by Leigh Straw
Few historical people have captured my imagination quite like Kate Leigh, irrespective of our neighbourhood connection. Historians are responsible for bringing the past to life, but as I spent a number of years researching and recording Leigh’s life, it was as if she were screaming out to me from the records. She hooked me in with her larger than life personality and shenanigans in the courtrooms. It’s hard not to be impressed by a woman who defied the stereotyping of her day and ruled organised crime in Sydney in what was a man’s business. Leigh was tough, violent, manipulative and feared. I didn’t always like her and was reminded throughout my research that her business in sly grog, drugs and prostitution ruined many lives. Yet she did more than make a fortune from crime. What also intrigues me about Leigh is that she remained a part of her local community and retained a sufficient degree of ordinariness to want to convince the public she was a good sort. She was no tall poppy. I was drawn into the Australianness of her story: the under-dog, the battler and the loveable rogue. It is a fascinating redemption story.
Telling Kate Leigh’s story was also about bringing her to life for readers as a three-dimensional person, not just a sensationalised underworld crook. I wanted to see Leigh’s life through her eyes, to understand her various motivations for her life of crime and her need to gain acceptance in her community. I also want readers to feel like they know Kate Leigh. The interludes between chapters feature actual scenes from Kate’s life but are told from her perspective so that readers can feel they know her more intimately.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book has been completed with the assistance of many generous people.
I would especially like to thank the Baker family, particularly Hal and Jeannine, for supporting this book and providing insights into their family’s history. Jeannine’s great-grandfather, Henry ‘Jack’ Baker, was Kate Leigh’s lover and standover man for many years. Jeannine gave me transcripts of interviews she conducted with her grandmother and uncle Hal in the late 1990s. The interviews reveal some of their experiences in Surry Hills and make mention of Kate Leigh. Hal Baker, Jack’s grandson, also shared interesting stories with me about his memories of Kate from when he used to visit her as a kid.
In Fremantle, Ron Davidson, local historian and son of the former editor of The Mirror newspaper, also shared his stories and enthusiasm for my work. Ron reminded me that while I was writing about Kate Leigh, Shiner Ryan was another important person in the telling of her story. Shiner’s marriage to Kate also opened up another group of interested locals who were happy to share their stories of the famous Sydney woman they met in the local chemist shop or on the streets.
I am grateful to the many people who have assisted my research in New South Wales and Western Australia, including state records and state library staff and archivists. I have also greatly benefited from local history librarians, who scoured their collections for records relating to Kate Leigh or Shiner Ryan. Staff at the Police and Justice Museum in Sydney were generous with their time and supportive of the project.
This book would not have been possible without the support of Phillipa McGuinness at NewSouth Publishing, whose vision for this book inspired me to take it through to completion with not only a clear sense of what I hoped to achieve, but enjoyment in the writing. Thanks also to Emma Driver, Nicola Young, Rosina Di Marzo and the whole team at NewSouth.
I would like to thank colleagues who have been an important part of this book. I have worked with some of the finest academics in Sydney, Perth and Fremantle, and each has greatly contributed to my development as a lecturer but even more as a writer. My interest in crime history developed when I was a student at Murdoch University, but it really came alive when I taught with my mentor, Michael Sturma. Michael’s passion for history and telling a good story has inspired so much of my work. I would also like to thank Deborah Gare and Quentin Beresford for their encouragement and friendship through the writing of this book. And my gratitude extends to Susan Ash, Genevieve Hohnen, Lydia Robotham and Julie Kimber.
Thanks to Stuart Johnston for publishing my earlier academic work and taking a gamble on my fiction.
Writers have places they go to get away from other distractions. Ned’s cafe in Nedlands is my place. I’ve been popping in for my sourdough toast and tea for the last few years, and some of my best writing has been produced in the familiar, friendly and relaxing surrounds of the cafe.
Family and friends have all contributed in their own way to this book. There are too many to name everyone, but you know who you are and how you’ve been a part of this. My real passion for history started when I was very young. My parents have always appreciated history and made sure we also did as kids. From the Culloden battlefields to Edinburgh Castle, they were my first real history teachers. My brother, Steven, is now a school principal, and his love of history has always inspired me.
Thanks to Brooke, Kathy and Kris for our chats over dinner and red wine. To the other parents I regularly see at school dropoffs and pickups, I thank you for your interest and encouragement.
The greatest credit goes to my husband, Tony, for living with Kate Leigh for the last few years. He balanced some of my views of Kate and provided honest feedback about the story I was telling. I just wish he would finish one of his fiction stories! Mine’s in print now, Tony. You must do it.
To my three little boys, Jack, Lawson and Riley, I appreciate the space you gave me to do my work and write about ‘that Kate woman’.
Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge the city that first brought Kate Leigh to life for me. This is my Sydney book. Researching and writing Leigh’s story was a constant reminder to me of why my time in Sydney remains one of the happiest periods in my life. The Worst Woman in Sydney has allowed me to indulge in fascinating historical research that also gave me a wonderful excuse to visit Sydney regularly. I’ll be honest: When Kate Leigh’s old Devonshire Street house went up for sale recently, I seriously considered selling up everything we owned and bought dozens of lottery tickets. It sold for $1.7 million, but the dream was nice. Sydney holds a very special place in my heart, and I’m now frantically trying to come up with a new Sydney story to write!
INDEX
Ahern, May 89
alcohol
‘Hills Hotels’ 75
police response to sly-grog trade 75–7, 132
royal commission 1951 82
‘six o’clock swill’ 70
sly-grog shops 70–1, 75–8, 80, 82, 109
Sydney’s history 64–71, 75–8, 109
ten pm closing introduced 205
Allan, George 91–2
Allan, Norman (Police Commissioner) 210
Anti-Opium League 36
Armfield, Lilian 13, 82, 96, 98–9, 105–8, 110–11
Arrow, The 157–8, 161–2
Baker, Celia 81
Baker, Hal 11, 145, 177, 181, 192
Baker, Henry John ‘Jack’
found guilty of receiving stolen goods 135
Leigh’s lover 11, 131, 159, 164–5, 193
local ‘kickbacks’ 177–8
shot by Hayes 136–7
sly-grog trade with Leigh 80–1
Baker, Jack (son of Henry Baker) 80
Baker, Mary 76, 97
Barry, Catherine (Kathleen) Mary Josephine, see Leigh, Kate
Barry, Edward Joseph ‘Teddy’
death 73
marriage to Leigh 72–3, 193
move to Fremantle 131
‘Battle of Blood Alley’ 124–5
‘Battle of Kellett Street’ 125
Beahan, Charlotte (née Smith, mother of Leigh) 20–1, 23–4, 26, 111, 152
Beahan, Eileen May, see Leigh, Eileen
Beahan, Jack (brother of Leigh) 18, 21, 210
Beahan, Joseph (brother of Leigh) 21, 23
Beahan, Kate, see Leigh, Kate
Beahan, Mark 138
Beahan, Timothy (father of Leigh) 20–1, 23–4, 26, 60, 92
Beahan, William John 180
b
lack markets 2, 70, 78, 120
Blaikie, George 45, 76, 211
Boyce, Francis Bertie (Archdeacon) 69
Boys’ Club of Dubbo 23
Brady, Edward 125–7
Bruhn, Norman 5, 122
Burke, Charles 132
Byrnes, Joseph 157, 160
Calletti, Guido 5
Cameron, Nellie
criminal limelight 9
death 1, 16
funeral 1–3
prostitution 15
relationship with Frank Green 131
shot by lover 1
Chaouk, Fatma 8
Charlton (Senior Constable) 56–7
child welfare regulations 1880s 25
Childs, Walter 123
Clark, Ralph (lieutenant) 88
Clemow, Alexander, see Ryan, Ernest ‘Shiner’
Coca-Cola 103
cocaine trade
cutting of drugs 124
Devine’s role 122
Leigh’s involvement 102, 109, 111–14, 120, 124–5, 137, 172
police successes 135–6, 172
Sydney history 102–10, 113
consorting laws 3, 95, 132–3, 135
Contagious Diseases Acts 93
Cormack, Danielle 208
Criminal, The (Ellis) 91
criminals, attitudes towards 171
Curlewis (Judge) 17
Daily News, Perth 196
Daily Telegraph
on cocaine trade 104–5
on Tilly Devine 210
Dalton, Barney 125–6, 128
Dangar, Frederick 112
Dangerous Drugs Act 1927 105, 108, 135
Darlinghurst
crime history 3–4, 75
gaol 67
Leigh’s activities 7, 11, 41, 61, 64, 73, 101, 120
organised crime 120
police station 55, 123
prostitution 90, 92, 94
razor gang 118
Darlinghurst Gaol 67
Davidson, Frank 199–200
Davidson, Ron 191
Destitute Children’s Act 1866 28
Devine, James ‘Jim’ 122, 125, 127–8
Devine, Matilda ‘Tilly’ (née Twiss)
attends Leigh’s funeral 206–7
background 121
celebrity 143
characterised by Ruth Park 4
cocaine trade 122
crime boss 5, 15
criminal limelight 9
in People magazine 201
media manipulations 140
organised crime 121, 124–5, 127–8, 137, 139
prostitution and brothels 15, 99–100, 122, 136, 141–2
relationship with Nellie Cameron 2
rivalry with Leigh 86, 99, 117, 124–8, 137–45
sentenced for consorting 135
unpopularity 11, 210–11
violence 139
Dugan, Darcy 100
Earle, Albert Edward 151, 157
Earle, Charlotte 152, 162
Earle, Eileen, see Leigh, Eileen
Ellis, Havelock 91
Elmer, William Roy 132
Eveleigh Railway Workshops, Redfern 51–2
Fahy, Frank 36, 49
Federation 30
feminists, early 20th century Sydney 154
50-50 Club 121
Fischer (Constable) 85
Fowler-Glover, Roy 203
Freeman, Samuel ‘Jewey’
criminal career 50–1, 53
Eveleigh Railway workshop robbery 52–4
found guilty of Eveleigh robbery 58
found guilty of post office shooting 58
given alibi by Leigh 56–7, 150, 185
paroled 1940 58
post office robbery and shooting 56
prison 58, 185
relationship with Leigh 50–1, 185
Freeman’s Journal 154
Fremantle
May Ahern 89
Edward Barry 72–3, 131
Fremantle Prison 50, 183, 186, 188, 190, 193
history of crime 188
Shiner Ryan 11, 183, 186–8, 190–1, 193–9, 194–7
Freud, Sigmund 103
Gaffney, Gregory 125
gangs 48–50, 119, 122, 124–8, 132, see also razor and gun wars
gender and crime 5–6, 8, 11, 14
Glover, Roy 74
Green, Frank 5, 127–8, 131
Gurner, Fay 158
Haggett, Beatrice 131
Hammond, R B S (Reverend) 96
Harp in the South, The (Park) 4–5, 46, 164–5
Hayes, John Frederick ‘Chow’ 136–7
Herald
crime stories 4
on Leigh’s sly-grog case 78–9
Holman, William 69
Holt (Judge) 160
Hughes, Vashti 207
Hutton, Del 108
Hynes, Edith 72
Industrial Schools Act 1864 25
Inebriates Act 1900 68–9
Intoxicating Drink Inquiry Commission 1886 67
James (Justice) 128
Jeffs, Phil 5, 121, 124
Jenkings, Bill 83, 171, 206–7
Kelly, Ettie/Edith (Katie) 54
Kelly, Ned 172, 209
Kelly, Thomas 126
Kiely, Mr and Mrs 38–40
Kings Cross 96, 120–1, 124–5, 137
larrikins 48, 119, 216
Lawrence, W R (Deputy Police Commissioner) 218–19
Lawson, Henry 71
Lee (Leigh), James 32–6, 88, 149, 157
Leigh, Eileen
arrested for soliciting sex 158–9
attends Leigh’s funeral 207
backed by mother 10, 155–6
birth 31
criminal career 14–15, 135, 152–3, 155–60, 162–3
death 207
divorce from Earle 157
friendship with Burke 132
manipulation of media 157–8
marriage to Byrnes 157
marriage to Earle 151
marriage to Ranson 157, 162
notoriety 149, 156
photographed by police 146–8
placed in convent 60, 84, 150–1
police photograph 1921 153
shared life with Kate 41, 51, 72, 92, 111, 150
shot in the arm 159
violence 161
visits to Leigh in prison 134
work with Kate in sly-grog trade 160
Leigh, Kate, see also Leigh’s properties
arrested for cocaine possession 1930 111–12
arrested for receiving stolen goods 135
arrested for selling liquor 1942 77
arrested for vagrancy 1901 32
arrested under consorting laws 1929 3, 133
arrested under consorting laws 1932 133
attempts to raise her public image 10–11, 142–3
bankruptcy case 1954 180, 204–5, 212
birth in Dubbo 19
celebrated in Perth 196
changes spelling of name 34
character 8–9, 15, 81
characterised by Ruth Park 4, 208
charged re prostitution 1913 97
charged with assaulting taxidriver 203
charged with breaking and entering 1902 33
charged with keeping house frequented by thieves 85
charged with perjury 1905 34
charged with perjury 1915 58
charged with rifle assault 16
charged with ‘wandering’ as teenager 24, 26, 91
childhood 20–3
Christmas parties 174–7, 180, 214–15
claimed to be non-drinker 15, 56, 63, 79, 155, 157, 179
cocaine trade 102, 109, 111–14, 120, 124–5, 137, 172
commemorative plaque 208
convictions 5
court performances 170–1
critique of police 80
death 206
denial of personal prostitution 87, 92, 97
Frog Hollow 51, 186, 192
funeral 206–7
gives alibi for Freeman 56–7, 185
gives birth to Eileen 31
investigated by tax department 204–6
involvement in prostitution trade 15, 36, 58, 86, 88, 97, 99–101, 109, 120, 142
knowledge of weapons 2
listed on ‘Rogues Gallery’ 36
marriage to Barry 72–3, 193
marriage to Lee (Leigh) 33–5
marriage to Ryan 11, 194–9
‘matriarch’ of Surry Hills 8–9, 11–12, 132, 161, 163, 167–82, 213
media manipulations 140, 170–1, 173–4, 179, 181, 194, 212
morality 15, 36, 56, 88, 179–80, 211
‘Mum’ 63, 74, 83, 203
at Nellie Cameron’s funeral 2–3, 16
nicknamed ‘Bonny’ 20, 193, 199
notoriety 3–4, 6, 9–10, 168–70, 173, 179–81, 213
ongoing legend 207–19
organised crime 3–4, 8, 10–11, 114, 120–1, 124–33, 137, 139, 213
Parramatta Industrial School for Girls 26–9, 95
photographs of 57, 134, 195, 215
plays the ‘good mother’ 170–1
police drug raid on property 1930 110–11
popularity in Surry Hills and Darlinghurst 11–12, 74, 101, 144, 166, 172–81, 209, 214
prison terms 5, 14, 32, 58–60, 77, 79, 81, 112, 133–5, 169, 193
relationship with Baker 11, 131, 159, 164–5, 193
relationship with Freeman 50–1, 185
relationship with mother 111
relationship with Ryan 11, 185–6, 191–200
resists knife attack 38–40
return to Dubbo 17–18, 91, 135
rivalry with Devine 86, 99, 117, 124–8, 137–45, 179
shoots Prendergast 128–30, 174
sly-grog dealer 7, 10–11, 15, 60–1, 64, 72–84, 100–1, 109, 120, 124–6, 136–7, 142, 172–3, 202–5
State Reformatory for Women 58–9
‘Sydney celebrity’ 9–12, 143, 172, 182
takes Allan to court for slander 92
takes in orphan Johnny 178
violence 6–7, 114, 139, 161, 168
‘worst woman in Sydney’ 13–15, 141, 173, 179–80
Leigh’s properties
Devonshire Street, Surry Hills 73, 167, 181, 192, 204, 206, 214
Kippax Street, Surry Hills 84
Lansdowne Street, Surry Hills 73–4, 79, 180
Pearl Street, Surry Hills 77
Riley Street, Surry Hills 72–3, 110, 128
Licensing Amendment Bill 1905 69
Liquor Act 1916 69–70
Long Bay Gaol
Freeman’s 40 years 185
Leigh’s sentences 3, 58, 60, 81, 97, 133–5
Newman 109