17 March 2016
Lingering Doubts - Meet the authors Dymocks Garden City
11 March 2016
Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - 11 March, 1947
Tuesday 11 March, 1947
On this day in early Autumn our grandfather's (and his family's) worst nightmare came true when the jury returned a guilty verdict. Reg Brown was given a life sentence to be served in Boggo Road Gaol. Minutes earlier from the holding cell below the Supreme Court it was reported he had said:
One year ago on this very day, we were presented with new and important evidence. This evidence supports our grandfather's claims of innocence, and demonstrates just how corrupt the all-powerful investigating police were in their pursuit of a conviction.
New evidence: a visitor to the Wallace Bishop Arcade heard a muffled scream that Friday afternoon 10 Jan 1947. When she queried the scream, she was told by the Arcade librarian that the screams had been going on all afternoon; the librarian assumed the drama rehearsals were taking place.
There was never a mention of these rehearsals at the trial, instead police said the screams had come from Bronia Armstrong when she was attacked by our grandfather in his office during business hours.
At the trial, Crown witnesses reported hearing screams, anywhere from 2 to 100! The only person to speak of rehearsals was Reg Brown when he was responding to police questioning. He was called a liar.
Deb and Jan
On this day in early Autumn our grandfather's (and his family's) worst nightmare came true when the jury returned a guilty verdict. Reg Brown was given a life sentence to be served in Boggo Road Gaol. Minutes earlier from the holding cell below the Supreme Court it was reported he had said:
Well, the verdict could not be guilty. You see, I am not guilty. I didn't kill that girl.Our grandfather, whose physical appearance had deteriorated dramatically since his arrest 8 weeks earlier, apparently struggled to his feet and stumbled from the dock. Reg Brown, St. Lucia family man and accountant, was returned to Boggo Road Gaol but this time to the 'lifers' block.
One year ago on this very day, we were presented with new and important evidence. This evidence supports our grandfather's claims of innocence, and demonstrates just how corrupt the all-powerful investigating police were in their pursuit of a conviction.
New evidence: a visitor to the Wallace Bishop Arcade heard a muffled scream that Friday afternoon 10 Jan 1947. When she queried the scream, she was told by the Arcade librarian that the screams had been going on all afternoon; the librarian assumed the drama rehearsals were taking place.
There was never a mention of these rehearsals at the trial, instead police said the screams had come from Bronia Armstrong when she was attacked by our grandfather in his office during business hours.
At the trial, Crown witnesses reported hearing screams, anywhere from 2 to 100! The only person to speak of rehearsals was Reg Brown when he was responding to police questioning. He was called a liar.
Deb and Jan
6 March 2016
Launch of Lingering Doubts - 2nd Anniversary
Two years today since Lingering Doubts
- Going inside Brisbane's Arcade Murder was launched at Brisbane's Regatta Hotel! Never could we have imagined that public interest in this old crime would be so great or that new and important evidence would be forthcoming (see post dated 1/11/2015).
In fact interest in 19 year old Bronia Armstrong's mysterious death and our grandfather's unlikely and speedy arrest for her murder, at the hands of infamous detective, Frank Bischof, continues to grow.
It certainly helps that Matthew Condon (Three Crooked Kings, Jacks & Jokers and All Fall Down) recommends Lingering Doubts when he presents his exhaustively researched topic of police corruption.
So we celebrate this day with heart-felt and sincere gratitude to all our readers and supporters and to those interested in a fair and just society.
Deb and Jan
In fact interest in 19 year old Bronia Armstrong's mysterious death and our grandfather's unlikely and speedy arrest for her murder, at the hands of infamous detective, Frank Bischof, continues to grow.
It certainly helps that Matthew Condon (Three Crooked Kings, Jacks & Jokers and All Fall Down) recommends Lingering Doubts when he presents his exhaustively researched topic of police corruption.
So we celebrate this day with heart-felt and sincere gratitude to all our readers and supporters and to those interested in a fair and just society.
Deb and Jan
3 March 2016
Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - 3 March, 1947
Monday 3 March, 1947
Less than two months after our grandfather's arrest, the murder trial officially known as Rex v Brown commenced in Brisbane.
The Crown prosecutor's opening address included a piece of significant 'evidence' which, he said, would later be relayed to the court by a Crown witness. However the Crown failed to call this so called 'witness' to the stand, which meant Reg Brown's defence team were denied the opportunity to cross-examine.
Such an action is considered to be fundamentally unfair and unethical and would support an application to discharge the jury on the basis it involved a mistrial.
However, this serious breach was not acknowledged; not by the Crown, the defence team nor the Supreme Court judge, Alan Mansfield - later Sir Alan Mansfield, Governor of Queensland.
The jury, no doubt, placed importance on the damning evidence, after all it had been delivered by the Crown Prosecutor.
What hope did an innocent person have in this one-sided contest?
Deb and Jan
Less than two months after our grandfather's arrest, the murder trial officially known as Rex v Brown commenced in Brisbane.
The Crown prosecutor's opening address included a piece of significant 'evidence' which, he said, would later be relayed to the court by a Crown witness. However the Crown failed to call this so called 'witness' to the stand, which meant Reg Brown's defence team were denied the opportunity to cross-examine.
Such an action is considered to be fundamentally unfair and unethical and would support an application to discharge the jury on the basis it involved a mistrial.
However, this serious breach was not acknowledged; not by the Crown, the defence team nor the Supreme Court judge, Alan Mansfield - later Sir Alan Mansfield, Governor of Queensland.
The jury, no doubt, placed importance on the damning evidence, after all it had been delivered by the Crown Prosecutor.
What hope did an innocent person have in this one-sided contest?
Deb and Jan
28 February 2016
Dymocks Carindale now selling Lingering doubts
Very excited yesterday signing books and sharing the story of Brisbane's Arcade Murder with customers at Dymocks Carindale. This very busy store is the first Dymocks to stock Lingering Doubts! Huge thank you to staff at both Dymocks and Boolarong Press.
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| Deb with Year 12 student and aspiring writer Emily |
23 February 2016
Lingering Doubts - 69 years ago - 23 February, 1947
23 February, 1947
While our grandfather, Reg Brown, was on remand in Boggo Road Gaol, the Truth newspaper published an article titled Inside Light on Boggo-Road Conditions. A 'hush hush' departmental inquiry was apparently underway following the escape of three prisoners including Arthur 'Slim' Halliday. But another man, after a stay in Boggo Road Gaol, went public describing 'appalling filth' and hygiene; he told of a privileged prisoner who slept regularly in the hospital, 'his favourite resort'; fruit and vegetables were unheard of; stealing of prison rations; and smuggling of goods in and out of the prison.
This disturbing article hit the news stands on the day Ian (Deb's father) should have been celebrating his 20th birthday. There were no celebrations for the Brown family.
Today Ian Brown turns eighty-nine.
Deb and Jan
While our grandfather, Reg Brown, was on remand in Boggo Road Gaol, the Truth newspaper published an article titled Inside Light on Boggo-Road Conditions. A 'hush hush' departmental inquiry was apparently underway following the escape of three prisoners including Arthur 'Slim' Halliday. But another man, after a stay in Boggo Road Gaol, went public describing 'appalling filth' and hygiene; he told of a privileged prisoner who slept regularly in the hospital, 'his favourite resort'; fruit and vegetables were unheard of; stealing of prison rations; and smuggling of goods in and out of the prison.
This disturbing article hit the news stands on the day Ian (Deb's father) should have been celebrating his 20th birthday. There were no celebrations for the Brown family.
Today Ian Brown turns eighty-nine.
Deb and Jan
16 February 2016
Lingering Doubts at New Farm Editions
New Farm Editions Homewares, Gifts & Books
New Farm Editions facebook
Looking forward to discussing our book with customers at New Farm Editions this Saturday 20 February between 11 - 2 pm.
Deb and Jan
11 February 2016
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
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
6 February 2016
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
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
1 February 2016
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:
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
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
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