Click to read about Shirley Brifman C-M 13 April 2015
Quite rightly, Shirley Brifman's daughter wants an inquest into her mother's death - Matthew Condon tells the story.
Deb and Jan
13 April 2015
3 April 2015
Lingering Doubts - Stafford Probus Club
Yesterday we were warmly welcomed by the intelligent and jovial members of the Stafford Probus Club. Although, as we have witnessed many times, grimaces were aplenty at the mention of the name Frank Bischof. Many in the audience remembered the Arcade Murder and were curious to hear the story behind those long-ago newspaper headlines.
One gentleman suggested the title of our book should in fact be INCANDESCENT DOUBTS. He also said that by writing our book we had performed a service far greater than we realised. He will never know just how much his words meant to us, two granddaughters, who themselves were filled with doubts at the thought of writing this book.
Another lady approached us with our book in hand, saying her book club had chosen Lingering Doubts for their members to read. Small things that mean so much.
Beautiful Doreen is the lady that came forward last year with important new evidence:
Deb and Jan
One gentleman suggested the title of our book should in fact be INCANDESCENT DOUBTS. He also said that by writing our book we had performed a service far greater than we realised. He will never know just how much his words meant to us, two granddaughters, who themselves were filled with doubts at the thought of writing this book.
Another lady approached us with our book in hand, saying her book club had chosen Lingering Doubts for their members to read. Small things that mean so much.
 |
| A member of the audience, Deb, Doreen, Janice |
Beautiful Doreen is the lady that came forward last year with important new evidence:
A young Doreen was a visitor to the Wallace Bishop Arcade and heard a muffled scream that Friday afternoon 10 Jan 1947. When she asked the Arcade librarian about the noise, she was informed that the screams had been going on all afternoon; the librarian supposed the rehearsals were taking place across the passageway.The police said the screams came from Bronia Armstrong when our grandfather attacked her in his office. Our grandfather was the only person on record to speak of amateur radio plays and rehearsals taking place... the police labelled him a liar.
Deb and Jan
29 March 2015
Lingering Doubts - Thank you to Toowong & District Historical Society
Last Friday we shared our grandfather's story with another wonderful group of people from our family's former neighbourhood. We consider this an honour and a privilege. Bronia Armstrong and her family were also residents of this neighbourhood.
Following our presentation a gentleman came forward to express his admiration for a young woman he met in the fifties. He said she was not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside. The young woman was our Aunt Melva, the eldest of the Brown children.
A snapshot of our family's pioneering life in Brisbane's western suburbs can be read in the Toowong & District Historical Society publication The Cocks Family Tree - available for purchase from the Society and held by the Toowong Library.
Deb and Jan
Following our presentation a gentleman came forward to express his admiration for a young woman he met in the fifties. He said she was not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside. The young woman was our Aunt Melva, the eldest of the Brown children.
A snapshot of our family's pioneering life in Brisbane's western suburbs can be read in the Toowong & District Historical Society publication The Cocks Family Tree - available for purchase from the Society and held by the Toowong Library.
Deb and Jan
21 March 2015
20 March 2015
Lingering Doubts - 68 years ago - Death in Boggo Road Gaol - Part 9
Thursday 20 March, 1947
Early in the morning on this day, our grandfather's body was discovered. He was 9 days into his life sentence. It was alleged he committed suicide by hanging himself with his belt which apparently he had attached to the bars of the cell window. On a piece of jail issued toilet paper Reg Brown declared his innocence.
Coincidentally, also on this day the Courier-Mail received a letter from an unknown person confessing to Bronia Armstrong's murder. In line with the speed of the investigation and trial, Detective 'Stewie' Kerr instantly disregarded the handwritten confession letter.
Deb and Jan
Early in the morning on this day, our grandfather's body was discovered. He was 9 days into his life sentence. It was alleged he committed suicide by hanging himself with his belt which apparently he had attached to the bars of the cell window. On a piece of jail issued toilet paper Reg Brown declared his innocence.
Coincidentally, also on this day the Courier-Mail received a letter from an unknown person confessing to Bronia Armstrong's murder. In line with the speed of the investigation and trial, Detective 'Stewie' Kerr instantly disregarded the handwritten confession letter.
Deb and Jan
excerpt from The Courier-Mail - 21 March, 1947
11 March 2015
Lingering Doubts - 68 years ago - Guilty! - Part 8
Tuesday 11 March, 1947
Today 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 he had told a reporter:
One year ago on this very day, exactly 68 years after the event, we were presented with new and important evidence. This evidence supports our grandfather's claims of innocence, and shows just how criminal the all-powerful investigating police were in their pursuit of a conviction.
New evidence: a visitor to the Wallace Bishop Arcade heard a scream that Friday afternoon 10 Jan 1947. When she queried the scream, this visitor was told, by the Arcade librarian, that the screams had been going on all afternoon; the librarian supposed the rehearsals were taking place across the passageway.
There was never a mention of these rehearsals, 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, ranging in number from 2 to 100. The only person to speak of rehearsals was our grandfather when he was responding to police questioning. Within 9 days of his sentence being handed down he was dead.
Deb and Jan
Today 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 he had told a reporter:
Well, the verdict could not be guilty. You see, I am not guilty. I didn't kill that girl. There can only be one verdict. I will be free in a few minutes.It was reported our grandfather, whose physical appearance had deteriorated dramatically since his arrest only 8 weeks earlier, struggled to his feet and stumbled from the dock. Reg Brown, family man and accountant, was returned to Boggo Road Gaol but this time to the 'lifers' block.
One year ago on this very day, exactly 68 years after the event, we were presented with new and important evidence. This evidence supports our grandfather's claims of innocence, and shows just how criminal the all-powerful investigating police were in their pursuit of a conviction.
New evidence: a visitor to the Wallace Bishop Arcade heard a scream that Friday afternoon 10 Jan 1947. When she queried the scream, this visitor was told, by the Arcade librarian, that the screams had been going on all afternoon; the librarian supposed the rehearsals were taking place across the passageway.
There was never a mention of these rehearsals, 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, ranging in number from 2 to 100. The only person to speak of rehearsals was our grandfather when he was responding to police questioning. Within 9 days of his sentence being handed down he was dead.
Deb and Jan
7 March 2015
Lingering Doubts - 1 Year On
12 months since Lingering Doubts was launched at Brisbane's Regatta Hotel! And our grandfather's story has travelled further than we could ever have imagined. Furthermore, the growing support we are receiving in favour of Reg Brown's innocence is nothing short of astounding. It continues to be an incredible journey.
Thank you one and all, from us and on behalf of our family.
Deb and Jan
.
Thank you one and all, from us and on behalf of our family.
Deb and Jan
.
5 March 2015
Lingering Doubts available in Caboolture
We are happy to advise that copies of Lingering Doubts - Going inside Brisbane's Arcade Murder can now be purchased at Caboolture Park News located in King Street.
Our thanks to Tony.
Deb and Jan
Our thanks to Tony.
Deb and Jan
3 March 2015
Lingering Doubts - 68 years ago - Supreme Court Trial - Part 7
Monday 3 March, 1947
Today, 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 be later relayed to the court by the 'Crown witness' himself. However the Crown failed to call this 'witness' to the stand, therefore Reg's defence team were denied the opportunity of cross-examination. This is, naturally, considered to be fundamentally unfair and unethical and would support an application to discharge the jury on the basis it involved a mistrial. The breach was not acknowledged; not by the Crown, the defence team nor the Supreme Court judge, (Sir) Alan Mansfield.
Deb and Jan
Today, 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 be later relayed to the court by the 'Crown witness' himself. However the Crown failed to call this 'witness' to the stand, therefore Reg's defence team were denied the opportunity of cross-examination. This is, naturally, considered to be fundamentally unfair and unethical and would support an application to discharge the jury on the basis it involved a mistrial. The breach was not acknowledged; not by the Crown, the defence team nor the Supreme Court judge, (Sir) Alan Mansfield.
Deb and Jan
27 February 2015
Lingering Doubts - Autumn edition Highlife Downs Living Magazine
Click to read 'Truth Quest' article
During our western tour we were interviewed by a reporter from the Highlife Downs Living Magazine. Highlife is a beautiful glossy publication, available in most newsagencies, and we're very grateful they chose to write their article, which helps us present our grandfather's case to a broader community. Although important new evidence has already come in we live in hope that someone else may still come forward and be willing to share memories/information that could assist us should this old Brisbane crime ever be re-examined.
Thank you Kerryn and Dana from Highlife Downs Living.
Deb and Jan
During our western tour we were interviewed by a reporter from the Highlife Downs Living Magazine. Highlife is a beautiful glossy publication, available in most newsagencies, and we're very grateful they chose to write their article, which helps us present our grandfather's case to a broader community. Although important new evidence has already come in we live in hope that someone else may still come forward and be willing to share memories/information that could assist us should this old Brisbane crime ever be re-examined.
Thank you Kerryn and Dana from Highlife Downs Living.
Deb and Jan
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