DESERTERS FROM H.M. SERVICE.

FROM H .M.A.S. Encounter, 23rd May, 1917:-

TROTT, ALBERT CHAS., able seaman, 20 years of age, 5 ft. 3½ in., medium complexion , light-brown hair, blue eyes, scar left leg. Usual residence -" Inglewood," Tennyson -street , Essendon .- 0.1363A. 2nd June, 1917.

Victoria Police Gazette 7 June 1917 p 322.

MAN FOUND HANGED

Perth Oct. 15

E. T. Stott, motor car proprietor, living in Bourke-street, Leederville, reported to the Central Police Station to-day that at 6.30 this morning he found the body of one of his motor drivers, known, as Bert Williams, 26, hanging from a rafter in the garage workshop. Death had evidently taken place some time previously. Subsequently the body was  identified as being that of Albert Charles Trott, formerly of Moonee Ponds, Melbourne. The man who identified deceased alleged that he and deceased had deserted from the warship Encounter some years ago, and that that was why deceased had assumed the name of Williams.

MAN FOUND HANGED. (1922, October 16). Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1950), p. 4. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93234771

FOUND HANGED.  

Death of Albert Trott.

The inquest on the death of Albert Charles Trott, was held before, the Coroner , (Mr. F. A. McMullen) yesterday afternoon. Dr. D. S. McKenzie (chief medical officer at the Perth Public Hospital) stated that on the 15th inst., the body of a man was brought to the morgue by the police. On the following day be conducted a post-mortem examination, and concluded that death was due to strangulation. A rope such as the one produced in court could have caused the marks he discovered on the neck of the deceased. Constable Weston gave evidence that he went to Mr. Stott's garage in Leederville about 7 o'clock on the 15th. There Mr Stott showed him a body hanging by a rope from a rafter in the workshop. He cut down the body, which was cold and had apparently been dead some hours. Close to the body there was a tool box about 3 feet high. He searched the body and then had it removed to the morgue.

Edward Thomas Stott, a motor car proprietor, stated that he had engaged deceased as a motor driver on August 26, and he had given every satisfaction. Deceased had given the name of Bert Williams. He last saw him alive about 6.30 p.m. on the 14th when deceased was driving a car in St. George's-terrace. At 6.40 a.m. on the 15th he went into the garage and found deceased hanging by the neck from a rafter. The body was quite cold. He immediately reported the matter to the police. The week prior to his death deceased had been £2 13s. short in his payments and in the week of his death he should have had about £13 to pay over. Nothing had been found on the body. Deceased had been of a bright and cheerful disposition and witness could assign no reason for his taking his life.

William Thomas Wimbridge, said that on the 15th he identified a body at  the morgue as that of Albert Trott. He had first met deceased on a training ship in the Australian Navy. In 1913 they were both drafted to the Encounter from which deceased subsequently deserted. He next saw deceased after the war driving a car. Deceased told him he had assumed the name of Bert Williams. He had seen him several times since. He had never known him to drink and could give no reason for his death.

Maud Holloway, a boarding house keeper, said that she had known Bert Williams for about eighteen months. On the 14th. he drove her and others to the races, where she saw him during the afternoon. He was betting fairly heavily and was losing. They returned home about six o'clock. At about 10 o'clock that night he came to the house in response to a call and took two girls for a motor drive to the Applecross Hotel. They returned about 2.20 in the morning. Deceased was under the influence of drink and would not leave till about 3.15. On saying good-bye he told he that she would never see him again, as he intended to shout himself. Witness did not think he was serious and told him to go home. Deceased had been paying attention to a young lady who had previously been boarding with her. They had quarrelled on the 13th and 14th and deceased seemed affected by it. The Coroner found that deceased had met his death by strangulation.

FOUND HANGED. (1922, October 26). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23877926