The Murder of Michael Naughton –

A MURCHISON MYSTERY UNRAVELED
BY INSPECTOR MANN

By the time Inspector Mann was 10 years, in the C.I.D. he was recognised as one of the ablest detectives in Australia. His only rival In WA was the late Detective Sergeant Kavanagh, but he was in charge of the Eastern Goldfields branch of the service and had big work there with gold stealers and boss criminals who occasionally under the pressure of pursuit in Perth, slipped away to Kalgoorlie. Detective Mann, however, had a harder field and was sent to all parts of the State where a major crime demanded special handling.

Detective Harry Mann

One of the most intricate cases in sound training and keen judgment was the murder of Michael Naughton, an old man of 70 years, at Cue on June 10, 1906. This will be realised by telling the story of the crime and its elucidation. It. was about a quarter past seven o’clock in the evening of the day noted that a miner named James Walker rushed into the Police Station at Cue and reported that he had heard an altercation in the direction of Michael Naughton’s camp situated some 150 yards from Walker’s and that the only voice distinguishable was that of Naughton saying,

“I didn’t, so help me God, I didn’t”

which was followed by four revolver shots in rapid succession, a groan and then silence. The police hurried out with Walker and found the poor old fellow, a dryblower, lying dead in his camp with bullet wounds in his head and mouth.

Owing to the night being very dark, search for tracks was impossible, but with the aid of a hurricane lamp, various camps were visited and among them was the camp of a miner named Ahaz Wren, about 300 yards away. Wren kept the police waiting 20 minutes before admitting them. Sargeant Simpson then searched for firearms without success but noticed that Wren’s clothing had been recently hanged and that his boots, now off his feet were still warm. Another strange thing was that Wren had on under his shirt a sort of primitive coat of mail. This consisted of hard leather and iron shield protecting his back, also a cap lined with metal. He explained that these were only a precaution as he had once been fired upon. So far no incriminating facts had been discovered and it was evident that expert investigation was necessary.

The Accused – Ahaz Wren

Detective Sampson was dispatched to the scene but found that owing to the lack of foresight all tracks around Naughton’s camp had been obliterated by the public rushing to assuage their morbid curiosity Detective Sampson soon realised the difficulties of the case and wired for Detective Mann to be sent up. The latter was at once dispatched and took up the running. Suspicion still rested on Wren and he was arrested on a charge, of lunacy. It was learned that he was on friendly terms with the dead man until two months previously when there was an estrangement. Further, it was found that Wren possessed a firearm and that the only tracks that could be picked up led from Naughton’s camp to Wren’s.

Moreover, bloodstains were found on the clothes that Wren wore on the night of the murder, but Wren explained that these were caused by the cleaning of a sheep’s heart purchased from a butcher. Certainly, this looked as if the scent was getting hot. Still, on the clothes being tested by the Government Analyst, that expert expressed the opinion that the stains on the suspect’s clothing were more consistent with sheep’s blood than human blood, and further that a minute fragment of tissue which had been attached appeared to lie identical on comparison with a sheep’s lung. He would not say that It did not come from a human lung, but the circumstances pointed otherwise. The report had a dissuasive effect on the detectives, who turned their attention in other directions. Two or three men had just about then departed from the district mysteriously. One, a miner of many years residence at Cue, had left for England a day or two after the murder and as his destination was known to be England, he was intercepted at Albany, but soon established his probity to the satisfaction of the authorities. Other coincident disappearances had to be sifted and the suspect’s movements scrutinised but with only negative results. Wren had been released after the analyst’s report, but he was still kept under view. A trustworthy man was enlisted to watch him.

Detectives Mann and Sampson search Wren’s camp where the revolver was found.

One day this sentinel informed the detectives that he had visited Wren’s camp when the latter was washing gold in a dish and that he noticed a small patch that did not look like alluvial gold but appeared to be a fragment of a ring. Now, a ring bearing the Initials M N had disappeared from Naughton’s camp. The new information was important, but the problem before the detectives was whether Wren should be rushed as it were, or allowed more rope. After careful cogitation, Detective Mann decided it would be precipitate to make any decisive move. Wren’s camp had already been overhauled while he was in detention and nothing incriminating had been found, and it was realised that although peculiar in his actions, he was extremely cunning.

It was therefore decided to sit down and wait for ‘Brer Fox’ to come out of his hole. The banks were instructed to preserve all gold that Wren presented for sale, and meanwhile, the Government offered a reward of £200 for any evidence leading to the detection of the criminal who had killed Naughton. Wires were despatched in many directions as a result of information submitted by persons who were incited by the reward, but except for vague suspicions, nothing substantial was elicited. Some months had elapsed, but the detective never relaxed the pursuit, and the policy of waiting was at last rewarded. On October 3rd, one of the banks reported that Wren had brought in some gold amongst which were several fragments of a ring. That was the climax long looked for and Detective Mann at once went out and arrested Wren who made a clean breast of it and admitted that he had killed Naughton. But a confession has to be corroborated by other evidence and Detective Mann with the help of a Jeweller was able to place together the complete ring with the deadly initials and he clinched the case.

Wren, of course, was found guilty, but owing to his mental peculiarities he was committed to the Asylum for Insane during Mis Majesty’s pleasure. It must be remembered that from the day of the murder to the final mistake of the murderer was over four months, and the detective had to work against adverse conditions owing to the report of the analyst and the failure to find any firearms or incriminating facts against Wren. There was strong suspicion, but nothing sufficiently strong to support it. The case called the highest qualities of investigation, such as perception, patience and intuition, and it was a triumph for the detective, who exhibited the soundest judgment in what might be called detective tactics.

Footnote: Ahaz Wren served the remainder of his life in the Asylum and died aged 54 on the 9th of January 1933 and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.