The man accused of John Smillie’s murder finally has his day in court. But the verdict won’t settle the haunting question of his guilt or innocence.

To support the show:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following new information, received six months after the murder of John Smillie, detectives from Sydney’s CIB swoop on their suspect.

What happens next is decried as a travesty of justice.

To support the show:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September 1935, John Smillie was shot dead in his taxi in western Sydney.

Who had murdered this war veteran, loving husband and doting father? Was it a robbery gone wrong? A maniac with a grudge against cabbies? Or was he the victim of mistaken identity in a vicious gangland war?

The Forgotten Man is an incredible tale of murder and mystery, fact and fantasy, insanity and injustice, which unfolded over nearly half a century.

This four-part miniseries concludes with an unexpected revelation from one of Australia’s most respected journalists, who joins us with his recollections of covering this story early in his career.

To support the show and get access to all episodes ad-free, get access to bonus shows and get a show shout-out:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From 1946, Sydney’s Leonard Lawson was a hero to kids for creating the comic book The Lone Avenger. But in reality the young artist was a psychopathic villain responsible for crimes far more terrible than anything in his stories. For five decades, Lawson would outrage the nation by destroying innocent lives and making a mockery of the law’s ability to control violent offenders.

I’ve re-released The Comic Book Killer in anticipation of my new miniseries, The Forgotten Man, which will be out from next week. Not only does The Comic Book Killer fit with this season’s theme of Crimes That Shocked Australia, it also crosses over with The Forgotten Man in strange and significant ways.

To support Forgotten Australia:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year after he's 'disappeared' into a solitary cage at Pentridge, Weachurch makes a last stab at freedom... and leaves behind a haunting legacy of resistance to injustice.

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Due to an incorrect audio upload error, I'm re-releasing Part Two – this is the correct audio*

With Weachurch’s pleas for justice ignored and obstructed as he has punishments piled upon him illegally, he takes desperate action against him enemies again... and again... and again.

This never-before-told story is based on extensive research in archival files. It’s made possible by Ancestry’s sponsorship and by supporter contributions.

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*New episode* A century before Mark ‘Chopper’ Read became infamous in Pentridge, a convict named Weachurch struck terror into that prison’s warders and from behind its bluestone walls he loomed large as an Australian boogeyman. Weachurch’s attacks were so bloodthirsty that he was dubbed a ‘human tiger’ – a ‘wehrwolf’ – and he was kept in a cage in between court trials for attempted murder. If convicted, he faced the hangman. But Weachurch risked the noose because he was a rebel with a cause: he wanted the public to hear about his illegal detention and the barbaric treatment he suffered ‘outside the regulations’.

To some he was a monster. To others a martyr. To himself he was unbreakable.

This never-before-told story is based on extensive research in archival files. It’s made possible by Ancestry’s sponsorship and by supporter contributions.

Parts 2 and 3 will be on general release soon.

They’re available now to Apple and Patreon supporters:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Check out my books:

Hanging Ned Kelly @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/hanging-ned-kelly-by-michael-adams-9781922992185

The Murder Squad @ Dymocks

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-murder-squad-by-michael-adams-9781923046504

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*New episode*

The 1931 murder of young Adelaide wife and mother Mary Edson shocked Australia.

But despite this crime’s gruesome details, it was even then a depressingly familiar sort of outrage committed by a depressingly familiar sort of offender.

Nearly 100 years later, not enough has changed.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*New Episode*

With Kingsgrove people reeling from the outrage committed on Paterson Avenue, Sydney detectives swarm the streets to piece together what happened, who was responsible and why the madman struck at beloved citizens.

Support Forgotten Australia:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*New Episode*

In 1956, Sydney’s usually sedate southern suburbs were stalked by not one but two bloodthirsty men. While the Kingsgrove Slasher’s reign of terror would last years but result in no deaths, the Meticulous Maniac’s outrage was far shorter and far more deadly. Yet in the wake of his violence, victims were to react with extraordinary grace.

Part Two will be released soon. It’s available now early and ad-free to Patreon and Apple Supporters. You can hear it with a free trial:

Support Forgotten Australia:

Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia

Email: [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.