W H Walker, Great Western Butchery, ca 1872
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Great Western Butchery of William Henry Walker in Herbert Street, between Claudius Albert the Watchmaker and William Kemp the Tailor. In June 1872 Walker moved his butcher shop from near Adams Lead west Gulgong, to the premises formerly occupied by the Greatest Wonder of the World owned by the Moses Bros, who had built a new store in Mayne Street in February 1871. Who occupied the premises in the transition is not known. When Abraham Moses, another brother, came to Gulgong, he had a store selling wine and spirits around the original Greatest Wonder, and it was known as the iron store. Moses brothers owned the block of land, including that of Walker's shop at one time.
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (Sept 2006)
NEWS ITEMS
1873 - SUICIDE.An inquest was held by T. A. Browne, Esq., coroner, and a jury, at Mr. Ambrose Kelly's Family Hotel this afternoon touching the death of Patrick Shannon, a butcher, in the employ of Mr. Walker, Herbert-street; Mr. S. S. Moses was chosen foreman of the jury.The body of deceased, who died in a cart while being taken from Mr. Naughton's hotel to the Hospital, was lying at the shop of J. A. Courtis, undertaker. After viewing the body, evidence was taken touching the circumstances.Dr. Forbes deposed to having been called at half past 8 this morning to visit deceased. Found him lying on the floor at B. Naughton's hotel, insensible, breathing heavily, foaming at the mouth, and evidently suffering much pain. Administered chloroform, and deceased partially recovered. From the symptoms and other circumstances was satisfied that he had taken poison. Recommended the stomach pump, and as there was one at the Hospital, his friends concluded to take him to that place. The patient would then pass into the hands of Dr. Bennett, the Hospital surgeon. Dr. Bennett deposed to having made a post mortem examination of deceased. Found the lining membranes of the stomach inflamed and covered with blood spots, and other indications of poison by strychnine, such as rigidity of the body, &c. Charles Zimmler, chemist, deposed to having sold deceased six grains of strychnine last evening, who asked for it for the purpose of destroying cats. He had known deceased for some time, and at first declined to sell the poison, but did so, as he said he wanted it for his employer, Mr. Walker. Shannon signed the receipt-book as for Mr. Walker.Mr. Edward Davies, a carpenter, deposed to having seen deceased this morning at about 7 o'clock. They were both in the bar. Deceased had a glass before him on the bar counter, but sat down before he drank. Soon after he fell from the chair, and was in pain. He said he had taken strychnine, and asked Davies to cut his throat. Davies went for Dr. Bennett at once, who refused to attend. (I am informed that Dr. Bennett at that time was in attendance upon a person very ill, and could not leave.) He then went for Dr. Forbes, who soon after arrived.The deceased was a native of Ireland, and has been in Australia only about four years. He was about 25 years old, and has been nearly a year in Mr. Walker's employ, as shopman, collecting orders, &c. and appeared to be an active and persevering young man. It came out in evidence that for about a week past Shannan had been drinking heavily, and was suffering from the effects of drink. He is said to have friends in Mudgee, where it is understood he formerly served in Mr. Healey's shop. The inquiry was conducted by senior-sergeant John O'Donnell, who procured all the evidence necessary for the jury to arrive at a correct conclusion. The verdict was that death was caused by poison, administered by himself, intending to cause death.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 16 Aug 1873 Page 7
