VIC - Dark Stories True Crime Tours

1891: William Colston Hanged at Melbourne Gaol for the Narbethong Double Murder

William Colston, a carpenter, was arrested at Yarra Glen after being recognised outside a hotel by a former acquaintance, A.V. Forster, who slipped away under the pretence of fetching his purse and alerted the local constable. Colston had denied his identity, claiming his name was Lewis, but Constable Arnold confirmed the arrest by locating the distinctive bald spot on the back of his head, matching the description published in the Police Gazette. He had been wanted over the murders of Mr. and Mrs. Davis at Narbethong on 20 February.

Colston was tried, convicted, and hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 21 August 1891.

Upon arrest, Colston acknowledged he was the man being sought and admitted he had committed the murders, proceeding to describe the circumstances under which he had killed the elderly couple.

⬅ See all events from 21 August

Australia Execution Melbourne Murder Narbethong Trial VIC Yarra Glen

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1860: Edward Fenlow Hanged at Melbourne Gaol for a Prospecting Partner's Murder

Edward Fenlow, a small, mild-mannered man known also as Reynolds, stood trial at the Castlemaine Circuit Court in August 1860 for the murder of his prospecting mate George Plummer Gardner at Inglewood on 27 March that year. The two men had been working together when Fenlow persuaded Gardner to descend into a mining hole, then struck him on the head with a shovel. Gardner was found the next day with a hole in his skull the size of a crown-piece. Fenlow robbed the body and evaded capture for several weeks before witnesses, including a refreshment tent keeper who recognised him on sight, placed him with the victim in the days before the killing.

Convicted on the evidence of multiple witnesses, Fenlow was sentenced to death and hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 20 August 1860.

Gold prospector resting with grain texture vintage style

⬅ See all events from 20 August

Australia Castlemaine Execution Inglewood Melbourne Murder Trial VIC

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1894: Fred Jordan Hanged at Melbourne Gaol for the Murder of Minnie Crabtree

Frederick Jordan, an American convicted of killing his girlfriend Minnie Crabtree at Port Melbourne, was executed at Melbourne Gaol on the morning of 20 August 1894. He had maintained a quiet, composed demeanour throughout his time in the condemned cell, receiving last rites from Rev. Dean M'Kenna after Father Walshe fell ill and could not attend.

Jordan walked to the gallows with a firm step, stood erect before the assembled witnesses. When asked if he had anything to say, Jordan replied: 'I have nothing to say: it's no use to say anything.', and was executed without incident.

⬅ See all events from 20 August

Australia Execution Melbourne Murder Port Melbourne VIC

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1870: Andrew Vair Hanged at Ararat for the Ambush Murder of Amos Cheale

Amos Cheale, a mining manager formerly of Maldon and later overseeing the Silver Mines Company at St Arnaud, was ambushed and shot in the scrub near the mine in broad daylight. His killer, Andrew Vair (also reported as Vere), a Scottish miner aged around 34, had harboured a grudge rooted in a dispute over mining shares at the Friburg reef, which Vair himself had discovered. He stepped out of the scrub, levelled a double-barrelled pistol at Cheale, and fired both barrels at close range. Cheale died shortly after.

Vair fled into the scrub and was hunted across the colony before his arrest. He was tried, convicted, and hanged at Ararat. Before his execution, he wrote a final letter to his mother and a poem:-

Not in my innocence I trust, I bow before Thee in the dust, And through my Saviour's blood alone, I look for mercy at Thy throne. What is life? 'tis all a vapor, Soon it vanishes away; Life is like a dying taper - Oh, my soul, why wish to stay? Why not spread thy wings and fly Straight to yonder world of joy? I come, I come, at Thy command, I give my spirit to Thy hand. Stretch forth Thine everlasting arms, And shield me in the last alarms. The hour of my departure's come - I hear the voice that calls me home. Now, O my God, let trouble cease. Now let Thy servant die in peace.

Old prayer book with ink pen and letter on desk

⬅ See all events from 15 August

Ararat Australia Execution Maldon Murder St Arnaud Trial VIC

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