Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 64
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DA R L I N G H U R S T
GAO L
THE JUDGE WEPT
Napoleon Lisson
MURDER
Napoleon Lisson, a 31 year old tobacconist from Paddington,
Sydney, was photographed at Darlinghurst Gaol on 7 October 1898
on the day he had been found guilty of murder and sentenced to
death. Lisson was convicted of the murder of his wife’s 16 year
old sister, Lily Gorrick.
On the morning of 30 August 1898 at his shop at 775 George
Street, Sydney, Lisson had shot and killed Lily while in the
grip of a violent episode. Lily lived with Lisson and his family
at the George Street premises. That same day, Lisson had
arranged to meet a tenant, Henry Mordant, to discuss a financial
matter. Meeting upstairs, an argument developed and Lisson
attacked Mordant with a knife and hammer shouting, “now you
bugger I have got you. I will kill you”. A scuffle broke out and
Mordant ran downstairs. Lisson tried to stop him and grabbed a
revolver. His wife, Emma Lisson, rushed in but was injured when
Lisson fired his weapon. Emma fled the building to seek help from
neighbours. Lisson ran downstairs through the shop and into the
yard where he saw Lily. The girl attempted to flee but Lisson
fired two shots at close range hitting her in the neck.
Senior Sergeant Broderick arrived outside the shop soon
after Lily had been shot. Lisson appeared ‘well cut and bloody’.
He said he had cut his fingers with some glass and that “there is
nothing wrong”. As Lisson ran back inside, his shop assistants
told Broderick that “everything was wrong”. Lisson then sought
out his two young sons, Victor, aged 9, and Rowland, aged 7, and
bludgeoned them with a hammer. Although they ‘fought like
tigers’ to defend themselves, the boys sustained severe head
injuries, especially Rowland. As he was being restrained by
Senior Sergeant Broderick, Lisson asked: “Are both boys dead?
... I knew that I would be hanged and it is better if both of
them are dead.”
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