John William Picker [888] ²

  Birth Notes:

At "Markdale".

  Noted events in his life were:

• Registration: Birth, 1881, Yass District, New South Wales. ⁴

• Newspaper: The Sydney Morning Herald, 1934 Oct 17, Sydney, Cumberland County, New South Wales, Australia. MURDER CHARGE. (1934, October 17). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), p. 15. Retrieved November 15, 2010, from <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17140679>
MURDER CHARGE
Against Wife.
BULLET WOUNDS IN HEAD.
BATHURST, Tuesday.
Portion of the skull of the dead man was produced when the trial was opened before Mr. Justice Halse Rogers at Bathurst Circuit Court this afternoon of Eileen Frances Meagher, 35, on a charge of murdering her husband, John James Meagher, 46, a rabbiter, at North Kangarooby, near Goolagong, on August 20.
The Senior Crown Prosecutor (Mr. McKean) prosecuted, and Mr. P. D. Shortland (In- structed by Mr. R. H. Browning, of Bathurst) appeared for the defence.
The accused, a frail-looking woman of medium height, dressed in black, whispered a plea of not guilty, and showed considerable emotion when the charge was read.
Mr. McKean, outlining the case for the prosecution, said that Meagher and his family lived on Kangarooby Station, near Goolagong. A little time ago a family named Morgan came to live near them. Apparently Meagher be- came very friendly with the Morgans. On August 19, it appeared, Meagher, Morgan, and Mrs. Morgan drove to Goolagong and Eugowra, at both of which places they had drinks. Taking drink with them for consumption at the camp, they returned to Morgan's about 5 a.m. on August 20. Shortly after their arrival Mrs. Meagher carne across, and there was something resembling a quarrel between Mrs. Meagher and her husband. They left together for home an hour later. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Meagher told a man name Picker that she had shot "Jack." Mrs. Meagher told the police that after her hus- band returned he seized a gun, and threatened to "do for her" and their son, "Brother." Mrs. Meagher's statement continued: "I saw the hammer of the rifle cocked. I turned it on him and pulled the trigger. I saw the bullet had struck him on the head. He said, 'Finish it, Eil.' I then went to his coat pocket, took out a bullet, and reloaded the rifle. He was then lying down. I pointed the rifle at him and pulled the trigger. While quarrelling with my husband I had placed some strych- nine under the foot of the bed, and had intended to take it immediately I had shot my husband, so we could both go together. He was a good husband to me, only someone came between us, but I am not going to say who it was."
The defence, Mr. McKean proceeded, was that the shooting was accidental. Medical evidence would show that after the first shot was fired Meagher was still alive. The firing of the second shot brought Mrs. Meagher's actions within the definition of murder. How- ever, while all the facts pointed to murder being established against the accused, It was always open for the jury to find her guilty of manslaughter.
Dr. Hugh McLaren, Government medical officer at Cowra, said that two bullet wounds in the forehead, about a quarter of an inch apart, caused Meagher's death. Witness pointed out to the Court the bullet wounds in the portion of the skull of the deceased produced by the Crown. His opinion, he said, was that at the time the second shot was fired Meagher was alive.
George Henry Morgan, labourer, said that Meagher paid the whole costs of the trip and bought the liquor with which the party re- turned to Morgan's camp. Mrs. Meagher came to Morgan's camp and said: "You came between me and my husband." Mrs. Morgan replied that Mrs. Meagher had no grounds for saying that. She did not want her hus- band. At Meagher's request, Mrs. Meagher apologised to Mrs. Morgan.
Cross-examined, the witness denied that he and Meagher had been drinking frequently. He also denied that the expedition was a mere drinking bout.
John William Picker, who camped near the Meaghers, said that Mrs. Meagher came to his camp and said that she shot Jack. He found Meagher still alive, lying unconscious on a bed at his home. Witness suggested that he should inform the police and get a doctor, but Mrs. Meagher said, "Don't leave me here. Wake up the children and send them away." This was done. Meagher was quarrelsome when under the influence of drink. Witness had heard him threaten his wife, whom he had never seen quarrelsome. She looked after the tent In which they lived splendidly. He had seen Meagher take his wife out twice in eight months.
The Court adjourned till to-morrow.

• Registration: Death, 1940, Canowindra District, New South Wales, Australia. ⁵

John married Florence Edith Howard [5204] [MRIN: 2225], daughter of Francis William Howard [5757] and Florence Bates [9984], in 1907 in Blayney, Bathurst County, New South Wales, Australia.¹ (Florence Edith Howard [5204] was born in 1892 in Carcoar District, New South Wales,⁶ died on 1916 Sep 10 in Carcoar, Bathurst County, New South Wales ¹ and was buried in Carcoar, Bathurst County, New South Wales ⁷.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Registration: Marriage, 1907, Blayney District, New South Wales, Australia. ⁸