The Dusty Box

Category: Mysteries

  • Mount Farmer Mystery

    Mount Farmer Mystery

    27 September 1854“…we buried [Charles Farmer] at sunset, sewn up in his blanket, with his saddle for a pillow, on to which we lowered him gently in a horse-rug. I read the beautiful service of our Church for the burial of the dead over him, after which we fired our guns, and retired in silence.”…

  • Lost at Yelbeni

    Lost at Yelbeni

    For six months, William McCracken worked hard as a labourer on Richard Jones’s farm near Yelbeni. He had left his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, William (3), Robert (20 months), and Elizabeth (four weeks), behind in Perth. In early November, he returned to reunite the family, and on 10 November 1911, they left by…

  • Madoonga Station U.F.O.

    Madoonga Station U.F.O.

    As we have been requested in our home State of Victoria to notify the Air Force of any “Flying Saucers” sighted we presume the case to be the same here. John Morris, 29 April 1955 [NAA: A705, 114/1/197 Page 17 of 210] The night was clear on Thursday, 28 April 1955. John Morris got up…

  • U.F.O. Files

    U.F.O. Files

    January 1953 – Dalwallinu While hunting foxes northeast of Dalwallinu, Richard Hunter and Keith McNamara noticed something in the sky. It was about 9:30 pm on 13 January 1953. The object resembled a large bright star surrounded by a white vaporous ring, and was travelling in a northerly direction. It passed over them, and after…

  • The Padbury Street Ghost

    The Padbury Street Ghost

    Let us tell the story of the Haunted House. The Daily News (Perth, WA :1882 – 1950); 9 February 1914; Page 8; A Haunted House Located behind the Brisbane Hotel and running diagonally from Beaufort Street to Bulwer Street, Padbury Street was a quiet street unknown to many people in Perth. In February 1914, that…

  • Haunting of the Chitibin

    Haunting of the Chitibin

    Thomas Dent was born in approximately 1826 in Baston, Lincolnshire, in England. The early years of his life are unknown, but as he grew older, he worked as a farm labourer. His troubles with the law began in his early 20s. On 20 December 1848, he was convicted of trespass and poaching. On 3 August…

  • A Puzzling Case

    A Puzzling Case

    Having worked hard as a teamster in the Government boring party near Mingenew, William Ernest Ellison was due for a holiday. Intending to return after the New Year, he left his portmanteau containing his work clothes and other possessions with Coorow storekeeper, Mr Todd, and on 15 September 1912, he travelled on the Midland railway…

  • The Elvira Mystery

    The Elvira Mystery

    Two years before the murder at Mount Magnet, the Elvira mine, located north east of Coolgardie and near the Red Bluff, had been sitting abandoned for over a year. On 9 June 1896, Joseph Sorensen lodged an application and was granted a lease over the site. Work began immediately. Joseph started clearing the mine out…

  • The South Cornwall Ghost

    The South Cornwall Ghost

    Sinking operations continued at the South Cornwall tin mine however the men struggled a little due to the hardness of the diorite. In early December 1907 the results at the Greenbushes tin field was “watched with the keenest of interest” and was considered “the one hope of the future.” Also being keenly watched at around…

  • The Drummer’s Death

    The Drummer’s Death

    The regular jazz drummer who played in the orchestra at the Empire Dance Hall couldn’t make it to the flannel dance held on 9 December 1932. A call was made to Edward Cassey asking if he could fill in. Despite having never played at the hall and not knowing its location, he said yes.