Outback murder A how-to guide Kelly Handson

My grandmother is a crime- or Bony as he was more commonly by Arthur Upfield: a biography fiction fanatic. She loves anything known to readers, who was Gran’s commissioned by her family. She sinister and can sniff out a crime absolute favourite. The stories were generously donated this to the scene while tending to her prize staged against varied Australian library in 2005, together with pumpkin-patch. She is that person settings. Detective Bony’s correspondence from Upfield about who reduces traffic to a standstill as father was a European settler and his the project, and it is now a key item she stops her car to get a glimpse mother was an Aboriginal woman. in the collection.2 of a taped crime scene and possibly Gran’s eyes sparkled as she explained I walk through the double doors view a handcuffed perp. If I ever that this was quite controversial at of the Baillieu Library, keen to lost anything as a child, whether it the time. But the most exciting story understand just what had captivated was a button (not so important) or was when the author, Arthur Upfield not only my Gran but thousands my favourite Strawberry Shortcake himself, was involved in a real-life of readers around the world. If you limited-edition holographic badge criminal investigation. This had been look for Arthur Upfield’s novels in (critical), she was our resident the pièce de résistance for Gran: the the University of Library detective. I would sit in her Sherlock line between fiction and real life had online catalogue, your search will Holmes-esque study, which was been crossed. return dozens of items. When you crowded with timber furniture Arthur Upfield (1890–1964), check the details, you will notice and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. who led a fascinating life in the the location code ‘SpC’—Special I would face her across the expanse red dirt of Australia’s outback, was Collections. Perhaps you have seen of desktop and she would turn on Australia’s premier crime-fiction exhibitions drawn from Special the gold brass lamp, aiming it at writer in the early 1930s.1 For this Collections from time to time, such my young and anxious face. The reason librarians at the University of as rare books displayed in glass cases, interrogation would begin, followed Melbourne were excited in 2004–05 or erotic novels from the 1980s by an extensive investigation, after by the opportunity to buy from that can still cause a stir in some which only occasionally would the several dealers in Australia and quarters. But did you know that item actually be recovered. overseas an extensive collection of these books are only a tiny fraction Years later, when I asked Gran manuscripts, typescripts, scrapbooks, of the 200,000 volumes of books, about the beginnings of her crime correspondence, notes, ephemera and journals and other assorted literary obsession, she revealed it was her objects such as the very typewriter material that make up the Special love affair with all of the fantastic Upfield had used to write his Collections? All have been deemed detectives she found among the ever-popular novels. Everyone was ‘closed access’ due to their age, value pages of crime fiction. There were surprised when an elderly lady, after or uniqueness, as the website states the greats, of course: Sherlock reading a local newspaper article this is intended to ‘ensure the items’ Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercules reporting the recent acquisition, long-term care and preservation for Poirot. But it was Detective telephoned the university. She had future generations of scholars and Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, an original manuscript written researchers’.

Kelly Handson, ‘Outback murder: A how-to guide’ 23 Portrait of Arthur Upfield, Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

So how does the public get to It was around this time that the and travelled around with his view the Arthur Upfield collection prominent historical figure, A.O. swag, making mates along the way. and its numerous manuscripts Neville, Western Australia’s chief After returning from service in the marked with notes scribbled in the protector of Aborigines, was at his Australian Imperial Force, he took hand of the writer himself ?3 You most influential.4 Neville’s job title up writing. His surroundings and must fill out an online request form suggests the irony of his position in the people he met vividly influenced so that your chosen gems may be an overly paternalistic government. his work. Upon finishing his first retrieved from what I imagine to be His policies, based upon a philosophy crime novel but feeling far from never-ending, darkened aisles. From of assimilation and white-race happy with the final product, Upfield the large array available, I eagerly dominance over other races, were a came across an old friend from the choose curiously titled novels such as major factor leading to tragedies such war, Leon Wood, now a tracker Bony buys a woman and Bony and the as the Stolen Generations, which for the Queensland police. Wood white savage, then I select some more had devastating effects on Aboriginal was the son of a settler father and serious-sounding titles: Breakaway people that are still felt strongly today. Aboriginal mother. But he did not House and The . In the Eurocentric view prevalent know that he was soon to become I approach the friendly face at the in Australia at that time, Aboriginal the main inspiration for the much- desk in the Cultural Collections people were the ‘other’; their supposed loved detective, Bony. Upfield always Reading Room, with my pen and difference added an extra dimension insisted that Bony was at least 80 paper in hand. The man shakes his of interest to a fictional character. per cent real. The appeal of a unique head at me: pens are forbidden—only Terry Walker, in his comprehensive fictional detective, whose skills in lead pencils to take notes. Oh. I guess biography The strange case of Arthur sleuthing and approaches to crime- I can understand the reluctance to Upfield and Snowy Rowles, claims solving differed markedly from those have ink anywhere near priceless and that Upfield got along well with his of his predecessors, proved to be a rare books, I’d just never considered Aboriginal co-workers and showed winning combination. it before today. none of the racial prejudice common Writing novels suited Upfield’s Immediately drawn into Upfield’s in Western Australia during the reign wandering bushman lifestyle books, I find it easy to see why so of A.O. Neville. perfectly: he simply wrote wherever many of his 29 novels were translated Although Upfield was born in his work took him. He was an into 11 languages and brought him England, he failed to do well in the enthusiastic and dedicated writer, great success both at home and various courses his father had enrolled but he wasn’t choosy about the abroad. His descriptive techniques him in, such as real estate and kind of jobs he picked up along are superb, not to mention the architecture, and was consequently the way. These included boundary exoticism and uniqueness of a main sent to Australia in 1911 to become rider, shearer’s cook, fur trapper, character of Aboriginal heritage. a ‘man’. This turned out to be the bullock driver, opal gouger, fence This combination appealed to both best thing that happened to Upfield. runner and camel breaker. In a local and international readership. He found work on outback stations 1928 his experience with camels

24 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 12, June 2013 Arthur Upfield,Bony and the white savage, London: Heinemann, 1961. Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

earned him a job with the Western gave Rowles a job. In the months to Australian government at the camel follow, Rowles would often call in at station in the remote Dromedary the camel station to say hello, and he Hills. His task: to patrol a section was popular with everyone. Upfield of the rabbit-proof fence, built to later wrote, ‘Looking backward, I keep the European rabbit out of can find no excuse for anyone on the pastoral land in Western Australia. Murchison not liking Snowy Rowles. Upfield’s two faithful camels, Milly His appearance at bush camp at once and Curly, pulled his buggy up and vanquished depression’.5 Upfield and down the familiar section of the Rowles became close mates, often Number One Rabbit-Proof Fence. sharing a beer in a time when life Yes, there were actually three fences, in the outback could be lonely and aptly named Number One, Number desolate. Little did they know a storm Two and Number Three, each as was heading their way. inefficient as the other. In those days, Meanwhile, Upfield continued when it was believed that the little his writing while patrolling the fence, devil rabbits would never set foot and in early 1930 was trying to come in Western Australia, it was a grave up with a concept for a new Bony offence for the public to use the fence novel. In his 1934 pamphlet The maintenance tracks as though they Murchison murders Upfield likened were roads. If you disobeyed this writing to goldmining: where once rule (which happened frequently) base, Upfield would put his feet up on there were lots of gold nuggets just you would receive a fine equivalent the veranda and share a beer with his waiting to be discovered, now it to $200, which was set in 1907 and boss, George Ritchie. One particular required more digging and hard work is the same amount today. Although day, a blue-eyed, blonde-haired man to come up with that unique story. So, these days the lack of fence patrollers named Snowy Rowles approached naturally, he enlisted his companions on camels makes the chances of a fine the two and asked for work. As the to help with the digging. He went on relatively slim. men were talking, another stockman to describe the very night when his At this stage, Upfield was in his was having a particularly hard time good friend and boss, George Ritchie, physical prime and at the beginning breaking in a horse. Rowles casually came up with the perfect plan. of a literary career that was to bring sauntered down, asked if he could Imagine Upfield and Ritchie playing him fame and a modest fortune. But have a go and was on the horse’s cards in a small sitting room at the he was also destined to become a back within a few minutes. Ritchie camel station, the smell of whisky household name in Western Australia and Upfield, impressed, contacted and tobacco hanging in the air. One for all the wrong reasons. When the manager of Narndee Station can imagine an exchange along the occasionally back at the camel station down the road, who immediately following lines:

Kelly Handson, ‘Outback murder: A how-to guide’ 25 Arthur Upfield,Bony buys a woman, London: Pan Books, 1959. Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

Upfield takes a sip of his whisky, Ritchie’s plan was so good, how and then casually asks his boss, could Bony possibly solve the case? ‘Can you think of a good way of Upfield offered Ritchie one getting rid of a man? I need a pound to come up with a solution to method where the body will be the problem at hand. Yet even with completely destroyed using only this cash incentive, Ritchie couldn’t materials you’d find on a station’. think of a believable way for Bony ‘What? Are you writing to solve the case. Ritchie went to another book?’ their friend Snowy Rowles for help; ‘Yes I am. I want to write he might have said something like another Bony yarn, in which he this: ‘Snowy, say I shot you right gets a job worthy of his brains, and now, burnt your corpse under some his bushcraft. I want to give him of that dead timber there, then ran the case of his life, if I can nut out your bones through a dolly pot, how a simple way of getting rid of the could anybody get me for murder?’ corpse.’ Rowles quickly rode away without The card game progresses and a word, later explaining to Upfield numerous whiskies later, Ritchie that he thought Ritchie was about jumps out of his seat. ‘I’ve got it! to put a bullet in his back. Rowles If I wanted to do you in, I would laughed when he realised it was just lure you into the bush near a pile a fictional plot, but couldn’t think of timber and shoot you. Then of a solution either. It was Upfield burn the corpse along with the himself who finally thought of a wood. The fire wouldn’t burn Upfield was impressed by his solution for Bony. Unknown to the everything? Yes I know. That’s friend’s solution (although slightly killer, the victim was a war veteran why I’d come back with a sieve unnerved at his boss’s extensive who had a small metal plate in his or a dolly pot and go through the knowledge on the subject) and loved head. When the man was shot, this ashes for all the bits of bone, boot the idea of incorporating a dolly pot plate would be sent flying into a springs and whatnot. Then I’d kill (used to smash up pieces of gold- nearby bush for Bony to discover a couple of roos and burn their bearing quartz) as in those days it later. The plot was complete and carcasses on the spot. That would was a common prospector’s tool, Upfield eagerly began work onThe conceal the evidence.’ owned by many people working in sands of Windee. Upfield slowly puts his whisky the outback. There was no doubt More than a year later, in March onto the table and lowers his cards, that Ritchie’s plan was a feasible one, 1931, Upfield received a visit from face down. As he looks up, he wears and perfect for Upfield’s next book, the local policeman. Three workers a large smile from left to right. yet now there was another problem. from nearby areas were missing,

26 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 12, June 2013 Arthur Upfield,Murder must wait, London: Pan Books, 1966. Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

presumed dead. The policeman told of Carron’s possessions wrapped in Upfield that Snowy Rowles had been a piece of oilskin on the top shelf in arrested for three counts of murder his cabin. Rowles had also been seen and that the circumstances had been driving Ryan’s truck around town, nearly identical to those of Upfield’s telling people different stories as to latest novel. Suggesting that Upfield why Ryan had ‘lent’ him the vehicle. prepare a statement, the policeman He had also, rather carelessly, cashed rode off, leaving a shocked Upfield a cheque made out to Ryan at the staring after him. local general store. It seems Rowles In September 1931 Upfield did not pay as much attention to resigned from his job on the fence, detail as Upfield’s character had, and as the successful release of The sands this negligence would be the cause of Windee had allowed him to take a of his downfall. break from working. Still not having Just when Upfield thought heard from the police, he watched he had been forgotten, he was the Rowles case slowly unfold in summoned to speak with the crown the papers. It seemed that Rowles prosecutor. They discussed the had been desperate for work and book’s implications in the murder had travelled for some time with the case against Rowles, and Upfield, owner of a local station, James Ryan, along with Ritchie, was asked to and his friend George Lloyd, in hope testify against their friend in court. of employment. When it became Upfield wrote inThe Murchison apparent that there was no work murders that he remembered the for him, Rowles had become angry travelling north with Rowles and police mentioning that, after and killed both his companions, was eventually reported missing by reading The sands of Windee, they disposing of their bodies in exactly a good friend who had not received had followed Bony’s steps in his the fashion of the murderer in a letter from his usually diligent investigation almost exactly. One can Upfield’s latest novel, except that it mate in some time. The police once only imagine what a strange sensation was a molar tooth and some still- again found a fire, although this it must have been for Upfield, as a intact portions of handmade artificial time a gold wedding band believed murder-mystery writer, to see his teeth that undid Rowles, when police to be Carron’s was left behind in the fictional words become a reality, and sifted through an unusually large pile ominous pile of ashes. to see police using his latest novel as of ash found near the place of the In spite of Rowles’ unwavering a genuine how-to guide by carefully last sighting of the group. The third pleas of innocence, the evidence retracing Bony’s investigation. count of murder was that of one was stacking up against him. When Upfield was the first to accept Louis Carron, who had been seen police arrested him, they found all some responsibility:

Kelly Handson, ‘Outback murder: A how-to guide’ 27 ‘Model T’ typewriter, owned by Arthur Upfield, made by Imperial Typewriter Company (Leicester, England), c. 1930, approx. 25.0 × 30.0 × 10.0 cm. Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.

In a proper review of the Snowy everyone else left the reading 1 See Stephen Knight, ‘Upfield, Arthur Rowles case, it is impossible to room. Glancing again over some of William (1890–1964)’, Australian dictionary of biography, vol. 12, Melbourne disregard my work as a novelist; Upfield’s handwritten notes, I feel University Press, 1990, revised 2012 and because, although I did not as though I am sitting with him 2013 and published online at http://adb. provide Rowles with a motive, in camp, the unforgiving Western anu.edu.au/biography/upfield-arthur- william-8900, accessed 23 March 2013. and was in no way an accessory Australian sun beating down on 2 Arthur Upfield, ‘Francis Edward Cobbold: before or after the fact, the my neck. After taking a few sneaky Sailor, Fijian trader and Australian pioneer Crown alleged that I did provide photos to show Gran, I gently pastoralist’, unpublished manuscript, 1935; him with a method of destroying close the manuscripts and novels, Various authors, Correspondence etc. relating to Arthur Upfield’s biography of 6 the bodies of his victims. carefully checking that no pages are Francis Edward Cobbold, unpublished folded in the process. I can’t wait manuscripts, 1934–35. Presented to Upfield’s method proved to be quite to tell her that I have just begun to the University of Melbourne Library in 2005 by Catherine Dobson, in memory good, leaving absolutely no evidence understand where her passion came of Beatrice Rose Mary Howard (née for the murders of both Ryan and from. Heading over to her house, Douglas), Robert Andrew Douglas and Lloyd. Yet despite consistently I think about borrowing a few of Thomas William Capell, medical student proclaiming his innocence until the Gran’s crime novels and I eagerly at Melbourne University, 1933–39, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of end, Snowy Rowles was found guilty anticipate once again becoming Melbourne. of the murder of Louis Carron immersed in the world of Upfield 3 A guide to the manuscripts of Arthur and was hanged in the early hours and his detective, Bony.9 Upfield held in the Baillieu Library is 7 available online at www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/ of Monday 13 June 1932. In The collections/special/guides/upfieldms.pdf. Murchison murders, Upfield wrote Kelly Handson recently completed a Bachelor 4 A. Haebich and R.H.W. Reece, ‘Neville, eloquently of his friend: of Arts with a double major in creative writing Auber Octavius (1875–1954)’, Australian and Australian Indigenous studies at the dictionary of biography, vol. 11, Melbourne University of Melbourne. In her final creative University Press, 1988. Thus passed out a strangely writing subject, students were asked to draw 5 Terry Walker, Murder on the Rabbit Proof stormy spirit. His life before upon one of the university’s collections as Fence: The strange case of Arthur Upfield and him, favoured by the gods with inspiration for a creative non-fiction piece. Snowy Rowles, Carlisle, WA: Hesperian Kelly has a special interest in Australian Press, 1993, p. 14. a fine physique and good looks, Indigenous literature and is currently working 6 Arthur Upfield,The Murchison murders, he could have risen high in on her first novel. Sydney: Midget Masterpiece Publishing, this country, impelled by the 1934. personality of his Doctor Jekyll; 7 ‘ “Snowy” Rowles committed to stand Books and other items from the trial for wilful murder’, The Sunday Times but the secret devil in all of us, Special Collections of the Baillieu (), 14 February 1932, p. 1; ‘ “Snowy” the Mr. Hyde, was too powerful Library are available for use in the Rowles hanged’, The Morning Bulletin Cultural Collections Reading Room, for ‘Snowy’ Rowles.8 (Rockhampton), 14 June 1932, p. 8. third floor, Baillieu Library, University 8 Upfield,The Murchison murders, n.p. of Melbourne. See www.lib.unimelb. 9 This article draws generally upon Upfield, edu.au/collections/special. I finally look up from my desk The Murchison murders, and Walker, and wonder when it was that Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence.

28 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 12, June 2013