Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 104
19 21
L O N G B AY
GAO L
A N U N F O R T U N AT E
WO M A N
Phyllis Hume
MANSL AUGHTER
Phyllis Hume, a 32 year old woman from England — occupation ‘domestic duties’— was
photographed at the State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay on 1 April 1921 following
her conviction and sentencing for manslaughter.
Phyllis Hume or Carmier was tried before Chief Justice Sir William Cullen at
Central Criminal Court on 22 March 1921 accused of having murdered William Collins.
The Court heard that Hume had known Collins, aged 24, for three months. Collins had a
criminal record, ‘a bad reputation’ and was reputed to live off the proceeds of
prostitution. Witnesses described how on 22 December 1920 a black-eyed and bruised
Hume had been drinking in hotels. Collins had demanded money from Hume and she pawned
and redeemed a ring in an effort to meet his demands. That evening, Hume and Collins
quarrelled at 46 Lower Campbell Street, Surry Hills, the home of Nellie Heaton, a
convicted sly grog seller. Witnesses said that Hume told Collins she was going to
inform police — not for the first time — of his mistreatment of her. The drunken duo
struggled in the yard before Collins staggered out onto the street with a knife in
his back. Collins was taken to Sydney Hospital. When asked who had done this to him
Collins replied, “Yankee Phyllis” — a nickname given to Hume because of her
American-sounding accent. Collins died of his wounds the following day.
According to police accounts of the night, Hume admitted to stabbing and was
“sorry” she didn’t murder him. At the morgue, Hume told police that, “we had a row
and he assaulted me”. Police did observe discolouration marks on Hume’s face and
noted that such injuries would have taken some force to inflict. Hume then confessed
that she had hit Collins with a tomahawk.
Hume took the witness stand at her trial and described how Collins frequently
ill-treated her. She claimed self-defence. The jury found her guilty of manslaughter
with a strong recommendation for mercy on account of provocation. Chief Justice
Cullen sentenced Hume to five years penal servitude.
Hume’s supporters deemed the sentence excessive. The jury foreman wrote to the
press stating that had he and his fellow jurymen known that such a sentence would be
given to Hume, they would have found her not guilty. On 11 June 1921 a petition was
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