Bertha Mary Jane Sandy

F, #19802, b. 1878, d. 10 Jun 1950
Father*John (Herman) Sandberg
Mother*Jane Pyers b. 1846, d. 1884
Married NameBertha Mary Jane Freyer. 
Married NameBertha Mary Jane Backus. 
Name Variation Bertha Mary Jane Sandy was also known as Sandberg. 
Name Variation Bertha Mary Jane Sandy was also known as Grant. 
Birth*1878 Cobram, VIC, Australia, #B12212/1878 (par John SANDY & Jane PYERS) - as Mary Jane SANDY.1,2 
Marriage*28 Jun 1905 Spouse: William Vincent Backus. Melbourne, VIC, Australia, #M4274/1905, Wm Vincent BACKUS & Bertha Mary GRANT.3
 
Marriage-Notice*6 Jul 1905 Marriage. BACKUS—SANDBERG—On 28th June, at Melbourne, by Rev. Abbott, William V. Backus, to Mary J. Sandberg, eldest daughter of J. H. Sandberg, of Naroghid.4 
Widow1 Jul 1929Bertha Mary Jane Sandy became a widow upon the death of her husband William Vincent Backus.5 
Marriage*1934 Spouse: Frederick Foster Freyer. VIC, Australia, #M7347.6
 
Widow28 Nov 1947Bertha Mary Jane Sandy became a widow upon the death of her husband Frederick Foster Freyer.7 
Death*10 Jun 1950 Kew, VIC, Australia, #D6381 (Age 72) [par John SANDBERG & Jeanne PYRES] - as FREYER.8 
Death-Notice*12 Jun 1950 FREYER.—On June 10, at Caritas Christi, Bertha Mary, beloved wife of the late Frederick, loving mother of John, Marjorie (Mrs. Cope), and Leslie, aged 72 years. —R.I.P.
FREYER.—On June 10, at Caritas Christi, Bertha Mary, loving sister of John (deceased), James (deceased, 1st A.I.F.), Hazel (Mrs. Ivory), William (Shepparton), and Kathleen, (deceased), loved sister-in-law of George Ivory, loving aunt of Emily Fraser, aged 72 years. —In God's care.
FREYER.—Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Mrs. BERTHA MARY FREYER will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, Otter street, Collingwood, on WEDNESDAY, at 9.30 a.m.
The Funeral will leave the church at the conclusion of Mass for the Fawkner Cemetery.9 

Electoral Rolls (Australia) and Census (UK/IRL)

DateAddressOccupation and other people at same address
1931193 Langridge Street, Abbotsford, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties.10

Grave

  • FA-R/C*I***4242, Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, VIC, Australia11

Newspaper-Articles

  • 21 Jun 1916: BERWICK POLICE COURT. At the Berwick Police Court on Friday last, before Messrs E. L. Vieusseux (chairman), W. G. a'Beckett, T. McLennan, Geo. L. Wilson, Harvey Smith and A. R. Henty, Js.P.,
    Bertha Backus and Isabella Fraser were charged on the information of Constable Lombard with stealing certain articles valued at £12 from a week-end residence at Beaconsfield.
    Inspector Jones prosecuted, the accused being undefended.
    Ethel Caldwell Cadell stated on oath—I reside at South Yarra. I visit a week-end place at Beaconsfield. I was there early in February, but did not miss anything. Was there again on the 4th instant and found the place had been dismantled. The canvas had been taken off of the back of the house. I missed a long golf coat, linen, blankets, an oil painting, tea and sugar. The golf coat produced is mine. I also identify the linen, china, and a box. I value my total loss at £10. I gave no person authority to take the articles.
    Annie P. Vagg stated—I reside in Northcote. My daughter had certain property stolen. I identify some of the property produced as that owned by my daughter—crockery, clothing, a box, and some linen. I value them at about 30s. No person had authrity to remove the goods from the house.
    L. Barnes, a laborer residing at Beaconsfield, said he knew the house owned by Mrs Latham. On the 13th May he saw a woman and two children there. He could not identify them. He afterwards went to the house and found it had been broken into, some bags being torn away.
    Nellie Barnes, a little girl, also gave evidence.
    Arthur William Shorthouse, cab proprietor, stated that he drove Mrs Fraser from Quamby cottage to Beaconsfield railway station on the 1st June. She had the box produced with her.
    Constabe Lombard stated—On the 4th instant Mrs Cadell reported to me that Mrs Latham's house had been broken into. On the following Tuesday I went to the house of Mrs Backus, at Beaconsfield. She and her husband were there. I said "I am a constable from Berwick, and I am making enquiries about Mrs Latham's robbery." Mrs Backus said they had heard nothing about it. I said, "Is it true as I have been informed, that you were up there on Tuesday, and carrying a bag? "She replied, "I was up there, and we had some bushes in a bag." Her husband said "Is there any suspicion on us?" I said, "Yes ; your wife can tell you all about it." He replied, "You can search the house if you like." I searched the house, and in the bedroom I pointed to a tin box and asked what was in it. Mrs Backus replied. "Some of my old clothes." Her husband then opened the box. I found the cups and saucers produced, also table cloth, quilt, knife forks and spoons. I said, "This is some of the stolen property." The husband said. "I did not know it was here." Mrs Backus said, " Whatever me and my sister are, this is an innocent man. My sister put those things there and was to take them away next Saturday. I begged of my sister not to take these things, and even on the Thursday morning before she went away, when she had them spread on the table. I asked her to take them back."
    The nightdress produced was also found in the room. Mrs Backus said her sister gave her that. I then arrested her and charged her with larceny. On the 7th instant, in company with Plain-clothes Constable Grant, I went to Buckhurst street, Montague, and saw Mrs Fraser. I asked her when she was at her sister's place at Beaconsfield last and she said she had not been there for a month. I said to her, "What about the property you left there?" and she replied, "I left no property there. I do not know what you are talking about." I then told her I had a warrant for her arrest for larceny at Beaconsfield, and was going to search her room. She said "Everything in that room belongs to me except the bed, chest of drawers and washstand." We found the box produced packed with crockery and some clothes. We also found the golf coat produced, which she claimed as her property. She was then arrested.
    Constable Grant gave corroborative evidence as to what had taken place at Montague. This was the case for the prosecution.
    In answer to the usual question the accused said they wished the Bench to deal with the case. They pleaded guilty, but said they had not taken some of the articles with which they were charged. Mrs Fraser asked for leniency. She said she was highly respected, and it was her first trouble of the kind. She did not know why she took the things, as she did not require them. She asked to be dealt with as a first offender.
    Mrs Backus said she regretted what had happened.
    After some deliberation the Bench sentenced each of the accused to a month's imprisonment, the chairman remarking that it was necessary that weekend residences should be protected.
    An order was made for return of the goods to the owers. Elizabeth Clarence Cadell, Hazel Isobel Fraser Annie Priscilla Vagg12
  • 24 Jun 1916: Smart Arrest.
    When the robbery of clothing and crockery, to the value of £7 or £8, from a dwelling at Beaconsfield, was reported to Constable Lombard, of Berwick, he promptly set about making inquiries. His investigations indicated that the thief, or one of the thieves, had fled to Port or South Mielbourne, and Constable Lombard enlisted the services of Plain-clothes Constable J. S. Grant, of Port Melbourne, in the search for the culprit or culprits. The result of bringing Constable Grant into the quest was the smart arrest by both officers at Montague of Mabel Fraser, married. She was charged at Berwick on Friday, June 16, with larceny from a dwelling at Beaconsfield of clothing and crockery to the value of £7 or £8. Another married woman named Bertha Bachus (a sister of Fraser) was also charged with implication in the theft. The two women pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Elizabeth Clarence Cadell, Hazel Isobel Fraser Annie Priscilla Vagg13

Citations

  1. [S3] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Edwardian Index Victoria 1902-1913 "Birth Place as Cobrico."
  2. [S26] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Births) (online) "#B12212/1878 (par John SANDY & Jane PYERS) - as Mary Jane SANDY, Birth registered at Te Ra, Australia."
  3. [S27] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Marriages) (online) "#M4274/1905, Wm Vincent BACKUS & Bertha Mary GRANT."
  4. [S14] Newspaper - Camperdown Chronicle (Vic.), Thu 6 Jul 1905, p2
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/30351443
  5. [S28] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Deaths) (online) "#D10613/1929 (Age 56) (par James BACKUS & Johannah FLYNN) - as William Vincent BACKUS, Death registered at Melbourne East, Australia."
  6. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online) "married as Bertha Mary Jane BACKUS."
  7. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online) "Place of birth IRELAND."
  8. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online) "Place of birth COBRICO."
  9. [S11] Newspaper - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Mon 12 Jun 1950, p10
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22834850
  10. [S131] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1931.
  11. [S39] Index of burials in the cemetery of Fawkner Memorial Park, online @ http://www.gmct.com.au/deceased-search/.
  12. [S19] Newspaper - Berwick Shire News and Pakenham and Cranbourne Gazette (Berwick, Vic.), Wed 21 Jun 1916, p3
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92092209
  13. [S14] Newspaper - Port Melbourne Standard (Vic.), Sat 24 Jun 1916, p2
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/91168853
Last Edited28 Mar 2026

Hazel Isobel Sandberg

F, #19814, b. 1880, d. Jan 1962
Father*John (Herman) Sandberg
Mother*Jane Pyers b. 1846, d. 1884
Married NameHazel Isobel Smith. 
Name Variation Hazel Isobel Sandberg was also known as Sexton. 
Married NameHazel Isobel Fraser. 
Name Variation Hazel Isobel Sandberg was also known as Elizabeth Elsie Eveline. 
Married NameHazel Isobel Ivory. 
Birth*1880 Cobden, VIC, Australia, possible birth: #B7612/1880 (par Jno Isaac SANDY & Jane PYRES) - as Elizabeth Ann SANDY, Birth registered at Cobden, Australia.1 
Marriage*29 Aug 1902 Spouse: James Smith. VIC, Australia, #M4435 married as John SMITH (born England) & Elizabeth Elsie Eveline SANDBERG (born Camperdown.)2
 
Marriage*9 Dec 1907 Spouse: Henry Alexander Fraser. VIC, Australia, #M8630 - married as Hazel Isobel STUART.2
 
Widow20 Jun 1915Hazel Isobel Sandberg became a widow upon the death of her husband Henry Alexander Fraser.3 
Marriage*1916 Spouse: John Sexton. Albury, NSW, Australia, #M2947 - as John SEXTON & FRASER.4
 
Note*21 Apr 1925 John Sexton. Inquest evidence: Hazel Isabel Sexton, Widow, residing at 12 Little Mountain Street, South Melbourne
The deceased John Sexton was my husband I last saw him alive at 12.14 on the 2nd inst at the Melbourne Hospital in the casualty room where he died. He was aged 50 years. On the 2nd inst at the City Morgue I identified his body. I came home on the 1st and found him lying on the bed. He got from bed and went to the kitchen and I went to the kitchen and he called to me and said 'Come down here I want to speak to you. I did not go at once but went just after. He came to the bedromn door and said come down here I dont want the girl to hear me." I followed him. He then walked to the kitchen and I went with him. My daughter Emily Fraser followed behind unknown to him. He then walked in from the back door with a glass that had some brown liquid in it and he said "I am titred of everything there is too much against me and I cannot stand this any longer and this is the end of it" He then drank the brown liquid which was in a glass. I saw him take a cup off the table Just after then and drank some milk from it and then lay in the floor and said I am sorry for you both only I cant help it" I said ''What did you take?" He said You can see the bottle" I saw the bottle after some little time I now know that it was lysol that was in the bottle. I gave him some salt and water and some carbonate of soda and that had no effect. I sent for the
Police and also a Doctor and after that he was taken to the Melbourne Hospital. He died there in the Casualty room.
We had been living together and he was worried. He was a returned soldier and his nerves were shattered. He had been out of employment for some time. He was never the same after he returned fromthe War. At times I saw an alteration in his mind after he came back from the war and he had threatened to take his life before that.

Emily Isabel Fraser, waitress residing at 12 Little Mountain Street South Melbourne. The deceased was my step father. I have heard the evidence of my mother and that is true and I have nothing to add to it.5 
Marriage*1937 Spouse: George William Ivory. VIC, Australia, #M3766 - married as Hazel Isobel SEXTON.6
 
WidowJun 1959Hazel Isobel Sandberg became a widow upon the death of her husband George William Ivory.6 
Death*Jan 1962 Melbourne North, VIC, Australia, #D2654 (Age 81) [par John Isa SANDY & Jane PYERS].7 

Electoral Rolls (Australia) and Census (UK/IRL)

DateAddressOccupation and other people at same address
191243 Greig Street, South Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties (as Isabel FRASER) - also Victor Lloyd Fraser rubber-worker & Lillie Fraser home duties. With Henry Alexander Fraser.8
19147 Harold Street, Middle Park, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties (as Isabel FRASER) - also Lily Fraser home duties. With Henry Alexander Fraser.9
191995 Princes Street, Port Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: nurse. With John Sexton.10
bt 1919 - 1924202 Stokes Street, Port Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: nurse.10,11,12
192524 Brooks Street, South Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties (also Catherine SEXTON home duties).13
1931Golf Links, Ivanhoe, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties. With George William Ivory.14
193420 University Street, Carlton South, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties. With George William Ivory. With Emily Isobel Ivory.15
194355 Leveson Street, North Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties. With George William Ivory.16
1954Leveson Street, North Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: home duties. With George William Ivory.17

Grave

  • FA-MET*D***1202, Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, VIC, Australia18

Newspaper-Articles

  • 1 Oct 1908: BIGAMY CHARGE FAILS. BOUNDARY RIDER'S UNCERTAINTY. IDENTITY OF A SIGNATURE.
    At the Fitzroy Court yesterday, before Messrs Hooper and Yager, J.P's, Hazel Isabel Fraser was charged with bigamy.
    Mr. J. S Mornane appeared for the accused.
    Sub-inspector Dungey said that the evidence would show that in April, 1902, Fraser married James Smith. On December 29, 1905, she went through the form of marriage, with George Smith, although her first husband, James Smith, was still living.
    James Smith (a foreigner ) said: -I am a boundary rider, employed at the the Round Hill Station, New South Wales. I met Fraser on a Saturday in April, 1902, in Melbourne, and we were married the next week. I don't know who married us. We were married in Bourke-street -(laughter)-on the left hand side, near Elizabeth-street. My wife's former name was Elsie Elizabeth Sandberg.
    Directly after our marriage we went to Albury, and from there to another town. A few days afterwards my wife with my consent went to Albury. Some days afterwards I sent her some money to come back, but she went to Melbourne. I received one or two letters from her. I did not see her from the day she left me until now. I knew her three days before I married her.
    Sub inspector Dungey.— Is Fraser the woman you married on the 29th December, 1902?—Yes.
    Mr. Mornane—Will you swear that she is the woman you married?
    Witness (after a long pause).—I think she is.
    Mr. Mornane.—Will you swear that she is?
    Witness (after another long pause) —I'm not sure.
    To the Bench.— It is six years ago since I saw her.
    Witness. —I will not swear that she is the woman I married. She has fine teeth now. (Loud laughter.)
    Mr. Mornane. As the marriage has not been proved the prosecution fails.
    Sub-inspector Dungey. —I have other evidence that will prove the marriage.
    Sergeant Taylor said: —On September 15 Constable Allen and I saw Fraser at her house at Albert Park. I asked her whether she had been married to a man named James Smith, and she said that she had. I then asked her whether she had afterwards married George Smith, and she replied, "Yes." I wrote down her statement and she signed it.
    Witness read the statement, which was as follows:— I was married to James Smith at Cromwell-buildings, by Pastor Abbott about April 27, 1902. I am not sure of the date. I lived with him for about three days. He took me to Albury, and from there on to a station, and had no place to accommodate me. With his permission I went back to Albury, and from there to Melbourne.
    I advertised in a Melbourne and a Sydney paper that if I did not hear from Smith I would marry again. I also reported the matter to the police at Bendigo. I was married to George Smith by the Rev. J. Hoskings on December 29, at Fitzroy. I can't be sure of the year. I lived with him for about three weeks at Bendigo. He would not work to support me. I had to work to keep things going. He was drinking, and left me, to go with Dart's merry-go-round.
    I last saw him about 12 months ago at Castlemaine. He admitted to me that he was married to a girl at Ballarat. I have not seen or heard from him since. I was married to Henry Alexander Fraser by the Rev. Mr. Burns on December 9, 1907."
    Mr. Mornane (to witness)—Did you see Fraser (the defendant) sign that statement?
    Witness. After I had written the statement I asked her to sign it, but she refused. We left, and in the afternoon I again went to the house. I asked her to sign the statement, and she said that she would not. Afterwards she picked it up from the table and took it into another room, and in a couple of minutes she brought it back signed.
    To the Bench. —I did not see her sign it, but when she brought it back I asked her whether it was her signature, and she replied "Yes."
    Mr. Mornane.—For all you know anyone might have signed it?
    Witness. —I did not see any other persons about.
    Clarence Abbott stated: My father is a minister of the Free Christian Church, and has a license to marry. I see on the certificate (produced) that I was a witness to a marriage on April 29, 1902, but I have no recollection of the parties.
    Hazel Isabel Fraser was discharged.19
  • 21 Nov 1908: THREE TIMES MARRIED. CHARGE AGAINST A WOMAN. A COMPLICATED CASE.
    Some time ago a woman named Elizabeth Fraser was prosecuted at Fitzroy on a charge of bigamy. It was alleged that accused went through the form of marriage with a man named George Smith at the Congregational Church, Fitzroy, in 1905, while her husband, James Smith, was alive. The woman, it may be remembered, was discharged, owing to the fact that the latter Smith expressed some doubt as to her identity. The case was again referred to at the local court on Wednesday, when Mrs. Smith, who is alleged to have married a third husband, Henry Alexander Fraser, was charged with making a false declaration to the Rev. John Burns, Presbyterian minister. The information set out "that accused falsely represented that her name, was Hazel Isabel Stewart, that she was a widow, and that the date of her former husband's decease was June, 1900, whereas her name was Elizabeth E. E. Smith, the wife of James Smith, to whom she was married at Cromwell Buildings on 29th August, 1902, and who was still alive at the time of the said marriage.
    Sub-Inspector Carter prosecuted, and accused was defended by Mr. J. S. Mornane.
    The sub-inspector detailed the facts of the case, and said that accused was married to a man named George Smith, by the Rev. J. Hoskins, in December, 1905. She was subsequently married to a man named Fraser at Albert Park, though the two Smiths were still alive. Mr. Mornane objected to the information, which made no reference whatever to George Smith. The facts related to two different men.
    Sub-Inspector Carter : Well, I'll ask the bench to amend the information.
    Mr. Mornane : The bench cannot do any such thing. If you are going on with the case James Smith must be here to prove that he is accused's husband. At Fitzroy he was unable to identify her as his wife.
    Sub-Inspector Carter : Call the Rev. John Hoskins.
    Mr. Mornane : John Hoskins knows nothing about this woman's alleged marriage with James Smith, whose name appears in the information, so that settles it.
    Mr. Hartnell, J.P.: There seems to be a complication somewhere.
    Mr. Mornane : The matter was taken in hand by the Crown Law department, and has been bungled. There is a flaw in the information.
    Sub-Inspector Carter : Well, I will ask for an adjournment for seven days to issue a fresh summons.
    Mr. Mornane : And I'll ask for three guineas costs against the Crown.
    Mr. Hartnell : Adjourned for seven days. No costs.
    A second charge of making a false declaration on oath to the effect that there was no impediment by reason of a former marriage to prevent her marrying Henry Fraser was also adjourned.20
  • 8 Dec 1908: MARRIAGE CEREMONY. WRONG NAME GIVEN.
    A young woman named Elsie Violet Smith was placed on trial before Judge Chomley, in the Court of General Sessions yesterday, on a charge of having made a false statement to a minister celebrating a marriage. Mr. Finlayson, K.C., prosecuted for the Crown, and the accused was defended by Mr. H. J. Nolan (instructcd by Mr. J. S. Mornane).
    The principal Crown witness was the accused's sister, Bertha Mary Backus. She said:–In January, 1906, my sister told me she had married George Frederick Smith. In the end of October she came to stop with me, and asked if she could bring George Frederick Smith to stop with us. I said she could, and they stopped with us for about two months. He then went away, and I never saw him again until the proceedings in the Fitzroy Court a few weeks ago, when my sister was charged with bigamy. She had in the meantime told me that Smith was dead. I was present on December 9, 1907, when she was married to Henry Alexander Fraser by the Rev. J. A. Burns, at Merton-street, Albert-park. I heard the clergyman ask her her name, and she said Hazel Isabel Stewart. She also said she was a widow.
    To Mr. Nolan. –I am the accused's sister. She is 21, and I am 30.
    Then how do you know what her name is?
    You were not at the christening? –I think I was, but the name is in the family Bible.
    How long did you live together? –For about four or five years.
    Then you separated, and now you come here to swear what her name is? –Yes, I do swear it.
    You quarrelled frequently? –Yes, we never could agree. We were always snapping at one another.
    Did you know at the time she told you of Smith's death that she was going to marry Fraser? –Yes. I knew it a week before that.
    Did she tell you of it? –Yes; she asked us to be witnesses at the marriage. My husband said, "It looks fishy." She said "Don't you think I know what I am doing? Do you think I would run my head into a noose?"
    You wrote this letter (produced), saying you would like to see her get her deserts? Yes; she has ruined my life to a certain extent, and you surely don't expect me to have mercy on her now. She has done me too much harm. Do you expect me to have any pity on her? No! If she had treated me properly I would have stuck to her to the last minute. She deserves all she gets.
    She tried to separate my husband from me. William Vincent Backus, the husband of the last witness, and the Rev. J. A. Burns, Presbyterian minister, gave evidence of the marriage and of the statements made by the woman.
    Sergeant Taylor said he interviewed the woman on September 15. She admitted the Fraser marriage, and also admitted that she bad been previously married to George Smith by the Rev. John Hosking, at Fitzroy.
    Mr. Finlayson produced the marriage certificate, but Mr. Nolan objected to it going in as evidence, as there was nothing to identify the Elsie Violet Roberts, who signed it, with the woman in the dock. Judge Chomley ruled that the certificate was evidence.
    Sergeant Taylor then said that, to the best of his belief, the woman in the dock was the person mentioned in the certificate.
    George Frederick Smith was sworn, and said that he was married to the accused under the name of Elsie Violet Roberts, on December 29, 1905, by tho Rev. Mr. Hosking, at Fitzroy.
    Mr. Nolan objected that Smith, as the woman's husband, could not give evidence without the wife's consent, and she refused that consent. Smith was withdrawn from the box, and the Crown case closed.
    Mr. Nolan argued that there was no evidence to show that the name the woman gave was not her correct name.
    Judge Chomley said that the statement the woman made to the sergeant of police exactly tallied with the particulars in the first marriage certificate. It was rather a fanciful theory to argue that it was another woman, who was married by the Rev. Mr. Burns. The woman swore that she was a widow, but her husband Smith was produced in court alive and well.
    The jury, after a retirement of two hours, returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.21
  • 21 Jun 1916: BERWICK POLICE COURT. At the Berwick Police Court on Friday last, before Messrs E. L. Vieusseux (chairman), W. G. a'Beckett, T. McLennan, Geo. L. Wilson, Harvey Smith and A. R. Henty, Js.P.,
    Bertha Backus and Isabella Fraser were charged on the information of Constable Lombard with stealing certain articles valued at £12 from a week-end residence at Beaconsfield.
    Inspector Jones prosecuted, the accused being undefended.
    Ethel Caldwell Cadell stated on oath—I reside at South Yarra. I visit a week-end place at Beaconsfield. I was there early in February, but did not miss anything. Was there again on the 4th instant and found the place had been dismantled. The canvas had been taken off of the back of the house. I missed a long golf coat, linen, blankets, an oil painting, tea and sugar. The golf coat produced is mine. I also identify the linen, china, and a box. I value my total loss at £10. I gave no person authority to take the articles.
    Annie P. Vagg stated—I reside in Northcote. My daughter had certain property stolen. I identify some of the property produced as that owned by my daughter—crockery, clothing, a box, and some linen. I value them at about 30s. No person had authrity to remove the goods from the house.
    L. Barnes, a laborer residing at Beaconsfield, said he knew the house owned by Mrs Latham. On the 13th May he saw a woman and two children there. He could not identify them. He afterwards went to the house and found it had been broken into, some bags being torn away.
    Nellie Barnes, a little girl, also gave evidence.
    Arthur William Shorthouse, cab proprietor, stated that he drove Mrs Fraser from Quamby cottage to Beaconsfield railway station on the 1st June. She had the box produced with her.
    Constabe Lombard stated—On the 4th instant Mrs Cadell reported to me that Mrs Latham's house had been broken into. On the following Tuesday I went to the house of Mrs Backus, at Beaconsfield. She and her husband were there. I said "I am a constable from Berwick, and I am making enquiries about Mrs Latham's robbery." Mrs Backus said they had heard nothing about it. I said, "Is it true as I have been informed, that you were up there on Tuesday, and carrying a bag? "She replied, "I was up there, and we had some bushes in a bag." Her husband said "Is there any suspicion on us?" I said, "Yes ; your wife can tell you all about it." He replied, "You can search the house if you like." I searched the house, and in the bedroom I pointed to a tin box and asked what was in it. Mrs Backus replied. "Some of my old clothes." Her husband then opened the box. I found the cups and saucers produced, also table cloth, quilt, knife forks and spoons. I said, "This is some of the stolen property." The husband said. "I did not know it was here." Mrs Backus said, " Whatever me and my sister are, this is an innocent man. My sister put those things there and was to take them away next Saturday. I begged of my sister not to take these things, and even on the Thursday morning before she went away, when she had them spread on the table. I asked her to take them back."
    The nightdress produced was also found in the room. Mrs Backus said her sister gave her that. I then arrested her and charged her with larceny. On the 7th instant, in company with Plain-clothes Constable Grant, I went to Buckhurst street, Montague, and saw Mrs Fraser. I asked her when she was at her sister's place at Beaconsfield last and she said she had not been there for a month. I said to her, "What about the property you left there?" and she replied, "I left no property there. I do not know what you are talking about." I then told her I had a warrant for her arrest for larceny at Beaconsfield, and was going to search her room. She said "Everything in that room belongs to me except the bed, chest of drawers and washstand." We found the box produced packed with crockery and some clothes. We also found the golf coat produced, which she claimed as her property. She was then arrested.
    Constable Grant gave corroborative evidence as to what had taken place at Montague. This was the case for the prosecution.
    In answer to the usual question the accused said they wished the Bench to deal with the case. They pleaded guilty, but said they had not taken some of the articles with which they were charged. Mrs Fraser asked for leniency. She said she was highly respected, and it was her first trouble of the kind. She did not know why she took the things, as she did not require them. She asked to be dealt with as a first offender.
    Mrs Backus said she regretted what had happened.
    After some deliberation the Bench sentenced each of the accused to a month's imprisonment, the chairman remarking that it was necessary that weekend residences should be protected.
    An order was made for return of the goods to the owers. Elizabeth Clarence Cadell, Bertha Mary Jane Backus, Annie Priscilla Vagg22
  • 24 Jun 1916: Smart Arrest.
    When the robbery of clothing and crockery, to the value of £7 or £8, from a dwelling at Beaconsfield, was reported to Constable Lombard, of Berwick, he promptly set about making inquiries. His investigations indicated that the thief, or one of the thieves, had fled to Port or South Mielbourne, and Constable Lombard enlisted the services of Plain-clothes Constable J. S. Grant, of Port Melbourne, in the search for the culprit or culprits. The result of bringing Constable Grant into the quest was the smart arrest by both officers at Montague of Mabel Fraser, married. She was charged at Berwick on Friday, June 16, with larceny from a dwelling at Beaconsfield of clothing and crockery to the value of £7 or £8. Another married woman named Bertha Bachus (a sister of Fraser) was also charged with implication in the theft. The two women pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Elizabeth Clarence Cadell, Bertha Mary Jane Backus, Annie Priscilla Vagg23
  • 9 Oct 1924: At Brunswick yesterday John Sexton engineer, was ordered to pay £2 per week to his wife, who alleged that he had deserted her. John Sexton24
  • 2 Apr 1925: ENGINEER'S DEATH. John Sexton, 50. engineer, married, of Little Mountain street, South Melbourne. was taken to Melbourne Hospital last night, suffering apparently from poisoning. He died while under treatment in the casualty room. John Sexton25

Citations

  1. [S26] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (Births) (online) "#B7612/1880 (par Jno Isaac SANDY & Jane PYRES) - as Elizabeth Ann SANDY, Birth registered at Cobden, Australia."
  2. [S3] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Edwardian Index Victoria 1902-1913.
  3. [S4] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Great War Index Victoria 1914-1920.
  4. [S7] Registry of NSW Births Deaths and Marriages.
  5. [S24] PROV (Public Record Office Victoria), VPRS 24/ P0 unit 1070, item 1925/410.
  6. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online).
  7. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online) "Place of birth Cobden."
  8. [S112] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1912.
  9. [S114] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1914.
  10. [S119] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1919.
  11. [S122] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1922.
  12. [S124] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1924.
  13. [S125] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1925.
  14. [S131] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1931 "Hazel listed as IVORY."
  15. [S134] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1934.
  16. [S143] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1943.
  17. [S154] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1954.
  18. [S39] Index of burials in the cemetery of Fawkner Memorial Park, online @ http://www.gmct.com.au/deceased-search/.
  19. [S11] Newspaper - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Thu 1 Oct 1908, p8
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10195483
  20. [S14] Newspaper - Record (Emerald Hill, Vic.), Sat 21 Nov 1908, p3
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162598941
  21. [S11] Newspaper - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Tue 8 Dec 1908, p9
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10189847
  22. [S19] Newspaper - Berwick Shire News and Pakenham and Cranbourne Gazette (Berwick, Vic.), Wed 21 Jun 1916, p3
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92092209
  23. [S14] Newspaper - Port Melbourne Standard (Vic.), Sat 24 Jun 1916, p2
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/91168853
  24. [S16] Newspaper - The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Thu 9 Oct 1924, p10
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155533132
  25. [S14] Newspaper - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), Thu 2 Apr 1925, p6
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243762069
Last Edited28 Mar 2026
 

NOTE

Some family sections show only the children who were associated with Upper Beaconsfield.

Some individuals may be featured because members of their family were associated with the Upper Beaconsfield area, even though they themselves never lived here.