Until October 1868, as far as the public knew, Frank S Bowerman was a minor civil servant on the Darling Downs. He was appointed as Police Magistrate at Leyburn in March.
The first hint that all was not as it should be came with a story in the Dalby Herald on 10 October, in which a publican was charged with not having a valid billiards license. The publican gave evidence that he had paid his license fee to the then Clerk of Petty Sessions, a Mr Bowerman, who was too busy to receipt his cheque. Oddly enough, Mr Bowerman came into his establishment that same evening and paid a private debt to his billiard marker with the very same cheque. It was all very odd.
The Queensland Times correspondent put it more bluntly:
If I, an unknown individual, had done the same act and appropriated ten pounds, the money of my employer, for a much shorter period than Mr. Bowerman retained the moneys of the Government in this instance, I should have been in imminent peril of very speedily finding myself in unpleasant quarters.
Nothing further was reported in the newspapers, until 16 November, when the Dalby Herald and the Warwick Examiner reported that a rumour was afloat that Frank Bowerman, Police Magistrate at Leyburn, was suspended from his position pending an inquiry into the billiard license matter at Dalby.
In fact, by the time the public heard about the billiard license fee matter, Frank Bowerman had been the subject of official audits, boards of inquiry, and was on the verge of losing office.
Leyburn
In early 1868, it seemed that Frank Bowerman’s dream had come true. Arthur Manning, the Under Colonial Secretary, telegraphed to offer him the position of Police Magistrate at Dalby. Mr Bowerman telegraphed his acceptance at once. Mr Manning then had the disagreeable task of telegraphing Mr Bowerman to admit that he’d made an error, and would Mr Bowerman consider taking the position of Police Magistrate at Leyburn? Mr Bowerman, no doubt somewhat peeved by having his hopes dashed due to a clerical error, would accept that position. A promotion was a promotion.
Leyburn was a much smaller town than Dalby, lying about 125 kilometres (77 miles) to the south-east. Its courthouse had only been built in 1866. Still, it was a Police Magistracy. But Frank Bowerman being Frank Bowerman, he had complaints. His salary was not adequate, he considered, when taking into account the fees and emoluments attached to the office, it added up to £300 per annum – “inadequate, considering the onerous and responsible duties attached to the office in question.” Furthermore, heavy rain had occurred at the time of moving from Dalby, and might he be paid for his expenses? No and no were the responses he received.
Irregularities and Laxities.
As Frank Bowerman settled in at Leyburn, Benjamin Cribb junior was appointed to take over his old Clerk of Petty Sessions role at Dalby. Cribb started to notice anomalies in the account books there.
Meanwhile, Bowerman must have been in some severe financial difficulty. He entreated the Colonial Secretaries of Queensland and New South Wales for the sum of £125 in compensation for the loss of the role at Sofala back in 1856. He pleaded again for a refund of his moving expenses to Leyburn. He borrowed heavily from family members.
It’s hard to say at this remove what caused Bowerman to suffer such financial distress. He may have gambled, or have been a drinker. There is no reference to either in his records. Perhaps he was just terrible with money, and felt the need to, as he had stated in 1850, “keep up the appearances necessary to my station in life.”
In August, Mr Bryant, the Inspector of Accounts, went through the Dalby accounts for the previous two years, and found a deficiency of £63, 7s, 6d. Bryant noted that matters had improved since Mr Cribb had taken over, but Mr Bowerman had not entertained “a proper sense of the responsibilities of his position.” The Colonial Treasurer noted, “a very irregular proceeding.” Frank Bowerman sent the Treasury £10 on account.
By October 1868, Frank Bowerman was in more trouble. He had cashed the pay cheque for one of the Leyburn police officers, and then drawn a cheque on his own account to pay the officer. The cheque bounced. On 20 October, Arthur Manning wrote to Bowerman, explaining that his actions amounted to misappropriation of public funds, and calling on him to show cause why he (Bowerman) should not be dismissed from the public service. Bowerman requested that a Board of Inquiry be convened, and travelled to Brisbane to fight for his career.
The letter from AW Manning to the Auditor-General, setting up a Board of Inquiry into FS Bowerman.
New South Wales Colonial Secretary’s Papers – State Records Office of New South Wales. (1848-1860)
Queensland Colonial Secretary’s Papers – State Library of Queensland. (1850-1878) Contains some of the NSW correspondence as well.
Newspaper Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 – 1954), Tuesday 5 June 1849, page 3.
Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW: 1845 – 1860), Saturday 9 June 1849, page 1.
Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858 – 1880), Thursday 28 November 1861, page 3
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Thursday 9 January 1868, page 3
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864-1933) Monday 23 March 1868, Page 4.
Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser (Qld.: 1866-1879) Saturday 18 April 1868, Page 2.
The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858-1880) Thursday 14 May 1868, Page 2.
Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858 – 1880), Tuesday 2 June 1868, page 3
The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858-1880) Tuesday 4 August 1868, Page 3.
Warwick Argus and Tenterfield Chronicle (Qld.: 1866-1879) Wednesday 23 September 1868, Page 4. Warwick Argus and Tenterfield Chronicle (Qld.: 1866 – 1879), Wednesday 7 October 1868, page 2.
Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld.: 1867-1919) Saturday 10 October 1868, page 2.
Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld.: 1867 – 1919), Saturday 10 October 1868, page 2.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1908), Saturday 17 October 1868, page 3.
Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld.: 1867 – 1919), Saturday 7 November 1868, page 2
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864-1933) Monday 9 November 1868, page 2.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864-1933) Monday 16 November 1868, page 2.
Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 – 1919), Saturday 21 November 1868, page 2
Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858 – 1880), Wednesday 25 November 1868, p 2
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Wednesday 25 November 1868, page 2
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1908), Thursday 26 November 1868, page 3
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Saturday 12 December 1868, page 4
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Wednesday 16 December 1868, page 3
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Wednesday 23 December 1868, page 2
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1908), Saturday 2 January 1869, page 4
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Thursday 21 January 1869, page 2
Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld.: 1867 – 1919), Saturday 13 February 1869, page 3
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1908), Tuesday 26 January 1869, page 5.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864-1933) Wednesday 3 March 1869, Page 2. The Courier.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1908), Saturday 13 March 1869, page 3
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1908), Saturday 3 April 1869, page 3.
Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.: 1866 – 1939), Saturday 10 July 1869, page 4
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Thursday 23 September 1869, page 3
Dalby Herald and Western Queensland Advertiser (Qld.: 1866 – 1879), Saturday 28 May 1870, page 2
Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.: 1866 – 1939), Saturday 13 August 1870, page 8
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Thursday 15 December 1870, page 2
Toowoomba Chronicle and Queensland Advertiser (Qld.: 1861 – 1875), Saturday 2 May 1874, page 3
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.: 1872 – 1947), Friday 16 February 1877, page 2
The Warwick Argus and Tenterfield Chronicle (Qld.: 1866-1879), Thursday 22 February 1877, page 2.
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Friday 2 March 1877, page 2
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Saturday 2 March 1878, page 4
Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser (Qld.: 1875 – 1879), Tuesday 5 March 1878, page 3
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.: 1872-1947), Thursday 7 March 1878, page 2. Shipping Intelligence.
Western Star and Roma Advertiser (Qld.: 1875 – 1948), Saturday 23 March 1878, page 3
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.: 1872-1947), Monday 6 May 1878, page 2. Shipping Intelligence.
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.: 1872-1947), Tuesday 18 June 1878, page 2.
Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), Monday 5 August 1878, page 2
Dalby Herald and Western Advertiser (Qld.: 1866-1879), Saturday 10 August 1878, page 2.
The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: 1858-1880), Saturday 17 August 1878, page 4.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864-1933), Monday 2 September 1878, page 2. Shipping.
Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser (Qld.: 1875 – 1879), Tuesday 25 March 1879, page 2
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.: 1878 – 1954), Wednesday 21 May 1879, page 2
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.: 1878 – 1954), Tuesday 3 June 1879, page 2
Warwick Argus (Qld.: 1879 – 1901), Saturday 1 November 1890, page 3
Australian Star (Sydney, NSW: 1887 – 1909), Thursday 29 November 1894, page 5
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.: 1872 – 1947), Saturday 1 December 1894, page 5
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld.: 1860 – 1947), Monday 3 December 1894, page 2
Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser (Qld.:1881 – 1902), Tuesday 4 December 1894, page 3
Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883 – 1930), Friday 7 December 1894, page 3
Mackay Mercury (Qld.: 1887 – 1905), Tuesday 2 January 1900, page 2
Illustration sources:
Sydney:
Sydney between1825 and 1830. Copy after an engraving “Vue de la partie meridionale de la ville de Sydney” by Victor Pillement. Plate 38 in “Voyage de decouvertes aux terres australes,” Atlas / Francois Peron. National Library of Australia.
St John’s Parramatta “View of St. John’s Parramatta,” pencil, by M.A. McHarg, 1842. National Library of Australia.
General Post Office “New Post Office, George Street, Sydney,” 1846, hand-coloured lithograph by F.G. Lewis and Edward Winstanley, Dixson Galleries, State Library of New South Wales
Majors Creek pictures
“My tent at Majors Creek, Braidwood,” 1852, pencil, by William Essington King, State Library of New South Wales.
“Majors Creek Diggins from my tents,” 1852, pencil, by William Essington King, State Library of New South Wales.
Sofala pictures
“Commissioners barracks at Sofala, diggers waiting for licences,” watercolour, 1852 by George Lacy, National Library of Australia.
“Mounted escort from Avisford to Sofala, gold carried in saddle bags, Sub Gold Commissioner in charge,” watercolour, 1852 by George Lacy, National Library of Australia.
Kelso:
Kelso parsonage, part of Series 03 Part 2: Churches – Country (N.S.W.), C-Ma volume 2, Architectural and Technical Drawings, State Library of New South Wales.
Dalby images:
Wooden Hotel Building, Dalby. Black and white photograph, State Library of Queensland.
View of the town of Dalby. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Bamford & Watt Auctioneers, Dalby. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
J Clark’s Universal Store, Dalby. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Leyburn images:
Charles Bell’s Commercial Store, Leyburn. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Leyburn Courthouse. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
James Mahony’s Store and residence, McIntyre Street, Leyburn. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Brisbane:
Frederick Orme Darvall. State Library of Queensland.
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory. State Library of Queensland.
William Thornton. State Library of Queensland.
William Street view with detail of CS office:
William street in Brisbane in 1865. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Detail of William Street in Brisbane in 1865, showing Colonial Secretary’s Office on the left. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Arthur Wilcox Manning
Arthur Wilcox Manning. Black and white photograph. State Library of Queensland.
Old Convict Barracks now used as Supreme Court
Brisbane Gaol and St Helena
St Helena at Low Tide. State Library of Queensland.
Sydney Botanical Gardens
Botanic Gardens, Sydney, N.S.W. 1890s [rustic bridge over Botanic Gardens Creek]. Author / Creator: Coxhead, F. A. (Frank Arnold), 1851-1919. Black and white photograph. State Library of New South Wales.
Gaol Description and Entrance Book photograph: Frank Sydney Bowerman, 1916. State Records Office of New South Wales.
Moreton Bay and More 