Murder, misadventure & miserable ends : tales from a colonial coroner's court / Catie Gilchrist.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gilchrist, Catie, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shiell, Henry.

Death--Australia--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.

Death.

New South Wales.

History.

Murder--Australia--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.

Murder.

Coroners--Australia--New South Wales--Sydney--History--19th century.

Coroners.

Sydney (N.S.W.)--Social life and customs--1851-1901.

Sydney (N.S.W.).

Sydney (N.S.W.)--History--1851-1901.

Manners and customs.

New South Wales--Sydney.

Genre:

History.

True crime stories.

Physical Description:

xvii, 380 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some colour), map ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Murder, misadventure and miserable ends

Place of Publication:

Sydney, NSW : HarperCollins Publishers, 2019.

Summary:

Murder in colonial Sydney was a surprisingly rare occurrence, so when it did happen, it caused a great sensation. People flocked to the scene of the crime, to the coroner's court and to the criminal courts to catch a glimpse of the accused. Henry Shiell was the Sydney City Coroner from 1866 to 1889. In the course of his unusually long career he delved into the lives, loves, crimes, homes and workplaces of colonial Sydneysiders. He learnt of envies, infidelities, passions, and loyalties, and just how short, sad and violent some lives were. But his court was also, at times, instrumental in calling for new laws and regulations to make life safer.

Contents:

Murder most foul

Manslaughter

This rash act

Awful accidents

Dreadful dangers and daily life

Women's troubles

Who was Mr Henry Shiell.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781460755785

1460755782

OCLC:

1086295334