An Alphabet of Australian Convict Mugshots, 1900-1920

JF Ptak Science Books  Post 1797

These photographs are remarkable capsules of space and time--they hold the mostly-realized fates of their subjects, taken into custody in Sydney for crimes from prostitution to stealing to loitering to bigamy to murder and around and around. The poses are interesting in that there seems to be no unified way of making them, which means that most often the detained person had the opportunity to adopt whatever posed they pleased, given the emotional constraints of their situation.  Some are defiant, some at complete ease in front of the camera; others are completely distracted and scared, and embarrassed and guilty.  There also doesn't seem to be a segregated point for making the photographs, tough there is a common-looking wall and hallway for some of them.  It would be interested to know if the Sydney police were making an editorial statement by placing their subjects in unflattering locations, like standing near a dripping faucet, or amidst trash, or in a garden, or in front of toilets.  In any event the range of emotions is remarkable, even for looking through only a few hundred of the more than 100,000 images that are on line here and there from the good folks in Sydney.     [The images below all started out their life at Sydney Justice and Police, and then used in parts by the following websites and blogs from which I harvested my selection below,:  Retronaut , the Independent,,  Live Journal   the Daily Mail, and the Historic Houses Front (which also has full-ish records for each photograph).  An interesting interpretation of many of the images can be found at SCAN.

Analytically  interesting, an interpretative invitation.  Apprehensive? 

 

 Bored

Challenging

Dogmatically inscrutable

["The Tivoli Theatre in Castlereagh Street was for decades Sydney's most popular variety theatre, famous for, among other things, its barley-clad showgirls. The circumstances behind this photograph may be thus: police are called in to make a report in the aftermath of a fire. They find themselves granted access to one of the most titillating locales in Sydney - the 'Tiv' dressing room. In the ensuing mood of ribald jocularity a policeman is photographed clowning about."--Historic Home Trust.]

Emotionally invisible

Fraudelent encumberanceer

Alice Adeline Cooke, criminal record number 565LB, 30 December 1922. Convicted of bigamy and theft. By the age of 24 Alice Cooke had amassed an impressive number of aliases and at least two husbands. Described by police as 'rather good looking', Cooke was a habitual thief and a convicted bigamist. Aged 24

Grotesque esteem

Hidden Wanton

Dorothy Mort, criminal record number 773LB, 16 October 1929. Mrs Dorothy Mort was having an affair with dashing young doctor Claude Tozer. On 21 December 1920 Tozer visited Mort's home intending to break off the relationship. Mort shot him dead and then attempted to commit suicide. She was released from gaol shortly after this photograph was taken and disappeared from the public eye.

Intolerant Subversiveness

Jealousy for Innocence or for not being caught.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2129646/Vintage-police-mugshots-1920s-Australian-criminals-hide-sinister-crimes.html#ixzz1so99SDH3

 

Lost uncertainty

 Meatty confidence

 

Numb murderer

Emily Gertrude Hemsworth, criminal record number 657LB, 14 May 1925. Emily Hemsworth killed her three-week-old son but could not remember any details of the murder. She was found not guilty due to insanity. Hemsworth was to be detained in custody until judged fit to return to society - it is unknown if she was ever released. Aged 24

Occupied

Petulent

Reluctant

 

Elizabeth Ruddy, criminal record number 165LB, 5 January 1915. Elizabeth Ruddy was a career criminal who was convicted of stealing from the house of one Andrew Foley. She was sentenced to 12 months with hard labour. Charged with: stealing in a dwelling, drunk and stealing. Elizabeth Ruddy inscribed on negative. DOB: 1854, Scotland

Quizzically introspective

Remembered past

 

Sad Happiness

 

 

Tragic thinker

Eugenia Falleni, alias Harry Crawford, criminal record number 499LB, 21 October 1920. Crime: murder. Eugenia Falleni spent most of her life masquerading as a man. In 1913 Falleni married a widow, Annie Birkett, whom she later murdered. The case whipped the public into a frenzy as they clamoured for details of the 'man-woman' murderer. Aged approximately 35.

Here's a photo of Eugenia as Harry:

Varieties of women as criminals

W ithered wanting 

Ettie Sultana, criminal record number 558LB, 17 November 1922. Prostitute Ettie Sultana worked in northern New South Wales and in the Queensland cities of Brisbane and Toowoomba for most of her career. She had multiple convictions for prostitution, theft, drunkenness, swearing and vagrancy. She was sentenced to six months with hard labour. Charged with: soliciting, attempt to prevent the course of justice, stealing, drunk, obscene expression, common prostitute, vagrancy and drunkenness. DOB: 31/12/1885. From: Singleton. Occupation: domestic duties

Youthfulness disappeared

Ruth Young, criminal record number 596LB, 11 September 1923. Ruth Young had a problem with alcohol and was often homeless. She had multiple convictions for drunkenness, vagrancy and petty theft. Her head was probably shaved upon her entry to prison to eradicate head lice. Charged with: vagrancy and drunk. DOB: 1880. From: Victoria. Occupation: domestic duties