In sunlit elegance, the last waltz of a butterfly ends with a bullet and a mystery that lingers in Darlinghurst’s long shadow. By Elliot Lindsay A Door Opens on Tragedy The door to Flat 11, Harrow Mansions, creaked open under the weight of Inspector Tom Lynch’s hand, and the air inside hit him like a…
The Sydney Hyde Park Murder The murder of Vera Sterling in 1929 and the potential of her being the victim of an undetected serial killer. By Elliot Lindsay Men in grey suits and felt hats -detectives of the CIB- stood around a flower garden at the southern end of Hyde Park. To the onlookers passing…
Who Killed “Bully” Cook? Halmar Olsen was an electrical mechanic working in the scrubby gully that dropped away from Clifford Street, Gordon, towards Stony Creek. In 1922, Clifford Street had only recently been subdivided, and Bell Street still did not exist. While navigating the steep sandstone escarpment covered in thick grasses and shrubs, Olsen came…
By Elliot Lindsay The Lane Cove Mystery and the Case of Eugene Falleni (Harry Crawford) The Stringybark Creek Reserve is popular with Lane Cove residents who seek a gentle walk amongst the shady gums and moss-covered sandstone caves. Yet how many would know that this reserve was the centre of a gruesome mystery that shocked…
By ELLIOT LINDSAY An artist’s impression of the 522 Marrickville Rd confectionary store shootings Esther Vaughan operated the confectionary store that once occupied 522 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill. She sold confectionary and fruit to the local children for over 17 years and had watched the neighbourhood boys and girls grow into men and women. Esther…
By Elliot Lindsay A garage in Glebe became the focus for an English woman’s disappearance, but why? Sydney Police July 1923 mugshot of murder suspect Ellen Kreigher (Sydney Crime & Justice Museum) A squad of detectives arrived at Westmoreland Lane, Glebe, on August 1st, 1923. The dark old laneway led to a dilapidated garage behind…