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Charles Athelstan Park (1879 - 1942)

Charles Athelstan Park
Born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, Australiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 24 Jun 1903 (to 10 Jun 1919) in Christ Church C. of E., Geraldton, Western Australiamap
[children unknown]
Died at about age 63 in Western Australia, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 6 Mar 2015
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Biography

Charles was born in 1879. Charles Park ... He passed away in 1942. [1]

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Charles was born in 1879. He is the son of William Park and Elizabeth Bedingfeld.

Sources

  1. First-hand information as remembered by Paul Morcom, Thursday, March 5, 2015. Replace this citation if there is another source.


Charles. A. Park's occupation was that of a Butcher. His usual residence c 1904 was Juinberigan, West Broome, W.A. Later his occupations were successively dairyman, drover and cattle buyer.

AN ABORIGINE'S DEATH. Kalgoorlie Oct. 20 In the Police Court to-day Charles Athelston Park was remanded to Perth on the charge of having unlawfully killed an aborigine on or about August 1. ( Researcher Note - incident on Balfour Downs Station ) Ref.- The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954), Thursday 21 October 1920, page 7

DEATH OF BIG BOB. To the Editor, Sir,- Charles Athelstan Park, a whiteman, and Gunboor, an aborigine, have had their sentences of death commuted to five years' penal servitude. Each was found guilty of murder and each was recommended to mercy-the former "very' strongly owing to the extenuating circumstances. The cases are in no wise analagous. Park was "hammered" (to use the Chief Justice's expression) by Big Bob, and did not shoot him then and there, because he could only just stagger to his bed, he was so badly hurt- Smith, his companion, struggled with the other two niggers for the rifle, but when he got it omitted to shoot Big Bob. Next day Big Bob came at Park and was shot. After his trial Park said, "If I'm found guilty, and I am, it is inviting and enticing the Kimberley nigger to murder whites." He was right, and the public will later on find this out. Gumboor "waddied" Uhlbrioh because he would not give him flour, or, alternatively, kept his (Gumboor's) gin too long. Those who know Nor'-West niggers will realise that it was the flour and not the gin that actuated Gunboor. Had Uhlbrich given Gunboor flour end tea and sugar, he would have been welcome to have kept the gin so long as the flour, tea, and sugar held out- I think that any Nor'-Wester will bear me out when I say this. I write now to enlist public sympathy on behalf of a man whom I never saw before he stood in the dock, so that the Executive Council may he petitioned to reconsider the matter. and because ignorance of the conditions of life in these remote regions has probably misled an otherwise intelligent body of jurymen.-Yours, etc., Perth, Dec. 23. P. K. N. CROZIER. Ref.- The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954), Friday 24 December 1920, page 8

Inquest proceedings on death of Big Bob held on 2 November 1920, page 7 of The West Australian

ALLEGED WILFUL MURDER CORONIAL INQUIRY Perth, Oct. 28. The inquiry into the cirumstances surrounding the death early last Angust of "'Big Bob," an aboriginal drover, who was engaged in assisting to drove a mob, of cattle from Broome to Mount Ida station, near Leonora, was resumed to-day before the city coroner and a jury. Charles Athelstan Park, a cattle drover, who had been charged with wilful murder of the deceased, was present, and was represented by Mr. Lavan. Inspector O'Halloran conducted the inquiry, and Mr. Cantor represented the Chief Protector of Aborigines. The first witness was a very intelligent aboriginal named Frank Dicky, who explained that he was engaged by Park to assist in droving a mob of 500 cattle from Streeter's station, near Broome to Mt.Ida. In addition to Park and witness, the party included a whiteman named McKenna and four other aboriginals, "Old Bob," "Black Bob, "Charlie." and "Little Peter." After the party had gone some distance; MoKenna left his place, which was taken by another white man, Jack Smith. Everything went all right until Balfour Downs station was reached. when Park and Charlie quarrelled. Charlie was on watch that night, and witness heard Park tell him to make a noise around the cattle, which were the orders given to those on watch. Witness did not hear Charlie making a noise, and Park called him (Charlie) into the camp and ordered him to dismount. A fight commenced and witness getting up saw Charlie on the ground with Park on top hitting and kicking him. "Big Bob," who had been in bed with witness, came on the scene, and hit Park with his fist;- Park thereupon released Charlie, and was bleeding a little from the face. "Big Bob" did not have a stone in his hand when he left witness. Park ordered Smith, who was seated near by on his horse, to get the rifle. When he heard Park tell Smith to get the rifle, witness went to the cart and secured the weapon, because he did not want Smith to get possession of it. Smith took the rifle from him and went over to Park. The latter said: "Why didn't you shoot both of the --" Smith repled, "I did not have a bullet 'handy."- Witness did not know if the rifle was loaded. He saw bloodstains on Park's coat. Deceased left the camp, having mounted his horse, to make a circuit of the mob. Park called him back and sent another man to take his place. Then they retired. Witness observed Smith load another rifle and he kept it near his bed. Park threatened that if any boy left the camp he would put a bullet through him. "Big Bob" showed witness an injury to his hand, the bone of the first finger being injured near the base. On the following morning he saw Park get on his horse and drive "Big Bob," who was making from the camp towards the hills. He never saw him alive again, but later on Park. who was carrying - a rifle, returned alone. Park ordered witness to get stripped and go up to the hill, where "Big Bob" had gone, but later he told witness that he would let him off for a day or two. Park told him to go up the hill and see "Big Bob" lying dead there. At dinner next day Park showed witness a large stone which had blood-stains on it, and asked him whether he had seen Bob" with it on the previous night. Witness replied that he had not. When they camped next night Park said that if anybody left the camp they must call him, or else he would put a bullet into them. Witness heard Park say to Smith: '"I shot the big nigger. I sent two bullets after him. The first one did not drop him, and the second one got him in back of the head. I got a stone and broke his teeth. Near Bald Hill, Park threatened to shoot Charlie if he did not do what he was told. Charlie and witness then ran away to Kumerina copper mine, where Park arrived later with Banjo Patterson, the mailman, from Meekatharra in a motor car. Park fired at witness, who ducked behind the motor car, and Park then came and hit him over the head with the rifle. breakng the butt. Park got a tyre chain from Patterson and placed it around the necks of Charlie and witness. He then took them back to the camp, and tied them both to a tree. Next day they resumed droving. On arrival at Peak Hill, Constables Mills and Coppinger came to Park's camp at night and took Charlie and witness away in a motor car. Witness afterwards accompanied Constables Mills and Brown to the spot where "Big Bob's body lay. Cross-examined by Mr. Lavan : On the night when Park and Charlie fought, the latter had been told several times to make a noise around the cattle, but witness did not hear him comply with the order. Both Smith and Park were afraid of the deceased. Park's face was very much cut about and his eyes were swollen. The inquest will be resumed tomorrow. Ref.-Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916-1938), Tuesday 2 November 1920, page 9

MURDER OF BIG BOB PRISONER LIBERATED. Perth, July 18. Last December, Charles Athelstan Park, a drover, was found guilty at the Criminal Court, Perth, of the murder of an aboriginal native named Big Bob at Balfour Downs station while on a droving expedibtion from Kimberley to Leonora. Park was sentenced to death, which sentence was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for five years. This sentence has also been commuted, and Park was released from gaol to-day on condition that he entered into a recognisance to be of good behaviour for the balance of the term. Ref.- Western Argus (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1916-1938), Tuesday 26 July 1921, page 11

  • WA Birth Index 1879/19878




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Park-6152 and Park-1409 appear to represent the same person because: Same details
posted by Mark Dorney

P  >  Park  >  Charles Athelstan Park