Execution - Dark Stories True Crime Tours

1952: Jan Novotny Hanged at Fannie Bay Gaol for the Murder of a Darwin Taxi Driver

In April 1952, Czech migrants John Novotny, 19, and Jerry Koci, 20, hailed a taxi in Darwin driven by George Thomas Grantham, one of the town’s best-known cab owners. Ten miles out of town, Novotny shot Grantham in the face with a rifle he had purchased just days earlier, dragged the body into scrub 13 miles from Darwin, and fled south in the stolen taxi. The pair were intercepted on a Queensland road near Duchess, nearly 1,000 miles away, two days later.

At the Supreme Court, Novotny confessed in broken English: ‘I buy rifle in Darwin. Me and my friend get driver take us along road. Ten miles out I shoot driver with rifle, drag driver out of car.’ Both men were convicted of murder before Judge Kriewaldt. Novotny was hanged at Fannie Bay Gaol on 7 August 1952.

Suspects Jonas Nopotry and Jerr Koci leaving Mt Isa Police Court 1952

⬅ See all events from 7 August

Australia Darwin Execution Murder NT Trial

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

1867: George Searle Hanged at Ballarat for the Piggoreet Murder

Thomas Ulick Burke, manager of the Bank of Australasia at Smythesdale, was ambushed and shot dead on 10 May 1867 while travelling alone by buggy after buying gold along the road toward Bulldog. His body was found the following day in the bush near the Coach and Horses Hotel, slumped in the buggy with his valise emptied of all gold and notes. Evidence placed George Searle and his associate Joseph Ballan near the scene that afternoon, with a witness confirming Ballan had been scouting goldfield yields in the days before the murder.

At the Ballarat Circuit Court, before Judge Barry, both men were tried for wilful murder. Searle, keeper of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, and Ballan, a lodger there, had been seen together at key locations along the murder route on the day of the killing. Horseshoe markings provided further physical evidence linking the pair to the crime. Searle was convicted and hanged at Ballarat on 7 August 1867.

Murder of Mr Burke native trackers finding the pistols

⬅ See all events from 7 August

Australia Ballarat Execution Goldfields Murder Robbery Trial VIC

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

1867: Joseph Ballam Hanged at Ballarat for the Piggoreet Road Murder

Thomas Ulick Burke, manager of the Bank of Australasia at Smythesdale, was shot and killed on 10 May 1867 while travelling alone by buggy through the bush near the Coach and Horses Hotel after purchasing gold from claims along the Break-o’-Day road. His valise was found empty, all gold and banknotes taken. Joseph Ballam, an unemployed lodger at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Piggoreet, had spent the days before the murder quietly canvassing the local claims for yield information, noting that the Break-o’-Day Company would have a good haul that fortnight.

At the Ballarat Circuit Court, before Judge Barry, Ballam and co-accused George Searle, keeper of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, were charged with the wilful murder. Witnesses placed both men on horseback near the route Burke had taken on the afternoon of the killing, their horses shod with shoes of distinctive shape that a farrier could identify. Ballam was convicted and hanged at Ballarat on 7 August 1867.

Piggoreet murder prisoners Ballan and Searle Smythesdale police court

⬅ See all events from 7 August

Australia Ballarat Execution Murder Piggoreet Robbery Trial VIC

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

1952: Jaroslav Koci Hanged at Fannie Bay Gaol for the Murder of a Darwin Taxi Driver

George Thomas Grantham, 42, one of Darwin’s best-known taxi owners, picked up two fares on the night of 17 April 1952 and never came home. His body was found two days later in scrub 13 miles south of Darwin, shot in the face and wrist. The two passengers, Czech migrants John Novotny and Jerry Koci, were intercepted near Duchess on a Queensland road, still driving the stolen cab.

At the inquest, Novotny told police: ‘Yes, I shot that man. I am sorry.’ Koci admitted being present at the shooting. Both were tried before Judge Kriewaldt in the Northern Territory Supreme Court. Novotny confessed to buying the rifle in Darwin two days before the killing. Jaroslav Koci was convicted and hanged at Fannie Bay Gaol on 7 August 1952.

Novotny and Koci under police escort for Grantham taxi driver murder

⬅ See all events from 7 August

Australia Darwin Execution Murder Northern Territory NT Trial

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Spread the word on your favourite platform!

Subscribe to Dark Stories