Mysterious poisoning at Boonooroo

On March the 6th, 1932 the poisoning of three brothers occurred at Foster’s Camp,Boonooroo.

James Herbert Bayley 29, William Edward Bayley 23 and Henry Walter George Bayley 32 died of strychnine poisoning after eating scones at a Fisherman Hut located at  Boonooroo. The details of the inquest held in Maryborough on the 19th April, 1932 can be found here.

George Greaves and Emil Wegner were also poisoned but recovered.  The boys were heading out for a fishing trip when they met Alfred Dong. Alfred owned the hut. He was a farmer and owned a shop in Adelaide Street, Maryborough. He used the hut as a weekender. He was good friends with the five men. They crossed paths on this fishing trip and Alfred said they were able to use the hut as they pleased. The strychnine was in the flour and it was believed to have been put in there between the time Alfred Dong left the hut and the five men cooked scones.

Alfred Dong gave evidence here He stated that he was afraid of his neighbor and believed the poison was for him. He said   "I have suspicion on Frank Hugh Gormley, for he is my enemy, for putting strychnine poison in the half-bag of flour”("CAMP POISONING - Sensational Evidence INQUEST AT MARYBOROUGH MARYBOROUGH, April 19. - The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) - 19 Apr 1932", 2016).

It was found that despite the evidence “pointing in the same direction”, no arrest was made as “lack of suitable evidence made arrest impossible”("DETECTIVE RECALLED - MARYBOROUGH POISONING - Sunday Mail (Brisbane) (Qld. : 1926 - 1954) - 27 Mar 1932", 2016). This conclusion can be found here


Who do you think did it?



We have some images of Alfred Dong’s sisters but none of Alfred, if you have any images of historical interest we would love to see these.

 You can find the location of the Dong’s shop by taking a walk down Adelaide Street and following the story trail signs. It is on the opposite side to the Town Hall Green. In 1912, it moved to upper Adelaide Street. His sisters ran the shop until 1956 when they retired.


References:
CAMP POISONING - Sensational Evidence INQUEST AT MARYBOROUGH MARYBOROUGH, April 19. - The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) - 19 Apr 1932. (2016). Trove. Retrieved 20 October 2016, from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184030602?searchTerm=fosters%20camp%20poisoning%20Maryborough&searchLimits

DETECTIVE RECALLED - MARYBOROUGH POISONING - Sunday Mail (Brisbane) (Qld. : 1926 - 1954) - 27 Mar 1932. (2016). Trove. Retrieved 20 October 2016, from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97928663?searchTerm=fosters%20camp%20poisoning%20Maryborough&searchLimits=


Tags #boonooroo #Chinese #frasercoastlibraries #fostershut #poisoning #strychnine