Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 36
McDhoon was photographed again at Darlinghurst Gaol on 7 March 1898 after
being sentenced to two years hard labour for horse stealing — this time, a mare from
Emil Detilrich at Moore Park. Described as a ‘young half-caste’, newspaper reports
of McDhoon’s trial noted that he was so short he could not see over the railings of
the dock.
In August 1900, McDhoon was living at Inverell in northern NSW. In a reversal
of roles, one of his horses was stolen. This did not seem to deter McDhoon from his
habits, as a month later he was convicted of stealing a harness from J.C. Underwood
and sentenced to three months hard labour at Inverell Gaol. He was freed in December
but soon back in gaol again after being found guilty on two counts of horse stealing
for which he was sentenced to three years hard labour to be served concurrently.
He was duly photographed again on 23 January 1901, this time at Parramatta Gaol.
On 3 December 1903 the smartly dressed coachman McDhoon was photographed at
Darlinghurst Gaol while serving two concurrent three year sentences for stealing.
He had stolen a bay mare from David Kirwin of Annandale, a second horse from Thomas
John Copes, and a gelding from John Tomlinson at Kensington. On 2 October 1908 a
besuited McDhoon was photographed at Darlinghurst Gaol while serving a sentence of
twelve months hard labour for horse stealing in Moree where he had been living.
In late 1911 McDhoon was caught ‘borrowing’ a bay gelding from Herbert Duffy
of Waitara, near Hornsby. He had been working for Andrew Hatfield of Normanhurst,
training his racing pony. Hatfield discovered a quantity of horse feed missing and
McDhoon had been seen feeding Duffy’s gelding. Hatfield caught McDhoon fixing his
pack on Duffy’s gelding. Hatfield immediately informed Duffy, who took possession of
the horse before McDhoon could depart. The matter was reported to police and
McDhoon was again convicted and sentenced to hard labour in Darlinghurst Gaol.
In September 1913 McDhoon was convicted of three counts of horse stealing at
Maitland Quarter Sessions. He had stolen one brown mare from George Gordon, another
mare from A.E. Doolan of Quipolly, and a gelding from C.H. Cullen. In Court he was
described as a Queensland Aboriginal and an inveterate horse thief. The magistrate
bemoaned that McDhoon should be classed as a habitual criminal. However, his
particular crime type was not within the scope of the Habitual Criminals Act 1905.
McDhoon was sentenced to four years hard labour for each offence to be served
concurrently. He commenced his sentence in Parramatta Gaol but was transferred to
Bathurst Gaol in October 1913. On 21 July 1915 after serving less than two years,
McDhoon was released by special license on medical grounds and admitted to Rookwood
Asylum and State Hospital. He died there on 1 November 1915 under the name,
Arthur Goon.
McDhoon or Goon — whose body was adorned in equine-related tattoos and stole
almost nothing except horses — assumed several other names during his life including
William McDhoon, Alfred Francis and Arthur Gould. While he changed his identity,
the one constant in his life was his genuine love — or an uncontrollable
addiction — of horses.
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