Lingering Doubts - QNS Winter 2015 Catalogue

QNS Catalogue Winter 2015
We really have to pinch ourselves sometimes! What an honour to be listed in the QNS audio book catalogue alongside such talented authors as Matthew Condon and Helen Garner!
Listening to Qld. Narrating Service (QNS) narrator Kaye Stevenson's splendid delivery of Lingering Doubts still gives us goosebumps!
Audio books are invaluable for people with vision impairment and/or a print disability, however as we've discovered, audio books are also great to take on a road trip...or to turn on while doing the housework.. or just relaxing. We have a whole new appreciation of audio books and this includes the wonderfully dedicated QNS staff and their volunteers.
Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - 6 February 1947

6 February 1947
Nearing the end of the five day committal hearing in Brisbane's Police Court where Detective  Sub-Inspector Frank Bischof prosecuted. Every morning the Magistrate read out the charge of 'wilful murder'. Every day our grandfather firmly answered, 'Not guilty, Your Worship'.
Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - 1 February 1947

1 February 1947
Only one day remained for the preparation of our grandfather's defence against the charge of wilful murder before the  commencement of the committal hearing in the Police Court. Unbelievably, on this day in 1947, our grandfather's defence was 'seriously hampered' by Boggo Road Gaol authorities when notes he had written for his solicitor were confiscated by a prison guard. Following his barrister's protest in the presence of the magistrate, incredibly, the only official response on record is from Police Prosecutor, Detective Sub-inspector Frank Bischof. An extract from Bischof's report:

....There is no desire by any member of this [Police] Department to ascertain the contents of any notes BROWN may wish to hand his Solicitor.

The privilege existing between solicitor and client was, and is, sacred. But this was not upheld when Reg Brown was on trial. 
 We ask the question in our book: Does Bischof's response imply that when a person was denied bail and subsequently detained on remand, police officers  investigating the crime, had the ability to curtail the prisoner's defence? Worse still be privy to a prisoner's notes written in a vain attempt to defend him or herself?
It defies belief that this extraordinarily corrupt and cruel practice, incorporating the justice, penal and legal systems, was very obviously common place in Brisbane -  only 69 years ago. 

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - Saturday 11 January, 1947

Saturday 11 January, 1947
Sixty-nine years ago at approximately 8.30 in the morning 19 year-old Bronia Armstrong's body was discovered in a back room at the BAFS Medical Institute, Wallace Bishop Arcade, Albert Street, Brisbane. Queensland detectives swiftly targeted Bronia's boss, Reg Brown, ruthlessly interrogating him, without legal representation, for the entire day - his rights only read that evening, moments before his arrest for willful murder. Despite his protestations of innocence the fifty-year-old accountant and BAFS Medical Institute Secretary was charged and taken to the city watch house. He would never again return to his family, waiting anxiously in their St Lucia home.
This was the day in 1947 that life took a devastating turn for two ordinary Brisbane families....the Armstrongs and the Browns.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - Friday 10 January, 1947

Friday 10 January, 1947
On this date, during the late afternoon or evening, at a time undetermined, Bronia Mary Armstrong, a popular young Brisbane woman, lost her life - at whose hands and under what circumstances remains a mystery. History shows her immediate supervisor, Reg Brown, was responsible and the justice system, of which Detective Sub-Inspector Frank Bischof was a key player, took exactly 8 weeks to see St. Lucia family man, Reg Brown, arrested and sentenced to life in Boggo Road Gaol.
Nine days after the life sentence was handed down, Reg, our grandfather, who consistently professed his innocence, was found dead.
 The files on the 'Arcade Murder' were closed; another successful conviction for Frank Bischof, Queensland's future police commissioner (for more on Bischof see Matthew Condon's Three Crooked Kings and Jacks & Jokers). Police officers moved up the ladder and enjoyed stellar careers, as did the Supreme Court judge, prosecutor, government pathologist and junior defense barrister, (Sir) Harry Gibbs. 
Life would never be the same, however, for the two devastated families left behind. The Armstrongs grieved their loving daughter and sister, and the Brown family, a much loved husband, father and grandfather.
As a result of many years of research we've exposed glaring anomalies and flaws in this so-called 'open and shut' case, including the Supreme Court trial. We, and we're pleased to say many others, now hold the opinion our grandfather was most likely innocent of this crime.... if so, who was responsible for taking Bronia Armstrong's life? We invite readers to form their own opinion. Did the 1947 'Arcade Murder' investigation and Supreme Court trial result in a severe miscarriage of justice?  
Deb and Jan  

 The authors are to be congratulated for their painstaking work and the clear and balanced presentation of their findings. It is clear that they have worked hard to do what those with legal responsibilities in relation to the case failed to do. It will be interesting to see whether it leads to the conviction being challenged through the courts in due course. I am clearly of the view that it ought to be – although I am well aware of the considerable procedural issues which might stand in the way.

Dr Robert N Moles, Law Professor, 1 April 2014   click to read about Brisbane's Arcade Murder on NetK

Lingering Doubts - Going inside Brisbane's Arcade Murder

Through our promotion of Lingering Doubts we continue to meet the most amazing and interesting people. We thank, from the bottom of our hearts, everybody who has supported our efforts to re-present this tragic story. We also thank you for your encouraging feedback. It means so much!
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2016.

Today we were kept busy signing copies of our book at Angus & Robertson, Post Office Square, in Brisbane's CBD. On Sunday we were delighted to share our story with customers at Angus & Robertson, Brookside Shopping Centre.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts and Brisbane's 1947 Arcade Murder Discussed with Steve Austin ABC 612

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2015/12/women-look-for-the-truth-about-their-grandfathers-arcade-murder-conviction.html?site=brisbane&program=612_morning
An amazing opportunity to share our grandfather's story yesterday with listeners of the Steve Austin morning show..
A huge thank you to Steve and his assistants at ABC 612.
Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - Returning to Angus & Robertson Post Office Square, Brisbane

We are looking forward to returning to Adelaide Street to share the story of the 1947 Arcade Murder - as the crime scene was just around the corner in Albert Street.
Many thanks to Boolarong Press and Angus and Robertson, Post Office Square, Brisbane.
Deb and Jan

NetK - Criminal Convictions may need Reviewing

The NetK (Miscarriages of Justice) link below will show, what we believe to be, an important article indicating that there are possibly 400 criminal convictions which may need to be reviewed in South Australia because of the defective work of Dr Manock.

It indicates that Maurice Blackburn, Australia's largest class action lawyers are on the job, and maybe have dozens of cases lining up for review.

 http://netk.net.au/SA/SA11.pdf

 (Information provided by Dr Robert N Moles) 

 

Lingering Doubts - Angus & Robertson, P.O. Square, Brisbane

Technically Queen Street is the address of the Post Office Square Angus and Robertson, however, this amazingly busy bookshop faces Adelaide Street - which proved to be an ideal location for us to raise the subject of Brisbane's Arcade Murder. The Wallace Bishop Arcade - scene of the 68 year old crime - was just around the corner in Albert Street. In fact a witness to the multitude of screams heard that afternoon in January, 1947 was a tramdriver, stationery for a moment or two, at the traffic lights on the corner of Adelaide and Albert Streets. Important new evidence (see post dated 1/11/2015) has, however, helped explain the very likely source of these screams.
As always our sincere thank you to everyone who takes the time to listen to, or read, the disturbing story of Lingering Doubts - Going inside Brisbane's Arcade Murder. 
Many thanks to Copyright Publishing, Boolarong Press and Lesley from Angus and Robertson for organising our 12 November book signing.
We so appreciate every opportunity granted to us whereby we can present the details of how, in the space of 8 weeks, our grandfather was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 19 year old typist - primarily due to the investigative evidence of the, now known to be, corrupt and dangerous Detective Frank Bischof.
Deb and Jan

Janice Teunis

Deb Drummond