Where Was Smithfield? – ghost town

SUICIDE AT SMITHFIELD
(My Own Dear Boy)

Last Saturday week a miner, Thomas McKileen (MacKileen), living alone in a tent at Smithfield, committed suicide by blowing his brains out. At an inquest held on Monday afternoon before the acting Coroner, Mr E O Butler, J.P. it was elicited that on Friday he received a letter from a woman resident in Kalgoorlie stating that she would be out to stay with the deceased on Monday morning. He afterwards became very despondent. On Saturday night at about 11.15, he put a charge of dynamite in his mouth and exploded it. His head was blown to pieces A verdict that the deceased committed suicide was returned.

While updating the records for the Broad Arrow Cemetery I came across this sad story. Who knows what happened between Thomas and Aggie! Were they married as she says? If he had waited another day, would all have been well between them? Who knows !!!

The following undated letter, addressed from Kalgoorlie, was found among hiss effects:

“MY OWN DEAR BOY”

I know you will not expect a letter so soon, but don’t be angry. I must write, I can’t help it. Oh, Tom, if you only knew the hungry pain in my heart for you, for my boy, my husband, you would relent and forget everything. Pity your little girl whose heart is broken and let me come to you, and take my lawful place, Tom. For God Almighty’s sake, lend a pitying ear. Take me to yourself. You are my only love, my one true love. Think of all the years that lie before us; think of the lonely life for both of us. I was looking forward to having my own home with my boy. I never remember having a home From the time I was seven I have always lived with strangers. You shall never be sorry. I will never give you cause to repent. Only take me and I will be your slave for life.

Get a tent bit larger and let me come. What does it matter what people think or say? For the love of heaven forget the events of the last week and let things be as they were before. I shall never be able to get another place. I am told here I don’t look strong enough for service. I can never look any different with a broken heart.

Darling Tom, my only love, let me come back to you.

Write and tell me what to do. Don t let your little girl go to the dogs. I shall never have heart enough to make a fresh start. Don’t be angry with me for writing, remember it is all for the love of you. I don’t know how long I shall stay here, but shall probably stay till next week. I will send my photo as soon as they are finished darling, give me one of yours, I picked up your scarf-pin in the bedroom this morning and you also dropped that gold stud, which I shall wear until I see you. I have nothing else of yours, darling. Don’t read this letter and throw it on one side, Tom, but think of the one who is pleading so earnestly with you, pleading for her life, for it is my life I am pleading for. Send a letter to your broken-hearted little wife, AGGIE.”  ♥

Thomas is buried in the Broad Arrow Cemetery.