Uploaded pix which appear on the Desert Column Forum.
George Farrow Blunderfield came from Plympton, South Australia.
Blunderfield went to Western Australia in 1890.
First Conviction
On 30 October 1899, Blunderfield was convicted at Kalgoorlie on a charge of being in unlawful possession of a bicycle, valued at £20, and fined £5, with the alternative of three months' imprisonment.
Charge but no conviction
Blunderfield, was arrested on the charge of attempted murder, Wednesday, 18 October 1899.
While awaiting his trial on a charge of receiving stolen goods, viz, the bicycle, valued at £20, the key witness against him was John Campbell. Blunderfield induced Campbell to take a walk, alleging that he could get two friends from Kanowna to prove his innocence. The pair sat down near a dump, and Campbell started to light a fire, when Blunderfield struck him on the head with a piece of iron. Campbell staggered, and ran to a camp occupied by an old man. Blunderfield was found "Not Guilty" of the charge on Thursday, 16 November 1900.
Second Conviction
Perth, 6 March 1900, Blunderfield was found guilty of the criminal assault on a assault on a six years old Lucy Palmer at Kalgoorlie, 20 January 1900. Lucy Palmer almost died as a consequence of the assault but survived. Blunderfield's sentence was 12 years' imprisonment.
He was released on probation after serving about six years of this sentence.
Third Conviction
Perth, 7 December 1909, Blunderfield was found guilty on a charge of attempting to kill Charles J. Efford, postmaster at Hopetoun, Western Australia. His sentence was 9 years' imprisonment.
A charge of having wounded Mrs. Efford, with intent to murder her, was not proceeded with.
In this case evidence was given that Blunderfield , who was known to Mr. Efford, broke into the post office on the early morning of 28 October 1909, and shot at Mr. Efford while in bed, wounding him, and that when his wife, who was next to him, Mrs. Efford screamed, she was struck on the head with a blunt instrument.
Blunderfield was incarcerated at Rottnest Prison. There he deliberately lit a fire in the prison on 5 April 1914. In the confusion that ensued, Blunderfield made his escape.
South Australia
Blunderfield arrived in South Australia where he changed his name to Arthur Geoffrey OLDRING. It was under that name he enlisted in the AIF on the hope that this would expunge his past convictions.
Victoria
When transferred to Victoria, Blunderfield aka OLDRING met Margaret Taylor (45) who followed him from Melbourne to Trawool, Victoria when he was transferred to Seymour Camp. She was his long term de facto wife. Living with her was her twelve year old daughter, Rose Taylor. It was alleged at his trial that Taylor wanted OLDRING to desert the AIF and marry her.
Sister
When Blunderfield aka OLDRING was arrested, his sister, Mrs. Jessie Brown, 45, of 352 Graham Street, Port Melbourne, and the wife of hairdressing salon proprietor, Jacob Brown, swallowed a quantity of irritant poison. She was found by her son, a boy of 13, late on Sunday afternoon who informed his father. Jacob rushed Jessie to Melbourne Hospital where she subsequently died at 6.36 p.m. on Monday, 26 November 1918.
Another casualty of this murder.