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In 2014 we published a booklet, Jacky and Polly, & Jimmy, about the murder of New Zealand Jimmy. This is a postscript.
From Moya Sharp of Outback Family History:-
I think these two snippets bring an end to the Jacky and Polly story:
The following story was told by Kathleen Mary Byrth, and may tell of the later fate of Jacky and Polly:-
An Aboriginal man, Jacky, and his blind wife Polly, were often about the place. I did hear that Polly became blind through ants eating her eyes out many years before – she was drunk and asleep at the time. She just sat out near the stables all day and when Jacky went bush with horse and cart to get wood for Mum, I’d have to take her dinner and billy of tea. She led a miserable life and old Jacky was so good to her. Then sometimes Jacky would go out ‘specking for gold’ and when he returned Mum would ask, “Get any gold today Jack?” and he’d sadly say, “No missus, only little ‘ply chit’”.
After a few months in Bardoc they would go up the line on the train – riding in one of the trucks and later would return to Bardoc the same way and Jacky would do all the same work again. If it was hot Mum would fill a beer bottle out of the keg on tap and he’d go and share it with Polly.
Aboriginal Woman’s Death. The Kalgoorlie police authorities received a report on Saturdays night to the effect that an aboriginal woman “Polly” had been found dead in a native camp about 24 miles away from Broad Arrow. Subsequent investigations set at naught the conjecture that her demise was the result of murder. Detective Parker and Mounted Constable Goldie, with a blacktracker, motored out to the scene on Saturday night. The deceased gin was lying in a perfectly natural condition with nothing to warrant a suspicion of foul play save and except blood had issued from her mouth and nostrils. “Jackie,” her man, stated he had gone out hunting on Saturday and left her in the camp with food and water and a dog for company. She was very old and she had been blind for years. Two outback aboriginals, by their tracks, must have visited the camp during the day. Scared upon finding the dead body of the gin they made off for Kalgoorlie and half-way to their contemplated destination they were interviewed by the police. Detective Parker and Mounted Constable Goldie came to the conclusion that death was due to natural causes. The substance of this telephoned report was furnished to the Coroner, Mr. E. McGinn, who determined to dispense with a post-mortem examination and an inquest and give an order for burial: A grave was dug on the confines of the Broad Arrow Cemetery and the remains interred without religious ceremony. Western Argus 5 February 1929.
But what happened to Jacky/Jackie! There is a death registered for a man in Kalgoorlie registered as just Jacky, who died the same year as Polly, 1929.
The article was found by John Pritchard and the story by Kathleen Mary Byrth was sent to me by Robyn McLean, here is the full story:-
https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/2017/05/24/reminiscences-kathleen-mary-byrth/