Prologue
In 1911 a young woman left her native England for a new life in Australia. Recently married and with her husband by her side, she would have been full of hope for their future. But hope is just that, merely a dream — and soon after, she and her dreams expired in the dust.
Now, over 100 years later, it is highly likely her grave, if she ever had one, has never been visited in the decades after her passing. Sadly, the Bingara Burials book merely notes her fate but has no details of her grave site.
When the Maitland Daily Mercury, Tuesday 23 January 1912, reported 'a strange disappearance at Bingara', it was the start of a dramatic week of shocking disclosures that dominated the national headlines. Mr. William Frederick Ball and his wife Louisa had moved to Bingara late 1911 or early 1912, when both were employed on the property 'The Hill', owned by Mr. William R. Mack of 'Pallal'.
Ball, no relation to any Bingara families of the same name, arrived in Australia from England in 1909 and remained here until he returned to England in August 1911 to marry Louisa. It appears they had known each other for about three years; however, for most of that time William had been in Australia and therefore, it is reasonable to argue that Louisa really did not know her husband very well.
The Beginning
The couple left England in September 1911 and on arrival in Australia they spent time in Brisbane, Dalby and Toowoomba, before moving to Bingara. On 16 January 1912 Mr. Mack and his family departed, leaving Ball in charge of the property. But on his return he found the property deserted. However, he located their belongings in boxes with a note saying they had decided to leave owing to Louisa's illness. The note also asked him to forward the boxes to Brisbane. Mr. Mack was aware Louisa had been suffering from acute rheumatism.
'A Gruesome Tragedy'
The Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), Tuesday 23 January 1912, reported: 'What appears to have been a gruesome tragedy occurred yesterday at 'The Hill', about nine miles from Bingara. William Ball and his wife had only been there for a short while when Mrs. Ball had a bad attack of rheumatics. She was an inmate of the local hospital for about a week and Ball had seemed to be impatient with his wife owing to her continued illness.'
When Mr. Mack reported their disappearance the police had become suspicious, as they felt it was impossible for Mrs. Ball to walk over the mountains to reach Bingara. Their search found evidence of a fire and in the ashes they found human bones, parts of a silk dress and a few other things. Later it was discovered that Ball had stayed at one of Bingara's hotels on the Tuesday night. He had arrived just after closing time and had cashed a cheque for four pounds, previously given to him by Mr. Mack. The next morning Ball left by coach for Warialda Rail. The newspaper report continued:
'The missing woman used to wear a wire hat. Similar wired headgear was found in the ashes, also hairpins and safety pins, proving the bones to be those of a woman. The skull was separated from the other bones. It is surmised that the murderer either strangled the unfortunate woman or else struck her down where the fire was made. The latter supposition is the most favoured on account of the discovery of the hat frames. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Ball on a charge of murder.'
'Interest in a Shipping Book'
The police received some very helpful information from a member of the public, as reported in the Scone Advocate, Friday 26 January 1912:
'Superintendent Evans received a telegram from Sub-Inspector Mill (of Inverell) on Tuesday, to the effect that Annie Miller of Inverell had travelled in a bus from Bingara to Warialda with the accused. She stated that Ball had a small ring on the little finger of his left hand, and during the journey he seemed deeply interested in a shipping book. On the 17th of January, one ticket was issued from the Warialda station to Gravesend, one to Delungra, four to Inverell, one to Boggabri, two to Moree and two to Sydney. Ball could have taken the train to anyone of these places, but it is supposed that he was one of the passengers who purchased a ticket to Sydney.'
Media Frenzy
The Singleton Argus, Saturday 27 January, reported on the police investigation:
'Sub-Inspector Butler of Narrabri police has arrived at Bingara to take charge of the Pallal case. It is reported that a further search at the site of the fire has resulted in the discovery of the steel frame of a purse and a brooch. The magisterial enquiry has not yet been opened as the police are still investigating the matter. It is anticipated that the evidence will be somewhat lengthy. Pieces of a woman's written testimonials have been found about three-quarters of a mile from the homestead and tracks around the spot show cattle have come there and pawed the ground.'
Arrest on the Star of Scotland
On Tuesday 30 January 1912, the Macleay Chronicle described how Ball almost escaped: 'In the telegraphic account of our previous issue of the ghastly discovery of the charred remains of the young Englishwoman, Mrs. Ball, on Mr. Mack's station near Bingara, it was at first feared her husband had also met with foul play. But some smart Sydney detectives have set that fear at rest by finding her husband, William Frederick Ball, as a sailor on board the steamer, Star of Scotland, which was expected to sail the next morning for New Zealand.' Ball was officially charged with murder and was remanded to appear before the Bingara Police Court.
The Inquest
The Raleigh Sun (Bellingen), Friday 23 February 1912, described some of the horrific events revealed at the inquest:
'The inquest concerning the death of Louisa Ball at Bingara has concluded. William Ball, the husband of the deceased, said that when he returned from opening the gate for Mr. Mack, he saw his wife on the verandah. She was drinking something from a cup. He did not know what it was but it smelt strongly of carbolic. He asked her what she was doing but she made no reply. He took the cup and went into the kitchen to get her a drink of water. When he came out, she was staggering on the path between the gate and the verandah. He went back and got a gun and returned to find her lying down.
He put two cartridges in the gun and pulled the first trigger but it misfired. He then fired the second cartridge while his wife was staggering about near the gate. He put the gun down and went to his wife. He examined her and found her dead, with a wound under her heart. He put her on a wheelbarrow and took the body down the paddock and burnt it. Afterwards he put all her clothes in the fire.
His wife never spoke to him after drinking what was in the cup, which he afterwards got rid of because he did not want anyone to know she had poisoned herself. He did not know what he was doing at the time. He never quarrelled with his wife, who kept him awake at night when she was in pain. He burnt everything belonging to her. The coroner committed Ball for trial on a charge of wilful murder. Ball was committed to stand trial at the circuit court in Armidale on 23 April.'
Capital Punishment
In 1894 the murder of a Barraba bank manager had resulted in the hanging of the two men found guilty of his murder, despite one protesting his innocence right up to the last moment. By 1912 little had changed in NSW regarding capital punishment. However, the hint of change was in the air as individuals, some members of the NSW Government and organisations such as the Labour Council had started to question the need for capital punishment. Overseas, the French government had also started to question capital punishment, but it was many years before countries across the globe abolished it. Thus, as William Ball prepared to face the court on 23 April 1912, it would have been with the knowledge that a guilty verdict would result in his death.
The Trial
The following account of the trial was found in the Maitland Daily Mercury, Wednesday 24 April 1912: 'The Crown based its case on evidence that Ball did not treat his wife very well and the police evidence involved the fires, the remains found in the ashes and the linking of clothing fragments to the deceased. The Crown also submitted a confession that Ball had made during the inquest. Additionally, it was stated that until Mrs. Ball moved to 'The Hill' she was in good health, however, the reasons for her sudden illness did not appear to become a factor in the police investigation.'
The Defence
The Maitland Daily Mercury also reported Ball's comments to the police on board the ship: 'I am innocent of murder.' Adding, 'I must have been mad at the time I burnt her.' The Crown Prosecutor asked, 'You were mad at the time?' Ball replied, 'No, I was silly.'
Following the Judge's summing up, the jury retired for two hours and then returned with a verdict of wilful murder. Ball was sentenced to death.
The Execution
The Inverell Times, Friday 21 June 1912, reported:
'William F. Ball, the Bingara murderer, was executed in Armidale gaol on Monday morning. Archdeacon Lewis, who had been in constant attendance on the man, headed the procession from the condemned cell, reading the Church of England burial service, followed by Ball, who walked firmly to the gallows. Very few spectators were present, besides the officials, police and press representatives. On the scaffold Ball did not show much change in his appearance from the time of the trial. He mounted the steps quickly and having nothing to say, the white cap was adjusted and the bolt drawn. Death was apparently instantaneous. Ball had slept well on Sunday night and ate well. His spiritual advisor states that he was penitent and sorry for the deed and quite resigned to his fate.'
Queensland Led the Way
While there is plenty of evidence that people questioned the need for capital punishment from a very early time in Australia's development, it took many years for governments — except for Queensland — to firstly listen and then abolish it. The remarkable thing is that Queensland, often referred to as the most conservative state, abolished capital punishment in 1922, well before the other states. New South Wales followed in 1955 (for murder) and 1984 for all other crimes, Tasmania in 1968, ACT/NT in 1973, Victoria in 1975, South Australia in 1976 and Western Australia in 1984. The last person to hang in Australia was Ronald Ryan in 1967 (Victoria).
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