Murder of Bertha Schippan

Murder of Bertha Schippan
Black and white newspaper photo of people at an inquest in 1902
At the Towitta Inquest. Detective Fraser completing Mary Schippan's statement. The Coroner is looking tired. Time 7 p.m.
Date January 1, 1902 (1902-01-01)
Location Towitta, South Australia, Australia
Coordinates 34°30′03.3″S 139°15′45.9″E / 34.500917°S 139.262750°E / -34.500917; 139.262750Coordinates: 34°30′03.3″S 139°15′45.9″E / 34.500917°S 139.262750°E / -34.500917; 139.262750[1]
Type Murder
Motive Unknown
Target Bertha Shippan
First reporter Mary Shippan
Coroner Mr. Miligan, J.P.[2]
Accused Mary Shippan
Verdict Not guilty

The murder of Bertha Shippan is an unresolved Australian murder. The victim resided in the South Australian town of Towitta, located approximately six kilometres west of Sedan. She was murdered at the age of 14 on the night of 1 January 1902.[3] Her 25 year old sister Mary Shippan was prosecuted for the crime, but was acquitted. Despite various theories, the case remains unsolved.

Circumstances of the crime

Bertha and Mary Schippan's parents had left that day to visit relatives in Eden Valley. The sisters' two younger brothers had decided to sleep in a nearby barn that night, leaving Bertha and Mary alone in the house. According to Mary, she awoke at 10pm to find a man lying across her chest.[4] She allegedly escaped the house to raise the alarm with her brothers, leaving her sister Bertha behind. Her brothers proceeded to raise the alarm, but Bertha was found the next day violently murdered.

Inquest and trial

Miss Mary Augusta Schippan, charged with the murder of her sister Bertha

The inquest into Bertha's death was held shortly afterwards, with the suspicion falling on the 25 year old Mary.[4] She was soon afterwards committed to stand trial.[5]

At the trial, Mary Schippan was represented by Sir Josiah Symon K.C.[6] The trial was reported on extensively in the newspapers.[7] Mary was finally acquitted, due to there only being circumstantial evidence of her guilt.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Police Map" showing relevant sites in the Towitta area (Map). The Towitta Tragedy. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Photo from the Mary Schippan trial". State Library of South Australia. B 75311. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Royal, Simon (19 February 2017). "'Sensational' Towitta murder mystery of 1902 keeping residents guessing to this day". Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Towitta Murder". The Telegraph (9, 099). Queensland, Australia. 18 January 1902. p. 9. Retrieved 25 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "MARY SCHIPPAN A PRISONER". The Express And Telegraph. XXXIX, (11, 475). South Australia. 11 January 1902. p. 4. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "THE TOWITTA TRAGEDY". The Register (Adelaide). LXVII, (17, 260). South Australia. 10 March 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "The Towitta Tragedy - Trial of Mary Schippan". The Register (Adelaide). LXVII, (17, 260). South Australia. 10 March 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "MARY SCHIPPAN ACQUITTED!". Adelaide Observer. LIX, (3, 154). South Australia. 15 March 1902. p. 24. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.

Further reading

  • Dutschke, Richard (2017), The Towitta tragedy : the true story of the Bertha Schippan murder, Richard Dutschke
  • Donovan, P. F. (Peter Francis) (2004), The trial of Mary Schippan, Donovan & Associates, ISBN 978-0-9577357-5-0
  • Sumerling, Patricia (2010), The noon lady of Towitta (A novel based on real events entwines fact and folktale to delve into the secrets of a family haunted by its past and ruled by a devout and tyrannical father), Wakefield Press, ISBN 978-1-86254-941-8
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