FS Bowerman. Part 1.
24 November 1868
At 9:30 in the morning of 24 November 1868, Arthur Simmonds, a storekeeper in Albert Street, Brisbane had a slightly unusual customer. A tall, thin auburn-haired man, with the dress and manner of a gentleman, who bore a rather distracted air. After looking around the store, the gentleman enquired, “Have you such a thing as a tomahawk?” Mr Simmonds did have such a thing and pointed the stranger towards some tools on display just outside the door. The man seemed extremely interested in a tomahawk, but, noticing that the handle was slightly loose, tried to haggle the price down from 5 shillings. He was refused. Simmonds offered to wrap the tomahawk, but the gentleman decided to put it inside his coat.
Just after midday, that gentleman turned up at the offices of the Colonial Secretary, and anxiously sought an interview with A.W. Manning, the Under-Colonial Secretary. Manning was seeing another official, and the visitor was told to wait. He was seen to slip into Manning’s office just after the previous visitor left. Several minutes later, screams echoed around the Colonial-Secretary’s office.
Clerks from adjoining offices rushed in to find Arthur Manning bleeding profusely from several blows to his head, and his assailant on his way to the door. The visitor was taken in charge, the constables were summoned, as were several doctors, who fought to save Arthur Manning’s life.
Acting Sergeant David Graham took custody of the assailant, who was “in a fearful state.” The man was Frank Sydney Bowerman, a Police Magistrate and Clerk of Sessions who had occupied the Bench at Dalby and Leyburn. And who had just tried to assassinate the second most powerful officer in the Civil Service.
Why he acted the way he did, and what had happened to him before and after November 24, 1868, is one of the more extraordinary tales of 19th century Queensland.
This is the first in a series of posts on the life of Frank Sydney Bowerman.
It will go over around five posts. I went down the world’s longest and deepest rabbit hole, trying to figure out why a Magistrate would attack a public servant with a tomahawk, and this series is the result.
Sources:
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 (for the series):
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 