The Dynamite Outrage at Boulder.
Arrest of Mrs Elizabeth Charnley

A sensational development took place at noon on Thursday in connection with the dynamite explosion at the residence of Mr James Ferguson, telegraph operator, of Boulder, when Detective Walsh, of Kalgoorlie, with Detective McLernon and plainclothes constable Culpitt, of Boulder, effected the arrest of Mrs. Elizabeth Charnley, a married woman, 60 years of age, who resided with her husband and grown-up family in a cottage in Davis-street. Certain matters that had come to the knowledge of the official investigators had led them to the conclusion that evidence might be found at the cottage in question to point in the direction of the person or persons who committed the crime. Accordingly, they went to the place at half-past 1 o’clock yesterday morning and made a diligent search of the premises and inquiries from the occupants. Their labours were rewarded by the discovery of seven or eight dynamite cartridges, several caps or detonators, and a long piece of fuse in the bedroom of a son of the woman who was subsequently arrested by them for alleged participation in the outrage.

Mrs Ferguson, wife of James Ferguson, was in her house with a visitor named Mrs Vallance, when suddenly a piece of wood exploded, and parts of it struck Mrs Ferguson and entered the flesh. Both women were severely shaken, and the room and chimney were wrecked.

When Detective Walsh and his companions had completed their investigations, Mrs Charnley, who seemed to be in a terribly distressed state of mind, was taken into custody. She walked quietly to the Boulder lockup, where a charge of a grave nature was entered against her. Mrs Charnley was charged that she did, at Boulder, on the 27th day of May, 1903, wilfully and unlawfully cause, by an explosive substance, an explosion likely to injure the life of Jessie Ferguson. The information was laid under section 296 of the Criminal Code Act, which was brought into operation within the State last year.

The section reads – Any person who wilfully and unlawfully causes by any explosive substance an explosion likely to injure the life of any person, whether any injury to any person is actually caused or not, is guilty of a crime, and is liable to imprisonment with hard labour for life.

Mr O. E. Norris, solicitor (Jones, Smith and Norris), who was retained by the friends of Mrs Charnley to take action on her behalf, busied himself in making an application that his client should be given bail, to which the detectives had apparently no objection. Consequently, Mr J. A. Hopkins, J.P., was summoned to the police station, where he allowed Mrs Charnley to go free conditionally upon her appearance at the Boulder Police Court at 10 o’clock the next morning to answer the charge preferred against her. Her own recognisance of £200 was taken, and two sureties of £100 each were accepted for her appearance. Mrs Charnley then left for home in company with friends.

Mrs Charnley resides with her husband and two grown-up sons and a daughter at the house on Davis Street, Boulder. From their place, a clear view can be obtained of Mr Ferguson’s house. The husband is an old man, no longer able to do active work for a livelihood. The daughter is a young woman who follows the occupation of a dressmaker. It is alleged that she kept company with Ferguson for over twelve months till a short while before his marriage to his present wife, an event that took place in Perth several weeks ago. Mrs Ferguson had just come over from Melbourne. It is questionable whether Mrs Ferguson will be in a fit condition to appear to give testimony for several days to come.

Upon enquiry last night, our representative was informed that she was confined to her bed. She suffered from shock as well as the injuries caused by the effects of the explosion, though all the splinters had been removed. Her left eye was badly injured and is closed. Foreign substances are thought to be under the eyelid, but Dr Irwin cannot tell as yet whether permanent injury is likely to result or not. Taking all the horror of the circumstances into consideration, Mrs Ferguson is doing as well as can be expected. Mrs Vallence, who stood further away from the fire at the time of the explosion, has suffered from severe headaches ever since the occurrence. Long before the time appointed for the appearance of Mrs Elizabeth Charnley at the Boulder Police Court, Friday morning, to answer the charge preferred against her in connection with the explosion at the residence of James Ferguson, the public commenced to gather in Burt Street, opposite the court. They gazed with curiosity at Mrs Charnley and her friends, who formed a small group in the near vicinity, for a good while before the proceedings were opened.

Directly the door was opened, the people began to crowd in, until presently all the available room in the space reserved for the accommodation of the public was filled to overflowing. Directly the magistrates (Messrs. W. T. Rabbish, Mayor of Boulder, and A. J. Evans, J.P.) had taken their seats upon the bench, Sergeant Moore called the name of Elizabeth Charnley. Mrs Charnley surrendered to her bail and was ushered into the dock. The Mayor said: Elizabeth Charnley — You are charged that you did, at Boulder, on the 27th day of May, 1903, wilfully and unlawfully cause by an explosive substance an explosion likely to injure the life of Jessie Ferguson. How do you plead—guilty or not guilty? Mrs Charnley entered a plea of ‘Not guilty’.

Detective Walsh said, “As the chief witness in this case cannot appear, as she is at home in bed, I would ask your Worships to grant a remand for eight days. Mr Norris (Messrs. Jones, Smith and Norris), who appeared for the defence, said that he had no objection to the remand, provided that the accused was admitted to bail in her own recognisance and two sureties in the same amounts that permitted her liberation on the previous evening. Detective Walsh said that he had no wish to oppose the granting of bail. The accused was consequently let out on her own recognisance of £200 and two sureties of £100 each to appear on Saturday, June 6, for the further hearing of her case. The sureties, who were present, immediately signed the necessary papers, and Mrs Charnley left the court with her friends.

Malcolm Chronicle and Leonora Advertiser – 29 May 1903, page 3

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