Catherine Jane Johns

1871 Catherine Jane Johns Born 18 Feb 1871 at Garden Gully, daughter of James Henry Johns & Jane nee Stephens. Birth registered by stepgrandmother Elizabeth Johns [nee Tresize formerly Williams & Oliver]

1890 30th August 1890 at the Wesleyan Parsonage, Catherine "Jane" Johns, spinster born at Long Gully, Home Duties, residing at Long Gully, age 19, daughter of James Henry Johns and Jane [Stevens] married by licence to Henry Smithiam, Bachelor, born Long Gully, Blacksmith, aged 24, of Long Gully, son of James Smithiam and Jane [Stevens]. Strange coincidence that the mothers had the same name! Both bride and groom signed & the witnesses were James Henry Johns and Joseph Charles Enn??

1891 16th Feb daughter Hilda May Smithiam born

1892 3 Nov 1892 daughter Alice Vera Smithiam born

1895 son James Henry Smithiam born

1898 21 April 1898 son James Henry Smithiam died

1898 May 1898 daughter Ada Lilliam Smithiam born

1899 25 April daughter Ada Lilliam Smithiam died.

1900 23 July 1900 premature birth of stillborn twins.

1900 Bendigo Advertiser 20 August 1900 Birth-a Pitiable Case On Saturday Constable Sullivan received the information to the effect that the wife of Henry Smithiam, a blacksmith, residing in Short street, had given birth to twins, which had both been disposed of in a surreptitious manner. He submitted a report on the matter to Superintendant Mahony, who instructed Detective Wilson to make a thorough investigation into the affair. Accordingly yesterday morning the detective, accompanied by plainclothes constable Taylor, visited Smithiam's residence, and interrogated both the husband and wife. They admitted that on Monday 23rd July Mrs Smithiam was prematurely confined of twins, a doctor not being in attendence on her. Smithiam was away from home at the time looking for work, amnd on his return was informed of the occurence. He stated that he had been out of employment for some time, and that he was under the impression that as the bodies were not fully developed there was no necessity to register the birth or bury them in the cemetery. Therefore on the following Thursday he took the remains, which were wrapped in an old shirt, out into the bush and dropped the parcel down an abandoned on the Great Southern Extended [English] Co's lease. He accompanied the police to the locality and pointed out to them the shaft, which is about 50 foot deep. In the afternoon Wilson and Taylor with Constables Sullivan and Allen drove out to the location in a furniture van, Smithiam being also with them. They obtained the loan of a windlass from Mr. Cox, the manager of the company and placed it temporarily in position over the shaft. The sight of members of the force driving into the bush in a van naturally attracted attention and before they had been long at work quite a crowd had gathered round, the supressed excitement that prvailed had been intensified by the fact that the police did not bother to answer the numerous questions that the onlookers, prompted by morbid curiosity plied them with. Eventually the windlass was placed in position and with the assistance of a couple of miners the rope was properly adjusted on the barrel. Sullivan who had some experience of mining made a bowline knot at the end of the rope and was then lowered down the shaft. Hisw experience was a rather unpleasant one as he found the carcass of a dog in an advanced stage of decomposition and that accounted for the bad stench that had been noted by the workers while rigging up the windlass. However, he soon found the parcel which he was in search of, and without delay was hauled to the surface. The remains had been placed in a bag by the constable while still in the shaft and as the crowd was unable to see anything, they soon dispersed. The windlass was taken down and returned to the mine, and the party drove back to the city watchhouse, where a charge of concealment of a birth was entered against Smithiam. The accused who seemed to feel his position keenly, made a full confession of the facts of the case as given above, which was reduced to writing and signed by him. He was shortly afterwards liberated on bail by Mr. W. Webb, J.P. and in surity of 25 pounds and on his own recognisance of a similar amount, to appear at the Police Courts today. Bendigo Independent account adds..Mrs Jane Smithiam, a woman in poor circumstances, residing in a lane off Short St, at the rear of the Forest Street Wesleyan Church had given birth to twins....added that their family doctor had informed them on a former occasion that there was no need to register the birth of a stillborn child....two neighbours, Mrs Barkley & Mrs. Laity who stated that they were called in immediately after the birth of the infants and found them stillborn...

1900 23 Aug 1900 The Bendigo Independent ...they were seen by Dr. Cook who was of the opinion that they [male] had never had a seperate existence appart from the mother....they were not fully developed and could not have been born alive....the bench agreed and the case was dismissed.

1902 Bendigo Advertiser Sat 1 Nov Messrs Geo Louden and R.B. Thom, J.P.'s attended the Police Court yesterday. John Evans, a resident of Panton Street, proceeding against Jane Smithiam, for using threatening language to him on a recent date. The complainant stated that his fowls were continually finding their way into the yard of the defendant, he had occasion to drive them out, and upon the woman seeing him there, she ordered him out and threatened to "break his head in" if he refused. Mr. Smalley, who was appearing for the defendant stated that the case was merely the old story of a neighbours quarrel. The defendant had been harassed for some time with the fowls of the complainant, and upon her sending him out of the yard he took revengeful action by insituting proceedings. The bench dismissed the case.

1903 son Henry Smithiam born

1903 1 Dec James Henry Johns Died Intestate. 160 pounds was granted to his widow Jane. Children listed are; Alice Johns, Ethel Florence Jeffrey, Rose Eleanor Johns & Jessie Johns all of Bolt St, Long Gully Mary Johns of Kalgoorlie, WA John Bolitho Johns 159 Charles St, Perth, WA Jane Smithiam at Eaglehawk, Vic

1909 Electoral Roll for 1909 lists Henry Smithiam, Blacksmith & Jane Smithiam at California Gully, Eaglehawk

1912 December 21 1912 Alice Vera Smithiam married to Cyril William Hannan.

1913 5th September 1913 78 Buckley St, Long Gully died Jane Smithiam wife of a Blacksmith, female, 42 years, of Lysol Poisoning, self administerd-verdict at Inquest. Parents James Johns, Miner & Jane Johns formerly Stephens. Buried 7th September 1913 at Bendigo Cemetery. Born at Long Gully, Victoria, 42 years in Victoria. Married at Long Gully, Victoria when aged 19 years to Henry Smithian. Husband living. Issue: Hilda May 22 years, Vera Alice 20 years & Henry 9 years.

Section MON N7, grave 22115

1913 8th September Inquest into the death of Jane Smithiam. Proceedings Before Coroners Inquisition without a jury An Inquisition for our Sovereign Lord King George taken at Long Gully, Victoria, the sixth day of September A.D. 1913, in the year of the Reign of our said Lord the KIng, before me Ambrose Dunstan, Gentleman, a Deputy Coroner of our Lord King for Victoria, upon the view of the body of Jane Smithiam then and there lying dead. Having duly inquired upon the part of our Lord King when, where, how, and by what meansthe said Jane Smithian came by her death, I say that the said Jane Smithiam died at Long Gully on the fifth day of September 1913 from Lysol Poisoning, self administed. In witness whereof I the aforesaid Coroner have to this Inquisition put my hand and seal on the day and year at the place above mentioned. A Dunstan, Deputy Coroner.

Coroner's Inquest This Deponent Hugh Leonard Olive on his oath saith, I am a Constable of Police residing at 84 Rae Street Long Gully About 9:20 pm yesterday the husband of deceased met me and said "I want you to come over to my house". I said "What is the matter" he replied "There is a woman dead over there". I said "Who is it" he replied "it is my wife". I said "what happened to her" he replied "I don't know, I came home from work this afternoon and found her sitting drunk in the yard, I took her into the kitchen and put her on the floor with a pillow under head, I then went up to Brentons Hotel and had a couple of drinks and came back and had some tea. my wife was still on the floor and was breathing. I then went into Bendigo with my little boy and returned shortly before 9 pm. I lit a candle and saw my wife lying still in the same position. I felt her leg which was bare and it was cold. I then lifted her head and found that she was dead. I then went and saw some neighbours and came down for you. In company with Senior Constable McKenzie I went back to the house and saw the deceased. She was laying face downwards on a pillow and appeared to have smothered. She was cold and stiff. H.L. Olive, Constable Taken and sworn before me, the 6th day of September 1913 at Long Gully, A. Dunstan, Deputy Coroner.

Coroners Inquest This Deponent Albert Ernest Frost on his oath I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Golden Square, Bendigo I have this day made a post mortem examination of the body of Jane Smithiam. I was not able to find any bruising or traces of external violence. The body was well nourised. The organs were all very fatty. The stomach contained about two pints of a white coloured fluid which smelled very strongly of carbolic acid and beer. The walls of the stomach showed marked evidence of an irritant poison. In my opinion, death was due to Lysol Poisoning. A. E. Frost Taken and sworn before me the 6th day of September 1913 at Long Gully. A. Dunstan, Deputy Coroner.

Coroners Inquest This Deponent Ellen Brenton on her oath saith, I am a wife of a Licenced Victualler residing at the Garden Gully Rest Hotel, Be?? tt St, Bendigo. I knew Mrs. Jane Smithian well. She came to the Hotel about half past two, on Friday the 5th and asked for a penny worth of ale & I gave it to her in a bottle that she brought & she then left taking the beer with her. She appeared sober when she left the hotel. Shortly after 3 pm the same day her husband called at the hotel and asked for a drink. I served him and he left shortly after and returned a little before nine o'clock the same day he told me he was returning from Bendigo He then asked for a drink & I gave it to him and he left shortly after. About a quarter of an hour after he returned and asked me to go with him to the house as he was afraid his wife was dead. I told him I could not leave the Hotel and advised him to go to the neighbours. Mr Smithiam then left the Hotel. E Brenton. 6th September 1913 at Long Gully A. Dunstone, JP, Deputy Coroner.

This Deponent Henry Smithiam on his oath saith, I am a Blacksmith residing at 78 Buckley St

At 5 minutes past three on Friday 5th September 1913 I returned home from work where I found my wife Jane Smithiam sitting on a Kerosine Tin near the front door. I said to her by jove old woman you are terribly drunk this time. I took her in my arms and carried her into the house placing her on the floor of the kitchen. I then went to the bedroom got a pillow and placed under her head. My wife did not speak but as she was very drunk I took no notice of it. I left my wife as there was no dinner prepared and went to an Hotel nearby and got a drink. I came back to the house my boy having come home from school I sent him to the Butcher for steak. I cooked it and my son and myself had dinner. We then went into Bendigo the wife still being on the floor. My reason for going into the City was I wanted some tobacco and a share. Stayed only a short time. On my way home I Called at Brenton Hotel and had a Drink of Beer. I came home arriving about 10 minutes past eight. I lit the candle & had a look at my wife I found her there in the same position as I placed her I felt her leg and found she was cold I then lifted her head and found she was very stiff & I said to my son she is dead. I then went to a neighbours for helpin then informed Constable Olive of Long Gully. Constable Olive and senior Constable McKenzie returned with me to the house. Before going to work on Friday morning my wife who was only barely sober said Harry don't you touch that pointing to a bottle on the cupboardin which there was a small quantity of fluid. She said that was phisic. She said it was to put on the little boy's hand which was sore the result of a dog bite. I believed what she told me. My wife has never at any time threatened to take her life. Just before going to bed last night I noticed the bottle which had fluid in it was now empty & outside on the window ledge was a small glass and a cap which appeared to been in the bottom of the cup & was stained. I smelt the cup and thought it was beer. My wife has been drunk on previous occasions & I thought this was a similar case. H. Smithiam

Taken and sworn by me the 6th day of September 1913 at Long Gully A. Dunstan J.P. Deputy Coroner.

1913 8 September 1913 Mr. A. Dunstan J.P. held an inquest om Saturday concerning the death of Mrs Jane Smithiam, which occurred at Butler St, Ironbark, on the previous day. DR. Frost said that the result of the post mortem examination proved that death was due to poisoning by a coal-tar product. It was also stated that the deceased evidently drank the poison in beer. A verdict was entered in accordance