothing but a barbarous custom of by-gone ages. But the law of this twentieth century says that if one man robs another of his life, then he shall die for the deed. It is the duty of the powers to be, to adhere to this law, for they are told that it is the most effective deterrent to the heinous crime of murder. So that in executing Smith, the community is satisfied that there has been an expiation of his crime. The law has had its grim revenge and it is content.
Tale of Tragedy – A Brutal Crime
Miner Murdered in his Sleep
The Last Chance Mine –
William Clinton -His Life – And Death
Eighty Feet Below
Clintons Camp – A Warning!
At Clintons Camp “Watch yourself, tonight Bill! ” The words jerked out with a curious hesitating suddenness from the youth at the door of the hessian camp, appeared to surprise the slightly older-looking man who stood inside.
“Why?” he questioned. ” I don’t think you’ll be safe here tonight,” was the reply. William John Clinton, a blacksmith’s striker on the Great Fingall mine at Day Dawn, stretched his brawny arms, and chuckled amusedly, “Goodnight Jim,” he called; “don’t forget you’re always welcome.” Strong words had echoed round the shanty a short hour before, the subject of conversation being a woman. But all was quiet now, as three men prepared for rest.
A long retort—a long, low groan, twice repeated. George Bloomer starts up from his sleep. He had been dreaming badly, and now smells powder, A sound of heavy short breathing from the next room draws nearer. A man’s figure enters, and the erstwhile sleeper hears a hoarse mutter,
“I’ve settled him, Shot him in the back of the head.”
Darkness, only slightly relieved by the far-off glimmer of myriad stars. Dogs barking dolefully in the distance. Several figures moving around the old abandoned workings on the Last Chance Lease. Horror abroad on the dark air. A long, low whistle sounds from Clinton’s camp, and a heavily laden figure staggers across the intervening space. His breath comes in unequal gasps, and suddenly he relinquishes his load, which falls to the earth inertly.
Clinton’s Camp with the Last Chance Shaft in the distance. The dotted line shows the blood trail.
Corpse Carrier at the Last Chance Lease
A moment later, and a strength born of demons seems to animate this toiling shape. He is dragging his burden now, and as the approach to the workings is neared, the starlight seems to deepen. The rays strike directly upon a face, fast set in death—on glazing eyes and stiffened limbs, on matted hair, clotted with lifeblood. Next instant a murderer’s muscles are strained for a supreme effort, and a mangled corpse hurtles through the air, to fall with a thud—eighty feet below.
The Great Fingall Sunday Shift:
Sunday morning, Jan 5, and the sun swinging high above the Great Fingall Mine. The early shift is going off duty, and casual inquiry is being made for an absentee. Has anyone seen Bill Clinton? Yes, several saw him last night! Sober? One said Bill had gone to Cuddingwarra “Oh, Well, he’s lost his shift, anyhow!” The big cages glide down from the shaft head, and the bustle of another day continues.
Blood Specked Tracks – Suspicion Aroused
Twenty-four hours later, and a man named Baker, whose camp adjoins that of Clinton, tells of sundry curious tracks he has seen leading to the old workings on the Last Chance Lease. He also spoke of bloodstains, and before long was a leading party to the spot indicated. Yes! the tracks are certainly very distinct. It looks as though two persons had dragged some heavy burden along just here, and flung it down.
He called for somebody to go for the police, and who’s got the longest rope handy. Willing volunteers were at hand to descend to the depths, and there, half-buried in mullock, the skull smashed in, and an upward bullet wound in the throat, is discovered the corpse of William Clinton, the man who had missed his shift. Above, in the sunlight, curious groups gathered and bent over the blood-specked trail.
William John Clinton – The Victim – 26yrs old
Triple Arrest – The Murder Charges
With appalling speed, the dread word is hurtled around the district, and the excitement increases tenfold when it becomes known that men have been placed under arrest in connection with the direful happening. Messages hum over the wires to distant cities.
Inquest Opens – Statements Made
An inquest is opened in due course on the lifeless body, which is then mercifully laid to rest in the Cue Cemetery. Then it noised abroad that two of the men, in custody, have signed long statements in connection with the tragedy, and so passes thirteen days.
A Gastly Story – The Dolly Bar
The morning of January 20, and though a large crowd lingers outside the police station at Cue, it is far outnumbered by the eager assemblage which fills the public portion and blocks the windows of the Courthouse, where presently the circumstances under which William Clinton met his death are to be unfolded.
Suddenly, there is a rattle of locks and a jingle of keys as a heavy door swings wide, and three men, handcuffed together, emerge into the daylight. One, short, thick-set, with bushy eyebrows, and a heavy dark mustache, darts quick glances around from small, beady eyes. His name is ‘Harry Goninon Smith’. The lad next to him, who appears ill at ease, and walks with jerky, ill-judged strides is named George Bloomer, while the third man, who is also young and wears an air of nonchalance, strangely unsuited to the present grim occasion is known as James Potter.
The Accused
The three men are placed in the dock and charged with having been concerned in the doing to death of William Clinton. Mr. P. Troy, R.M., is on the bench, and the Jurymen comprise Messrs. E. H. Threadgold, E. A. Bock, and A. T. Threadgold. Sub Inspector Mitchell, an officer in charge of the Cue district, calls the first witness: -Thomas Whitney, architect of Cue, who testifies to having made a plan of certain premises near Day Dawn, also of some mining shafts, Yes, the measurements were mathematically correct. He had been told that the house belonged to a miner named William John Clinton He certainly noticed a trail leading from the house to one of the shafts, the one they call the Last Chance.
Medical Testimony:
Dr, Saunders, Acting Resident Medical Officer at Day Dawn and Cue had made a post mortem examination of a corpse brought to him on the morning of January 7. He found a bullet wound on the right side of the neck, tending upwards to the skull, which was shattered into fragments. It was his opinion that Clinton’s face must have been averted when the shot was fired. Could it be suicide? No!
‘Yes a bullet from a rifle could have made the wound.” he said, “could the wound be made by a ‘Dolly Bar’ No he did not think the wound could be caused by this. However, a fall of over 80ft down a mine shaft could have done it also.”
Evidence of Arrest
Constable Trotman remembers at 7 p.m. on Jan 6th, he was then in the police station when the accused, Potter, entered saying “Give me a drink of brandy. I want to make a statement.” Told him that he had no brandy, and another man named Bloomer entered, arrested both on suspicion of being concerned in a murder. Constable Richardson tells of having also arrested the accused Smith, charging him similarly.
Widow Clinton’s Evidence
Mrs Lavinia Esther Clinton
Call Lavinia Esther Clinton! A slight, good-looking woman, neatly attired in black, swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, so help her God. Yes, He was her husband since five years ago, at Fremantle. She has two children, both girls. She came from Perth to Day Dawn to join him in October 1907. He was working a show with a man named Smith who was staying at their place. He had written to her and she to him, he had sent kisses, but to her baby girl.
She started to weep and says that she first heard that her husband had met with an accident, then that he was dead. Witness remarks that her husband had an ungovernable temper, and had threatened to “do for her.” He has also been drunk several times. and cursed and sworn on occasions. Several times she threatened to leave him.
Interior of Clinton’s Bedroom – The Scene of the Crime
Potter’s letter to Mrs Clinton
The following letter is read:— Day Dawn, January 6, 1908. Dear Lillie,— I’m writing to let you know l arrived safe, but I wish had not come because the show is played out, and. there’s, not much chance of getting work, and l have no money to buy tucker.
I had a great row with Bill. I was up there till Sunday morning about 1 o’clock and when he came to shake hands with me I asked him if he had the neck to speak to me, after the way he treated you. He asked me what right had to say anything. I said I had more dammed right than he had, and he said “You dammed well keep her then.” I said I will if you leave her. He then started on Harry, he wanted to fight the three of us.
We were rowing about an hour, and then I left, and he has been missing ever since from Day Dawn. I am sorry I came to this damned place, if I had my fare I would leave tomorrow. I would never have come here if I thought I was not going to get on. George is not working yet. They got me playing the mouth organ and singing. The remainder of. the letter has nothing to do with the case, and is not read to the court.
Their Statements Read
Police Constable Lackitt deposes to having read statements from the accused men, James Potter and George Bloomer. These documents, wealthy in repulsive detail, sickening in their cold-blooded callousness, are read to the jury, and the public listens and shudders. Another pathetic letter from Mrs Clinton to her mother-in-law was then read out to the court.
Evidence on Oath, Attacked with Hammer – Self Defence
There is a rustle of excitement as Harry Gonin Smith elects to give evidence on his own behalf. He tells the court that the dead man rushed him with a hammer and that he shot him in self-defense. The deed was done a little before 5 o’clock on Sunday morning.
The Summing Up
The Coroner tells the jury that it is their duty to find (1) The identity of the deceased (2) The place and time of death (3) The immediate cause of death; Whether the death was accidental or intentional on the part of the deceased or others.
Mr R S Haynes K.C Counsel for Smith
The Verdict
An hour later, the jury brings in the following verdict: “We find that the deceased, William John Clinton came to his death while lying on his bed, at his residence, at Day Dawn, on January 5, 1908. Between the hour of 2 and 5 a.m. by a bullet wound wilfully inflicted by one Henry Goninon Smith, and that the other two prisoners arrested on suspicion, James Potter, and George Christopher Bloomer, were not accessories before the fact. On the advice, of the Coroner the verdict is made to read: –
That deceased was wilfully murdered by Harry Goninon Smith, on January 5, 1908, whilst lying in his bed, between the hours of 2 and 5 a.m.. by a bullet wound inflicted by Harry Goninon Smith.
The Geraldton Trial:
The morning of March 3 and unwonted bustle in Geraldton Circuit Court. The Day Dawn murder trial is to be commenced. The Attorney-General appeared to prosecute, Mr. R S Haynes is to defend Harry Smith, while the two lads, Potter and Bloomer, are charged with being accessories after the fact.
The central figure of the trio, behind the grim dock railings, sits in a dejected posture, his whole attitude betokening an increasing collapse of the nerve forces which have proved all too inadequate for this hell of his own creation, Several times, he has given, vent to inarticulate exclamations.
Gallows or Lunatic Asylum ???
After all, the evidence has been given His Honor, lengthily, and with grave precision, addresses the jury. Having exhaustively reviewed the testimony tendered during the trial, he remarks, “the principal point which you have to decide, is whether the prisoner is a fit subject for the gallows or a lunatic asylum.”
Suspense! Silence aloft among the audience. A door opens and shuts noisily. A hurried up-rising and a flash of scarlet and ermine. ‘Silence in the Court, bring them up,” orders the Court sergeant. The three men are at the dock railing. The youths look pale but devil-may-care; the man Smith, wasted and wan, with eyes which burn like coals of fire, and he beats a tattoo with his clubbed fingers on the platform before him.
“Gentlemen, You have agreed upon your verdict ?” “We have!” “And how say you. Are the prisoners at the bar guilty or not guilty?” “We find all three guilty, and recommend Potter, and Bloomer to mercy.” “And that is the verdict of you all ?” “Yes”. The youths glance round, with ill-disguised braggadocio, but the other man is in a condition of pitiable collapse.
The Black Cap
The Justice states, after donning his black cap ‘You are to be taken from thence to a place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck until you are dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.” Smith swoons away and is carried below. Potter and Bloomer, having received six months apiece, hop jauntily out of the dock.
After the sentence Bill makes a written plea to Henry Clinton, the father of the deceased, pleading innocence. Henry replies to say that he forgives him, but he must make a clean confession of it all. While awaiting execution an application to have Smith declared insane was made and presented to the Governor-in-council, but was refused.
The Confession:
Smith was hung on Monday 23rd of March 1908 at 8am. After the execution, the Rev Thomas submitted the following confession made to him by Smith to the Sherrif. That he, Smith, had shot Clinton while he lay in his bed, Clinton never spoke to him.
Convict Records – Reginald Woodman – Clerk fo Arraigns – Ref Ancestry.com
So what became of the three remaining people in this sad tale and was it indeed a crime of passion, what do you think ???
Esther Lavinia Clinton remarried David H Cole in Perth 1911. She died in 1918 in Northam WA.
George Christopher Bloomer later married Mabel Redfern in Perth in 1916, he died in Perth in 1962.
James George Potter married Mary Delakony in Albany also in 1916, he died there the following year.
Moya Sharp
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Great stories about our past! keep them coming.