Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 94
1919
L O N G B AY
GAO L
FA M I LY B R E A D W I N N E R
Ellen Hogan
M I S A P P R O P R I AT I O N O F P U B L I C M O N I E S
Ellen Hogan, a 42 year old postmistress from the NSW Southern Tablelands village
of Mongarlowe, was photographed at the State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay on
1 October 1919 while serving a six month sentence for misappropriation of public
monies.
Hogan was in charge of the Post Office at Captain’s Flat near Queanbeyan. She
worked to support her family of four children. On 15 September 1919 she appeared at
Goulburn Quarter Sessions facing two charges of misappropriation of public moneys
between 1 September 1918 and 2 August 1919. The first charge was of misapplying public
money. The Court heard that Postal Inspector Frank Brewer had found a £78 shortfall
in the balance of the post office takings. When Inspector Brewer had asked Hogan to
account for this she said, “I can’t explain now, it ought to be there”. The second
charge was of fraudulently misappropriating £250 belonging to the Commonwealth Bank.
Money had been withdrawn and not entered in the bank passbook until a later date, and
there was another instance of too much money being withdrawn from a bank account
without approval.
Under the Crimes Act 1900, a person employed in the Public Service who was found
to have committed fraud or shown general deficiency in the keeping of accounts was
liable to a lengthy term of penal servitude.
Hogan was found guilty of both charges. But the jury was compassionate to her
case and recommended mercy on the grounds that a postal salary was insufficient to
support her and her family. Hogan’s original salary had been £3 per week, but this was
reduced during the First World War to £2/1s per week. In 1919, the Commonwealth Board
of Trade had declared that the living wage for men in Sydney was £3/17s per week,
significantly more than what Hogan — who was her family bread winner — was paid. It is not
surprising, therefore, that she struggled to survive. The judge gave Hogan a lenient
sentence of six months penal servitude with light labour.
As a first time offender, Hogan was distinguished from many other female inmates
at the State Reformatory. Seeking her mother’s early release, Hogan’s daughter wrote
to the Premier of NSW, William Holman, in December 1919 asking that she be freed in
time for Christmas. Hogan was released on special license on 24 January 1920.
Ellen Hogan does not appear again in the NSW Gaol Photographic Description
Books, 1870-1930.
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