Australia's Sordid Past: 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Two police officers.

John Thomas Kennedy attempted to join the Australian Imperial Forces but was rejected because of varicose veins. He became withdrawn and a series of events followed that sent his mind to breaking point.
First he received an envelope from an unknown person. The contents of the envelope consisted of a white feather and a list of the those that had recently died during the WWI. (For those that don't know, a white feather is a symbol for cowardice). Kennedy became even more withdrawn.

In 1920 he left Australia and headed for Canada. Nine years later he made the trip back to Australia to see his mother. Upon arrival he was told that his mother had died and the family had hidden that fact from him. Devastated, he moved to Sydney and lost the plot a little bit more. He was known as "The Mad General" because he used to 'march' around the house imitating drill instructions and shooting his .22 rifle in the backyard. January 3, 1931 saw Kennedy march to the shops, with his rifle strapped to his back, to buy a packet of smokes. Following an argument with the shop owner Kennedy used his rifle to make threats. The police were called and Constable Norman Allen was killed by Kennedy. A short time later Constable Ernest Andrews met his end at Kennedy's hand. Then Kennedy was shot and killed by a motor cycle cop after hearing Kennedy shooting at Andrews.

Answer: It was the surname of the killer.

The killer's name was William Cyril Moxley. The killing took place at a 'lovers' lane' at Holsworthy in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Frank Wilkinson and his girlfriend, Dorothy Denzel were shot by Moxley while they were kissing and cuddling at the local lovers' lane.

The original plan was to rob them but Wilkinson attempted to take the shotgun from Moxley. Moxley held the couple captive and killed them the the next day. He executed them with a blast from the shotgun.

Answer: Pyjamas.

The case was known as the "Pyjama Girl Murder Case". The unknown female was wearing pyjamas that had a dragon motif. In an attempt to identify her, she was put on display at the Sydney University and thousands of people viewed. It was suggested that the female was Linda Agostini, but when her husband was asked to identify the body he stated that it was not her.

The case remained unsolved until 1944, when - following a lead - the real killer was found. It was none other than Linda's husband! Tony Agostini ended up in gaol for 6 years.

Answer: A shark vomited up his severed arm.

James Smith was last seen alive by his wife on 7 April, 1935 when he went fishing with Patrick Brady (another criminal). Two brothers (Bert and Ron Hobson) caught a Tiger Shark and transported it back to their aquarium on 18 April, 1935. The shark wasn't looking too flash, and to the horror of onlookers, it threw up a severed arm.

The arm was in good condition and was sporting a tattoo that assisted with identification. Police conducted an extensive investigation and two suspects were established, Patrick Brady, and a boat builder by the name of Reginald Holmes. Holmes attempted to commit suicide and was hospitalised. Brady was found murdered during the period that Holmes spent in hospital. The rest of Smith's body was never located and the real murderer was never established.

Answer: Melbourne

Sodeman murdered four girls over a 5 year period.

Mena Griffiths, 12 years old in 1930.
Hazel Wilson, 16 years old in 1931.
Ethel Belshaw, 12 years old on New Year's Day, 1935.
June Rushmer, 6 years old in 1935.

Answer: An angry reaction to a comment by a workmate.

A workmate made a joking comment about seeing Sodeman near the scene of the last murder site. Sodeman got very angry, which made the workmates suspicious and they notified police. After he was taken into custody for the Rushmer murder he suddenly confessed to the rest. He died at the end of a noose in 1936.

Answer: three, Melbourne

Edward Joseph Leonski went on his murderous killing spree in 1942. During the investigation it was established that an American G.I. had been spotted near the first murder scene. However, this was the equivalent of a needle in a haystack due to the large number of American servicemen that were billeted in Melbourne.Two murders later, over a short period of time, and Melbourne was gripped by terror. Leonski's undoing was that he was challenged by an Australian sentry at the army base as he was trying to get back into barracks. That same year he dropped to his death at Pentridge Prison at the hands of the hangman.

Answer: Four times.

Dugan was called "Houdini" and "The Escapologist". In 1949 he escaped from prison for the fourth time with fellow inmate William Mears. They were on the run for over three months until they were recaptured. During their time "on the outside" they committed a series of armed robberies. Mears ended up shooting a bank manager. They were caught following a tip off that was given to police.

Answer: Taxi drivers.

His M.O. was the same. He would ring for a taxi with a request to be taken to a very rich part of the city. He would then pull out a fake firearm and rob the taxi driver of his money. The taxi drivers in Melbourne were furious about becoming targets and set a trap. The taxi drivers caught Cribbin and he was handed over to police. Cribbins spent 18 months in gaol and after his release he moved to Sydney. He ended up breaking into the house of an elderly woman and when he was disturbed he killed the old lady.

Old habits are hard to break, and he was soon back to his old tricks, with a new twist - he now carried a real gun. He robbed a taxi driver and shot him twice in the head. Prior to being able to dispose of the body, a motorbike cop pulled Cribbins over driving the taxi. Cribbins was arrested after a car chase. He got life in gaol for his efforts.

Answer: He used a variety of different killing methods.

Traditionally serial killers follow a pattern. Serial killers will select a victim and will sometimes choose their target from a specific group of people, for example: prostitutes, the elderly, children or women with a certain hair colour. Serial killers may also have a preferred method of killing their victims. Cooke was different in many ways. His crimes initially appeared to be unrelated. This list shows how he "mixed it up":
- The attacks were committed by stabbings, firearms, strangulation and even hit and run 'accidents'.
- He used different types of firearms.
- Victims were random.
- His stabbings were committed not only with knives; he also used scissors and even an axe.
- One victim was raped.
- Some victims were killed on their doorstep as they opened the doors, others while they were sleeping and some when they had disturbed Cooke robbing them.

Cooke was caught out when one of his hidden firearms was located by police and linked to one of the crimes. A trap was set and he walked straight into it when he arrived to collect the firearm. A confession followed and he admitted to 8 murders, 14 attempted murders and 22 other crimes. A sad sequel to this story was that two OTHER people had been tried, convicted and sentenced for crimes committed by Cooke. It wasn't until the 2000s that evidence linked Cooke to the crimes.