Local Boorowa author, Karen Smith, has published a new book called "Boorowa, My Love: How a Town Sought Justice for Three People in Peril."
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The book is written in the first person by the fictional Frances Mary Sheehan, a journalist with The Burrowa News, a newspaper serving Boorowa and surrounding townships. Frances is a person who sees the world in black and white, but three criminal cases that took place between 1942-1950 - a murder, an alleged attempted murder and a manslaughter case -profoundly change her. In all three cases, the accused were acquitted. But how? Why?
Karen said, "The first case concerns Patrick Maloney, who was charged with murdering his brother Edward at "Campbellfields" in 1942.
"The second case occurred in 1945, when Mrs Elizabeth Smart was charged with attempting to poison Charles Hamilton, Clive Wright, and Maisie Wright with strychnine, and writing threatening anonymous letters to Charles and Maisie.
"The third case happened in 1950 and concerns Julie Ann Collett, who was charged with the manslaughter of her uncle, Charlie Merritt.
"It's important to remember that until 1955, convicted murderers in NSW were facing the death penalty," Karen said, going on to explain that she was intrigued to investigate just why it was that all three people were acquitted.
"Newspaper reports were a useful source, but it wasn't until I accessed actual court depositions at the Western Sydney NSW Archives Office that it all became clear, how a town worked hard to ensure that the accused were going to get a fair hearing and that justice would be served.
As the book covers WWII and the period just after, the book explores the service of Boorowa's men and women, as is Boorowa's response to the conflict.
Karen's book is being launched at the Young and District Family History Group research room at 2 Campbell Street, Young on Saturday September 9, 2023 between 10.30 and 11.30am.
All are welcome.
