Response from Reg Brown's son

After having watched you, Deb and Jan, for the last eight years sifting through and researching every written and spoken word of this case I must admit I never expected to see the end result, Lingering Doubts, so thoroughly and professionally written. You have excelled and congratulations are not only due for a job well done, but also for a very successful book launch at the Regatta Hotel - where the number of people present alone, speaks for the success of your story.
You have shown that in 1947 a criminal trial, with a jury, was a prosecutor's playpen, especially with the advantage of a weak defence. The reality was they could convict almost anyone. Prosecutors, police, forensic scientists, were all players on the same team, and they all liked to win. The hallowed principle of 'presumed innocent' was a joke.
A very big thank you to Bob Bottom for travelling interstate to do the honours at the launch and also John McRobert and team, for taking the punt and publishing the 'true' story.
On behalf of my sister, Val and myself, I want to thank you Deb and Jan for opening up the window that we have had locked up tight for the last 66 years. We had never spoken a word to anyone about the shameful horror that happened so long ago to two families - the Browns and the Armstrongs. You have also opened a window of opportunity to enable us to at last come to terms with the fact there definitely would appear to be 'lingering doubts' about our Dad's guilt. I am very proud to be your Dad, Deb, and your Uncle Ian, Jan.
Can't wait for the next book!
Ian Brown

QWeekend

We are pleased to advise that Matt Condon's Qweekend article about our grandfather's case and the journey of Lingering Doubts  will appear on Saturday 12 April, 2014.
Deb and Jan

Matthew Condon - author, Courier-Mail journalist

Matt Condon's much-awaited sequel to Three Crooked Kings was released yesterday. Jacks and Jokers delves further into the insidious police corruption that was rife in by-gone Brisbane.
After reading Lingering Doubts, Matt suggested an interview. This has now occurred and Matthew Condon's article on our grandfather's case and the Lingering Doubts journey will be published in the QWeekend magazine - either in this Saturday's, or the following Saturday's Courier-Mail. We will post the date as soon as we know.
Deb and Jan

Miscarriages of Justice - Dr Bob Moles

Dr Bob Moles has advised that tonight on A Current Affair, Channel 9 will run a program on Gordon Wood, acquitted of the murder of his girl friend. He is highlighting the case of Henry Keogh in South Australia who has been jailed for 19 years for drowning his fiancee in the bath at their home.

Recent media reports on the Keogh case can be found here:

http://netk.net.au/Keogh/MediaList.asp

Dr Moles said he will be putting a link to the program and the transcript on his website as soon as it is aired.

Lingering Doubts is listed on Dr Bob Moles' website titled Networked Knowledge (go to What's New or Miscarriages of Justice - Queensland). Our book will form part of a campaign seeking establishment of a National Criminal Cases Review Commission

Respected investigative reporter Bob Bottom broke this exciting news at our book launch.
Click here to read Bob Bottom's speech

We have discovered there are a group of dedicated people in Australia working behind the scenes to right many wrongs.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - reader reviews and conclusions

Our publisher, Copyright Publishing has received a steady stream of reader views.
To see reviews of Lingering Doubts and read other peoples' opinions and the conclusions they have drawn about the 1947 police investigation into Bronia Armstrong's death and Reg Brown's conviction please click here
Our sincere thanks to each and every one of our readers,
Deb and Jan

Qld. Police Commissioner Frank Bischof - Jacks and Jokers

Detective Sub-Inspector Frank Bischof, one of the detectives who arrested our grandfather for the murder of Bronia Armstrong in 1947 got a mention in today's Sunday Mail. Matthew Condon, in his soon to be released book, Jacks and Jokers, (the sequel to Three Crooked Kings) unearths claims that 'corrupt former Queensland Police Commissioner Frank Bischof may have indecently dealt with young people he professed to be helping'. How many lives did this powerful and unscrupulous individual actually destroy, we wonder?
Deb and Jan

sixty-seven years ago - part 9 - death in Boggo Road Gaol

Thursday 20 March, 1947
Early in the morning on this day, our grandfather's body was discovered in a jail cell. He was 9 days into his life sentence. It was alleged he committed suicide by hanging himself with his belt which he had attached to the bars of the cell window. A  statement of innocence was found beside his emaciated body. Once again Reg Brown declared emphatically that he had nothing to do with Bronia Armstrong's death. Also on this day the Courier-Mail received a letter from an unknown person confessing to the Armstrong murder. In keeping with the speed of this entire case, Detective Stewie Kerr instantly disregarded the letter and its contents.
Deb and Jan

67th anniversary of life sentence draws new evidence in Arcade Murder

It is eerily poignant that this week, 67 years ago, as our grandfather experienced the horrors of the first days of his life sentence in Boggo Road Gaol, we commenced our campaign to inform the public of the injustices and official malpractice prevalent throughout the 1947 police investigation, prison system and Supreme Court trial. It took 2 months to the day to arrest Reg Brown for wilful murder and sentence him to life. Someone, somewhere was in a big hurry to get Reg Brown out of the way. This week has brought with it a myriad of emotions. Apart from the obvious feelings of despair and sorrow for our grandfather, we are  extremely grateful to our audiences and supporters for their interest in  this historic case. Book sales have been good and we have received book reviews we could only dream about. Another high note was our interview with Matt Condon author of Three Crooked Kings and soon to be released Jacks and Jokers,  for a QWeekend article - late March/early April.  But above all, our hope that Lingering Doubts might draw new evidence from the public has already been fulfilled. A lady has signed a statement to say she was in the Wallace Bishop Arcade on 10 January, 1947 and personally heard a 'muffled scream' at approx. 4.25 pm. She was returning a book at a small upstairs library and asked the librarian, 'What was that?'  The librarian replied,

 'I think there's an acting class across the hall and they're practising screaming.' 

 This is HUGE. We are now desperately seeking further information about this acting class and also about an upstairs library. Morgan's library connected to Hollywood Studios was said to be located on the ground floor. The existance of an acting class would clearly explain the extreme variance in the number of screams witnesses said they heard. But it also supports our grandfather's claim that a female had called into the BAFS reception area to collect Bronia that Friday afternoon. He overheard a conversation, something about coordinating the squeals with the pistol shot. All lies, according to the police. No mention ever of an acting class being conducted in the Wallace Bishop Arcade. Who could orchestrate the concealment of such vital and obvious information? Is it possible the legal system was this corrupt?? It truly beggars belief.
Deb and Jan

Thank you

Thank you to Rosemary Worthington and 101.5 FM; likewise to the Caboolture News,  Caboolture Herald and Moreton Shire Libraries for their support in our quest to re-present Reg Brown's story to the public.


Deb and Jan

Our travels bring new evidence

We've had an exciting week as we've travelled to libraries within the Moreton Shire to present our book, and our literary journey,  before discerning audiences. There is always the hope that we might discover someone who remembers something or someone linked to the events of 1947.  We have.  A lovely lady gave us some very interesting insights about the day Bronia Armstrong was murdered as she happened to be in the Wallace Bishop Arcade on that very afternoon - January 10, 1947.  This person, who was 17 years old at the time, thought what she had to share was insignificant .  But we can see it just might be a tiny link that supports our claim to our grandfather's innocence. If anyone else has anything to share pertinent to the time or the crime, we are eager to talk with you.  This journey isn't over yet. 

Deb and Jan