Marquis Cumming (1879 - 1926)

Born 1879 in Cambooya, Queensland, Australia

Died 23 Dec 1926 at about age 47 in South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Birth (1879)

Marquis Cumming was born on 28 May 1879 in Cambooya, Queensland, Australia. He was the son of David Cumming and his wife Mary Hammill.^[1]

He joined the police force as a constable in 1900 and initially was stationed at Mossman River.^[2]

Marriage (1904)

On 11 May 1904 Marquis (25) married Theresa Jane HOWDEN (28) in Brisbane.^[3]

Together, the couple had 7 children over the next 12 years, of which two did not reach adulthood.

Extramarital Affairs

Marquis was known to engage in extramarital activities. Whilst living at Mt. Morgan, his wife discovered one of his affairs with a married woman who had borne a child to him. Teresa then contacted the Police, precipitating a transfer from Mt. Morgan to South Brisbane station.^[4]

Corruption & Sex

Whilst the move to Brisbane was fatal to his Mt. Morgan relationship, Marquis did not relinquish his philandering ways. If anything, the capital city offered many more temptations and greater anonymity than Mt. Morgan. It was well known amongst his colleagues that Marquis was open to extramarital affairs and in some cases extorted sexual favours from women who required him to release their benefit or pension cheques.^[5]

Murder (1926)

Marquis Cumming was fatally shot between 9 and 10pm on 23 Dec 1926. He had escorted Eileen Gladys Walsh to a deserted Common behind Boggo Road Gaol, a place where he regularly engaged in sexual activity with women. Both he and Eileen were shot at point blank range by as yet unknown assailant(s).^[6] For details about the murders, see: The unsolved murder of Eileen Gladys Walsh and Marquis Cumming, 23 Dec 1926

Sources

1. ↑ Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 for Marquis Cumming, Death Date: 24 Dec 1926, Death Place: Queensland, Father: David Cumming, Mother: Mary Hammill, Registration Number: B050821, Page number: 395 as accessed via Ancestry.com by M.Lohmeyer on 5 Nov 2023.
2. ↑ Paul's Blog: https://highgatehill-historical-vignettes.com/2019/12/23/a-mystery-murder-of-married-lovers/ accessed by M.Lohmeyer on 29 Sep 2023.
3. ↑ Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 for Marquis Cumming, Marriage Date: 11 May 1904, Marriage Place: Queensland, Spouse: Teresa Howden, Registration Number: B003239, Page number: 5803 as accessed via Ancestry.com by M.Lohmeyer on 5 Nov 2023.
4. ↑ Paul's Blog: https://highgatehill-historical-vignettes.com/2019/12/23/a-mystery-murder-of-married-lovers/ accessed by M.Lohmeyer on 29 Sep 2023.
5. ↑ Paul's Blog: https://highgatehill-historical-vignettes.com/2019/12/23/a-mystery-murder-of-married-lovers/ accessed by M.Lohmeyer on 29 Sep 2023.
6. ↑ Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 for Marquis Cumming, Death Date: 24 Dec 1926, Death Place: Queensland, Father: David Cumming, Mother: Mary Hammill, Registration Number: B050821, Page number: 395 as accessed via Ancestry.com by M.Lohmeyer on 5 Nov 2023.