A local murder mystery

[Adam Went]

Hey all,

I'm working on this case for a university documentary, thought some of you might be interested to read a little about it.

In 1921, a 13 year old girl named Chrissie Venn was brutally murdered in rural northern Tasmania. Her body was stuffed into the hollow of a large tree stump, where it was discovered several days later.

The murderer(s) were never caught, although a man named George King stood trial for the murder. He was acquitted. The popular suspect these days is a man named Charles Purton, but officially it still remains unsolved.

Naturally it caused quite a stir at the time, and is still a common topic of conversation amongst the locals, not least because the site where the murder occurred is reputed to be haunted. All sorts of strange stories about objects flying through the air and cars stopping and stalling near there can be heard from those who have ventured there.

Anyway, here is one article from the time about the murder:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/51116875

Just search for Chrissie Venn on that site and a whole heap of articles will come up about it.

Also, if you're really interested in it, there's a book about the case which was published in 1999, titled "Chrissie Venn: Suffer Little Children" by Lucy and Noel Smith.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Chris G.]

Originally Posted by Adam Went

Hey all,

I'm working on this case for a university documentary, thought some of you might be interested to read a little about it.

In 1921, a 13 year old girl named Chrissie Venn was brutally murdered in rural northern Tasmania. Her body was stuffed into the hollow of a large tree stump, where it was discovered several days later.

The murderer(s) were never caught, although a man named George King stood trial for the murder. He was acquitted. The popular suspect these days is a man named Charles Purton, but officially it still remains unsolved.

Naturally it caused quite a stir at the time, and is still a common topic of conversation amongst the locals, not least because the site where the murder occurred is reputed to be haunted. All sorts of strange stories about objects flying through the air and cars stopping and stalling near there can be heard from those who have ventured there.

Anyway, here is one article from the time about the murder:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/51116875

Just search for Chrissie Venn on that site and a whole heap of articles will come up about it.

Also, if you're really interested in it, there's a book about the case which was published in 1999, titled "Chrissie Venn: Suffer Little Children" by Lucy and Noel Smith.

Cheers,
Adam.

Hi Adam

Many thanks for the heads up on this interesting unsolved case.

Cheers

Chris

[Tracy Ianson]

Hi Adam

Can't sleep so having a mooch, you been to the site of the stump yourself? Seems a few people believe in the haunting.

It does seem as though that the stump was not taken away because of all the visits but rather through bush fires and nature?

Also quick read up and her grave had actually been placed away from all the other graves as, due to the feelings of the day, she was classed as being tainted as she had been raped.
Also her grave showed the wrong date of her death and that she was actually killed on a Saturday, causing some confusion as it was stated she was killed coming home from school?

Tracy

[Stan Reid]

I have this case at #338 on my top 1000 unsolved murder list that I'm working on. Maybe I'll get it done in 7 or 8 years - up to 550 so far.

[Adam Went]

Hi all,

Chris:

You're welcome, glad that you found it of some interest!

Tracy:

I actually wasn't aware of this story until a couple of years ago when a friend of mine alerted me to it, and we took a drive out there one night to see what we could see. I'd like to report something interesting but personally I didn't see anything of the spooky variety.

However! At the end of the road there is a very large stump which has a cross and a small plaque placed next to it, and I assumed (wrongly) that this was the stump in question. I'm not sure of the fate of the actual stump at this stage (still early in my investigation) but it's quite possible that since almost a century has passed, it's been removed or burnt or similar.

North Motton is about 45 minutes from my home, but Ulverstone is close to it and I travel there a few times each week for my work, and through that i've talked to quite a few locals about the case. It's still a big deal in that area.

Also, there's a story regarding the rape that Chrissie was sexually assaulted a couple of years prior to her murder, along with one that she had been sexually active in the weeks leading up to that. The doctor who performed the autopsy (Dr. Ferris) could not say for certain that her killer had also raped her, therefore his evidence in regards to that wasn't admitted.

Her gravestone does give the wrong date of her death. It says 20th February, 1921. It was actually the 26th of February, a Saturday. Her mother had sent her off to the township of North Motton to get some groceries and the mail for the house - a walk of some three and a half miles. That was 5-6 PM of that day (Robert McKay, who was both the last person to see Chrissie alive and the last living witness, claimed that he called out to her in greeting as she was walking along the road at around 5 pm) and she was killed on the journey.

Stan:

I hope you get to it soon, i'd be interested to see what you find!

Cheers,
Adam.

[Adam Went]

Just wanted to add that:

a.) I'm stoked to be able to say that I scored a high distinction from uni for the work I did on the Chrissie Venn case; and

b.) There'll be an article in the works about the case in the very near future, which i'm hoping will appear in Ripperologist. I've got a couple of big interviews to complete and a trip to the state archives to make, and then hopefully it'll be well on the way....only trouble is that every time I think i've got all the bases covered, something new comes up!

Watch this space.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Tracy Ianson]

Hi Adam

A distinction is an amazing score and to get this while working is an achievement you should well be proud of well done.

It is an interesting case and I will am intrigued to see of you find anything new with your interviews. If you need any help with anything, you know where to find me

Tracy

[Howard Brown]

Excellent news, Adam ! I just noticed the thread....congratulations and please fill us in on future news !

[Adam Went]

Thanks How and Tracy!

What i'm really focusing on at the moment is what happened to George William King, who was acquitted for the murder. After 1921, he seems to almost vanish from the pages of history.

I have a couple of leads including one which seems to suggest that he moved to New South Wales, possibly Newcastle, so i've got a couple of people sleuthing it out up there.

But still, I can't find any record of his death or other official records at this stage, so i'll just keep plugging away and hopefully something comes up. There is a theory that he changed his name so perhaps that is the case.

Tracy, you've been brilliant help, and i'll fill you in on how it's all going in more detail by e-mail. Meantime, take care.....but if you happen to find anything out about George King, i'm all ears!

(I actually found a George William King who was born in the right year - 1884 - who died in 1941 in Sussex. Now that IS a long shot!)

Cheers,
Adam.

[Cogidubnus]

Just out of interest Adam, whereabouts in Sussex?