1 00:00:05,881 --> 00:00:07,281 Speaker 1: Appoche Production. 2 00:00:14,761 --> 00:00:17,161 Speaker 2: Welcome to Real Crime at Adam Shand. I'm your host, 3 00:00:17,201 --> 00:00:20,401 Speaker 2: Adam Shand. If you ask the average person who is 4 00:00:20,441 --> 00:00:24,441 Speaker 2: Australia's most corrupt and dangerous cop, most people will probably 5 00:00:24,481 --> 00:00:28,601 Speaker 2: say Roger Rogerson Brandon one of the country's most corrupt cops. 6 00:00:28,761 --> 00:00:32,801 Speaker 2: Convicted murderer Roger Rogerson. His meteoric rise during the seventies 7 00:00:32,801 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: and eighties came during the height of police corruption in 8 00:00:36,081 --> 00:00:39,801 Speaker 2: our state. But I think there might be another contender 9 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,441 Speaker 2: for the title. In twenty twenty three, I was in Pentland, 10 00:00:43,441 --> 00:00:47,161 Speaker 2: near Charter's Towers in far North Queensland, researching the nineteen 11 00:00:47,281 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: seventy two disappearance of hitchhikers Anita Cunningham and Robin Hoyneville Bartram. 12 00:00:53,281 --> 00:00:58,401 Speaker 2: It's one of Australia's most baffling unsolved murders. Robin's body 13 00:00:58,481 --> 00:01:01,321 Speaker 2: was found under a bridge at Sensible Creek near Pentland. 14 00:01:01,881 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: She'd been executed with a twenty two rifle. Anita has 15 00:01:05,161 --> 00:01:08,801 Speaker 2: never been found. As I went around Pentland talking to 16 00:01:08,881 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: old timers about the case, the name of a new 17 00:01:11,601 --> 00:01:16,041 Speaker 2: suspect cropped up and he was a police officer, Superintendent 18 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:21,241 Speaker 2: Mervyn Henry Stevenson, former police Superintendent MERV. 19 00:01:21,321 --> 00:01:24,801 Speaker 3: Stevenson was named as a person of interest. 20 00:01:25,081 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 2: The townsfolk couldn't give me clear evidence of why Stevenson 21 00:01:28,401 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: would have been involved in this crime, but the attitude 22 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,121 Speaker 2: was that anything shady, mysterious, or brutal in that era 23 00:01:34,521 --> 00:01:38,001 Speaker 2: could have connections to Stevenson. He was a figure who 24 00:01:38,041 --> 00:01:44,441 Speaker 2: inspired genuine terror and fear, not respect. Like Rogerson, Stevenson 25 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,321 Speaker 2: was a decorated officer and a larger than life figure. 26 00:01:48,001 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: He made his name as boss of the police stock 27 00:01:50,521 --> 00:01:54,441 Speaker 2: Squad and was an expert horseman and bushman, the last 28 00:01:54,481 --> 00:01:57,201 Speaker 2: of the corn beef and damper coppers, as he was known. 29 00:01:57,681 --> 00:02:00,321 Speaker 2: He was inducted into the Stockman's Hall of Fame, and 30 00:02:00,361 --> 00:02:02,921 Speaker 2: when he died of cancer in two thousand and one, 31 00:02:03,001 --> 00:02:05,641 Speaker 2: he was farewelled by a police guard of honor at 32 00:02:05,681 --> 00:02:09,761 Speaker 2: his funeral in Townsville. He was never convicted of any crime, 33 00:02:10,201 --> 00:02:13,441 Speaker 2: but his retirement news had been marred by allegations of corruption, 34 00:02:13,881 --> 00:02:16,041 Speaker 2: of cattle duffing and even murder. 35 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,601 Speaker 3: MP Bob Catatt stood up in Federal Parliament in two 36 00:02:19,641 --> 00:02:22,681 Speaker 3: thousand and six and told of the corruption that hung 37 00:02:22,721 --> 00:02:25,801 Speaker 3: over the policeman as a ringleader of the so called 38 00:02:26,081 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 3: Crooked Creek Cattle Company. 39 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,881 Speaker 2: I've kept Stevenson's name in the back of my mind 40 00:02:30,921 --> 00:02:33,961 Speaker 2: ever since until I met the former editor of the 41 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: Townsville Bulletin newspaper, Elliot Hannay. Elliott had several chilling run 42 00:02:38,881 --> 00:02:41,721 Speaker 2: ins with Stevenson and believes he may have gotten away 43 00:02:41,761 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 2: with several murders. He's written about Stevenson in his biography 44 00:02:46,401 --> 00:02:48,961 Speaker 2: The Cult with No Regrets, and then followed up with 45 00:02:49,001 --> 00:02:52,081 Speaker 2: some thinly veiled references to Stevenson in another book called 46 00:02:52,161 --> 00:02:56,561 Speaker 2: Embedded the Gulf Country Murders. It's my pleasure to welcome 47 00:02:56,761 --> 00:02:59,441 Speaker 2: Elliot on the show to share this dark side of 48 00:02:59,481 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 2: a once celebrated police herod. How are you going well something, sir? Yes, 49 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,041 Speaker 2: outback hero or killer cop? What do you think, merg 50 00:03:10,081 --> 00:03:12,481 Speaker 2: Stevenson was well. 51 00:03:12,921 --> 00:03:16,641 Speaker 4: I was among the large crowd that accepted that he 52 00:03:16,721 --> 00:03:22,121 Speaker 4: was a hero copper until I had a rather unnerving 53 00:03:22,201 --> 00:03:24,801 Speaker 4: experience with him when I was the editor of the paper. 54 00:03:25,721 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 4: And it was a little bit complicated, but I'd exposed 55 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,841 Speaker 4: Sydney underworld figure Abe Saffron as a silent partner in 56 00:03:35,961 --> 00:03:39,481 Speaker 4: a big for a big lucrative casino license up here, 57 00:03:40,041 --> 00:03:44,081 Speaker 4: and in amongst the mix of it all was other 58 00:03:44,121 --> 00:03:49,241 Speaker 4: Gold Coast business people and the then Police Minister Russ Hins, 59 00:03:50,161 --> 00:03:54,121 Speaker 4: and unbeknown to me, it looked like I'd really upset 60 00:03:55,561 --> 00:04:00,641 Speaker 4: not only the Sydney underweld figures but also some high 61 00:04:01,001 --> 00:04:04,481 Speaker 4: ranking police officers that they were dealing with up here. 62 00:04:05,081 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 4: And the resultant kickback from the police at that stage 63 00:04:11,681 --> 00:04:16,641 Speaker 4: came through the special Branch unit that the corrupt Minister 64 00:04:17,281 --> 00:04:22,121 Speaker 4: and the corrupt Police commissioner used in the pre Fitzgerald 65 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:30,041 Speaker 4: period to do their dirty works, and they actually harassed 66 00:04:30,401 --> 00:04:35,281 Speaker 4: Bulletin staff members. They arrested my police roundsman and charged 67 00:04:35,361 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 4: him with trount up charges of assault, arrest and urinating 68 00:04:40,001 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 4: in a police vehicle, all totally fabricated. Was quite worrying 69 00:04:44,761 --> 00:04:51,001 Speaker 4: at the time, and at that stage Stevenson, in a gesture, 70 00:04:51,521 --> 00:04:54,921 Speaker 4: threatened to pop me between the eyes with his service 71 00:04:55,001 --> 00:04:58,121 Speaker 4: pistol if I didn't back off. So that was my 72 00:04:58,761 --> 00:05:02,361 Speaker 4: first example that there was a darker side to this man. 73 00:05:02,641 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 4: And about the same time another colleague, Max Tomlinson, who 74 00:05:07,401 --> 00:05:11,361 Speaker 4: was the editor of The Northern Minor at Charterstowers, he'd 75 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 4: exposed Stevenson in a court story where the person that 76 00:05:17,081 --> 00:05:24,801 Speaker 4: Stevenson was charging alleged that Stevenson was motivated by intimidation 77 00:05:25,201 --> 00:05:30,681 Speaker 4: because this person had discovered some of Stevenson's corrupt activities 78 00:05:30,681 --> 00:05:34,681 Speaker 4: in the bush towns, and in his defense he brought 79 00:05:35,601 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 4: not Stevenson, but the grazier being charged by Stephenson brought 80 00:05:39,721 --> 00:05:44,921 Speaker 4: up a barrister up from Brisbane unannounced at the magistrate's 81 00:05:44,961 --> 00:05:49,641 Speaker 4: court and made these astounding allegations, although they didn't astound 82 00:05:49,641 --> 00:05:53,281 Speaker 4: too many people in Charteristows or in the bush that 83 00:05:53,481 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 4: this very senior police officer was actually corrupt and he 84 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,121 Speaker 4: was involved in cattle duffing. Not only that, he was 85 00:06:01,201 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 4: also turning a blind eye to drug farming, imports and 86 00:06:06,801 --> 00:06:10,881 Speaker 4: calm smuggling. And he was actually part of that corrupt network. 87 00:06:11,761 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: That's a lot of corrupt activities. It's amazing to me 88 00:06:15,721 --> 00:06:18,841 Speaker 2: that people outside of Queensland have actually never heard of 89 00:06:18,841 --> 00:06:21,721 Speaker 2: this bloke. And if you do hear of him, he 90 00:06:21,841 --> 00:06:24,001 Speaker 2: divides opinion. A lot of people think that he was 91 00:06:24,361 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: a hero cop. He was one of those old school 92 00:06:28,121 --> 00:06:33,561 Speaker 2: bush coppers. He'd been involved in numerous heroic investigations and arrests. 93 00:06:34,241 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 2: And I note that people to this day will defend him. 94 00:06:38,161 --> 00:06:41,481 Speaker 2: But on the ground there there seemed to be numerous 95 00:06:41,521 --> 00:06:46,361 Speaker 2: mysterious circumstances where people were dying, cattle were being stolen, 96 00:06:46,921 --> 00:06:51,801 Speaker 2: police stations were being burnt down where Stevenson seemed to 97 00:06:51,921 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: be somewhere there or thereabouts. And you talk about that 98 00:06:55,961 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 2: confrontation you had with him where he threatened to shoot you, 99 00:06:59,841 --> 00:07:02,281 Speaker 2: you should set the scene a bit more vividly, because 100 00:07:02,281 --> 00:07:04,401 Speaker 2: it was quite a moment. You were in a Chinese restaurant. 101 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,921 Speaker 4: I believe we were trying to make peace with the police, 102 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:12,321 Speaker 4: and I assumed that we just published some negative stories 103 00:07:12,321 --> 00:07:15,561 Speaker 4: which upset them. But he mainly seemed to be concerned 104 00:07:16,241 --> 00:07:21,441 Speaker 4: about the exposures we were giving the gangsters behind the casino. 105 00:07:21,041 --> 00:07:21,761 Speaker 1: Bit up here. 106 00:07:22,121 --> 00:07:25,441 Speaker 4: Bearing in mind he was the most senior police He 107 00:07:25,521 --> 00:07:29,201 Speaker 4: was the acting regional police superintendent for the whole of 108 00:07:29,241 --> 00:07:33,361 Speaker 4: North Queens. Couldn't get any higher than him, so complaining 109 00:07:33,401 --> 00:07:36,761 Speaker 4: about the man, you know, was a bit difficult. But 110 00:07:37,001 --> 00:07:39,681 Speaker 4: what really came to mind was back in two thousand 111 00:07:39,761 --> 00:07:45,201 Speaker 4: and seventeen, I was invited to assis Bob Catter for 112 00:07:45,641 --> 00:07:50,481 Speaker 4: a publication for New Holland, and Bob really amazed me 113 00:07:51,281 --> 00:07:55,121 Speaker 4: with the detail that he had on Stevenson, and what 114 00:07:55,441 --> 00:07:58,401 Speaker 4: really shook me up a bit was that a young 115 00:07:58,481 --> 00:08:01,761 Speaker 4: police constable came to Bob when he was a state 116 00:08:01,841 --> 00:08:06,321 Speaker 4: member at Charterstouse and was worried. Said, look, I've discovered 117 00:08:06,321 --> 00:08:11,241 Speaker 4: that Stevenson's corrupt. He's covering his tracks. I think there's 118 00:08:11,281 --> 00:08:15,801 Speaker 4: been a couple of mysterious murders or suicides that relate 119 00:08:15,881 --> 00:08:19,201 Speaker 4: to him. And he's threatened to shoot me between the 120 00:08:19,241 --> 00:08:23,081 Speaker 4: eyes with his service pistol. So that was intriguing. But 121 00:08:23,641 --> 00:08:27,841 Speaker 4: according to Bob Cattera, this heroic young police officer said, well, 122 00:08:28,201 --> 00:08:31,961 Speaker 4: merv you better get me with your first shot, because 123 00:08:32,001 --> 00:08:34,241 Speaker 4: if you miss, I've got a loaded pistol and I'm 124 00:08:34,281 --> 00:08:37,041 Speaker 4: a better shot than you are. So this was going 125 00:08:37,081 --> 00:08:42,321 Speaker 4: on behind the scenes, and actually I've got Bob on 126 00:08:42,521 --> 00:08:47,521 Speaker 4: tape where he admitted that the only reason he backed 127 00:08:47,841 --> 00:08:51,841 Speaker 4: Deputy Premier Bill Gunn in the move to have the 128 00:08:51,841 --> 00:08:57,321 Speaker 4: Fitzgerald inquiry it was a cabinet revolt. While Joe was away. 129 00:08:57,441 --> 00:09:00,841 Speaker 4: He was into state on the JOPHO BM so they 130 00:09:00,921 --> 00:09:04,441 Speaker 4: sprang this on and the only reason that Bob cater 131 00:09:04,521 --> 00:09:10,121 Speaker 4: supported gun was his belief that any inquiry into police 132 00:09:10,121 --> 00:09:14,041 Speaker 4: corruption would surely get rid of Stevenson. He'd be the 133 00:09:14,081 --> 00:09:18,041 Speaker 4: first cab off the rank. And of course it didn't happen. 134 00:09:18,441 --> 00:09:21,281 Speaker 4: He only got a vague mention about the lack of 135 00:09:21,321 --> 00:09:24,801 Speaker 4: a proper investigation into the suicide of the young policeman 136 00:09:24,921 --> 00:09:27,001 Speaker 4: up on the table leaves. 137 00:09:27,481 --> 00:09:29,521 Speaker 2: We'll get to that. But I mean again, he's either 138 00:09:30,001 --> 00:09:32,921 Speaker 2: a bit like Roger Rogerson before he murdered Jamie gow. 139 00:09:33,321 --> 00:09:37,041 Speaker 2: He's either the most misunderstood police officer or the most corrupt. 140 00:09:37,321 --> 00:09:40,841 Speaker 2: And I think Stevenson's story is quite similar. Like I say, 141 00:09:40,881 --> 00:09:44,321 Speaker 2: people to this day will defend him, but when I 142 00:09:44,401 --> 00:09:47,441 Speaker 2: was in Pentland, the old folks, they were sure that 143 00:09:47,441 --> 00:09:49,561 Speaker 2: he was up to no good. And I think you 144 00:09:49,641 --> 00:09:52,001 Speaker 2: saw that malevolent streak in him. You've called him a 145 00:09:52,041 --> 00:09:54,441 Speaker 2: psychopath actually, And when you had that meeting in the 146 00:09:54,521 --> 00:09:57,281 Speaker 2: Chinese restaurant, I think it was a pretty chilling one. 147 00:09:57,321 --> 00:09:58,841 Speaker 2: Just recap what happened in that meeting. 148 00:10:00,201 --> 00:10:03,561 Speaker 4: Well, he took the upper hand and was just demanding 149 00:10:03,681 --> 00:10:08,081 Speaker 4: the media virtually stay out and stop asking questions. And 150 00:10:08,921 --> 00:10:12,561 Speaker 4: he had a thirty eight little snubnosed pistol in an 151 00:10:12,601 --> 00:10:16,241 Speaker 4: ankle holster, and he made sure that I could see that. 152 00:10:16,281 --> 00:10:18,601 Speaker 4: He pulled the trouser leg up and he patted it 153 00:10:19,441 --> 00:10:22,001 Speaker 4: and he said, look, I'm sick and tired of what 154 00:10:22,041 --> 00:10:24,521 Speaker 4: you've been doing in the townsil bullet and he said, 155 00:10:24,521 --> 00:10:27,441 Speaker 4: if you don't back off, and he patted the pistol 156 00:10:27,441 --> 00:10:29,441 Speaker 4: and then he said, you know, you're going to get 157 00:10:29,481 --> 00:10:34,041 Speaker 4: popped between the eyes. So that resonated with me when 158 00:10:34,201 --> 00:10:37,681 Speaker 4: Kada told a story about the other police officer who'd 159 00:10:37,681 --> 00:10:39,281 Speaker 4: had a similar experience. 160 00:10:39,681 --> 00:10:40,441 Speaker 1: Now you talk. 161 00:10:40,321 --> 00:10:45,881 Speaker 4: About people supporting Stevenson, Well, there's been never in any 162 00:10:45,921 --> 00:10:49,401 Speaker 4: hard evidence for this stuff. But to this day, I've 163 00:10:49,441 --> 00:10:53,201 Speaker 4: never run across anyone in all my inquiries when as 164 00:10:53,201 --> 00:10:56,801 Speaker 4: soon as I mentioned the word Stevenson, it's the worst 165 00:10:56,801 --> 00:11:03,081 Speaker 4: possible response. See, there was an inquiry before the Fitzgerald 166 00:11:03,121 --> 00:11:10,481 Speaker 4: inquiry led by a pretty tough, honest copper named Huey. 167 00:11:10,521 --> 00:11:11,561 Speaker 4: Inspector Huey. 168 00:11:12,001 --> 00:11:13,561 Speaker 2: I think he was known as a mad dog, wasn't he. 169 00:11:14,441 --> 00:11:17,281 Speaker 1: Yeah, And he really went for Stevenson. 170 00:11:18,081 --> 00:11:23,241 Speaker 4: When Stevenson retired and he was successfully running a pretty 171 00:11:23,361 --> 00:11:26,841 Speaker 4: large cattle property that developed most people said they were 172 00:11:26,881 --> 00:11:31,881 Speaker 4: stolen cattle on it, and mad Dog Huey headed the 173 00:11:31,961 --> 00:11:36,521 Speaker 4: inquiry into the fact that Stephenson was in corrupt league 174 00:11:36,601 --> 00:11:41,001 Speaker 4: with the then senior officer at Charters Towse, and a 175 00:11:41,041 --> 00:11:44,921 Speaker 4: young constable had stumbled on what was going on. He'd 176 00:11:44,961 --> 00:11:48,681 Speaker 4: made a complaint through the higher ranks and he was 177 00:11:48,761 --> 00:11:53,441 Speaker 4: immediately transferred to traffic in Brisbane. So the police union 178 00:11:53,521 --> 00:11:56,601 Speaker 4: backed him and Canter backed him to try and get 179 00:11:56,601 --> 00:12:01,721 Speaker 4: an inquiry into what was going on. Now Stevenson managed 180 00:12:01,761 --> 00:12:02,961 Speaker 4: to turn the tables. 181 00:12:03,041 --> 00:12:04,521 Speaker 1: He was very. 182 00:12:04,281 --> 00:12:09,441 Speaker 4: Close to Terry Lewis, but he was also close to 183 00:12:09,561 --> 00:12:12,721 Speaker 4: Judge Pratt. He used to do any of the inquiries 184 00:12:12,761 --> 00:12:14,281 Speaker 4: into police corruption. 185 00:12:14,521 --> 00:12:17,241 Speaker 2: Now, Terry Lewis being the former Police commission who went 186 00:12:17,281 --> 00:12:20,761 Speaker 2: to jail up there in Queensland after the Prinstrill inquiry. Yeah. 187 00:12:20,841 --> 00:12:23,881 Speaker 4: Yeah, So I got a quote from Bob. If you 188 00:12:23,961 --> 00:12:26,801 Speaker 4: just let me read this, I think it's pretty startling. 189 00:12:27,761 --> 00:12:31,601 Speaker 4: He said. Of the sixteen people that had given evidence 190 00:12:31,721 --> 00:12:36,001 Speaker 4: or made complaints, there was a deputy mayor and president 191 00:12:36,041 --> 00:12:39,761 Speaker 4: of a Midwestern National Party division, a member of one 192 00:12:39,801 --> 00:12:44,441 Speaker 4: of the oldest grazing families in Charterstows, the deputy mayor 193 00:12:44,601 --> 00:12:48,761 Speaker 4: of Charterstowershire, the chairman of one of the biggest schools 194 00:12:48,801 --> 00:12:53,481 Speaker 4: in North Queensland and several other prominent people. All of 195 00:12:53,521 --> 00:12:59,681 Speaker 4: them were on trumped up chargers or suicide or were murdered, 196 00:12:59,841 --> 00:13:05,641 Speaker 4: take your pick. Confronting merv Stevenson was very dangerous territory. 197 00:13:05,721 --> 00:13:08,761 Speaker 4: I think that sort of sums it up. There's still 198 00:13:09,121 --> 00:13:12,241 Speaker 4: a lot of belief that that was the real story 199 00:13:12,321 --> 00:13:12,921 Speaker 4: behind the. 200 00:13:12,921 --> 00:13:18,641 Speaker 2: Man, right because obviously the Fifth should Inquiry was put 201 00:13:18,681 --> 00:13:21,761 Speaker 2: together to go after corrupt police and connections to government 202 00:13:21,761 --> 00:13:24,321 Speaker 2: and so forth. And what you're alleging really is he 203 00:13:24,401 --> 00:13:29,281 Speaker 2: is Stevenson. He has some connection to corrupt figures in government, 204 00:13:29,721 --> 00:13:34,841 Speaker 2: gangsters in New South Wales, Saffron in particular Eddie Kornhauser 205 00:13:34,881 --> 00:13:38,961 Speaker 2: on the Gold Coast. They're running interference or he's running 206 00:13:38,961 --> 00:13:42,401 Speaker 2: interference for them, so a casino can be established in 207 00:13:42,641 --> 00:13:45,881 Speaker 2: Townsville rather than Cans. In your meeting with him, he 208 00:13:45,921 --> 00:13:48,241 Speaker 2: pretty much says to you, you're going to stuff up 209 00:13:48,481 --> 00:13:52,081 Speaker 2: our chance to get this casino in Townsville. It's going 210 00:13:52,081 --> 00:13:54,721 Speaker 2: to go to Cans. What possible interest does he have 211 00:13:55,321 --> 00:13:58,201 Speaker 2: in the economy of Townsville that this is so important. 212 00:13:58,921 --> 00:14:01,641 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's what goes through my mind at the time. 213 00:14:02,001 --> 00:14:04,361 Speaker 4: Why is this coup so worried about that, and why 214 00:14:04,441 --> 00:14:08,161 Speaker 4: is he so upset about the coverage and the investigative 215 00:14:08,241 --> 00:14:10,961 Speaker 4: reporting we'd be doing. So it sort of came to 216 00:14:11,041 --> 00:14:14,241 Speaker 4: a head in the After Martha for the Fitzgerald inquiry. 217 00:14:14,441 --> 00:14:18,681 Speaker 4: People just don't understand how corrupt the system was back 218 00:14:18,721 --> 00:14:22,561 Speaker 4: then and who would just turn to. We mentioned Terry Lewis, 219 00:14:22,641 --> 00:14:25,281 Speaker 4: the corrupt police commissioner that ended up being jile. 220 00:14:25,921 --> 00:14:28,041 Speaker 1: I have vivid memories of ringing him up. 221 00:14:28,361 --> 00:14:31,081 Speaker 4: And saying, look, Commissioner Lewis were having all sorts of 222 00:14:31,081 --> 00:14:34,241 Speaker 4: trouble with what appears to be rague police officers up here. 223 00:14:34,481 --> 00:14:37,081 Speaker 4: Can you do anything about it? Oh, mister Hani, leave 224 00:14:37,121 --> 00:14:40,521 Speaker 4: it with me. And then in one of the other inquiries, 225 00:14:41,081 --> 00:14:45,841 Speaker 4: which was brought on by the then Labor opposition, there 226 00:14:45,881 --> 00:14:50,521 Speaker 4: was evidence to show that the commissioner stopped a full 227 00:14:50,681 --> 00:14:55,001 Speaker 4: drug investigation up at Mariba just in its tracks, said 228 00:14:55,321 --> 00:15:00,161 Speaker 4: discontinue any further investigation relating to drugs in this particular manner. 229 00:15:00,801 --> 00:15:05,041 Speaker 4: And that's where that suspicious. There was a young police constable, 230 00:15:05,841 --> 00:15:09,441 Speaker 4: he was a detective. He was bragging to his close 231 00:15:09,601 --> 00:15:14,121 Speaker 4: confidence that he was about to make the biggest drug 232 00:15:14,361 --> 00:15:20,081 Speaker 4: bust in North Queensland's history. Links between the Griffith's drug 233 00:15:20,121 --> 00:15:24,681 Speaker 4: farmers and new developments and drug farming on the tablelands, 234 00:15:25,441 --> 00:15:28,601 Speaker 4: and that it would shake that several senior police officers 235 00:15:28,641 --> 00:15:32,681 Speaker 4: were involved, including politicians, and then out of the blue, 236 00:15:33,241 --> 00:15:35,321 Speaker 4: he'd been at the RSL club and then he went 237 00:15:35,361 --> 00:15:40,401 Speaker 4: and shot himself with his police pistol suicided. So they 238 00:15:40,441 --> 00:15:46,001 Speaker 4: said we better investigate this, So Mervyn Henry Stevenson goes. 239 00:15:45,881 --> 00:15:49,961 Speaker 2: Up to investigate it. That was Senior Constable John Connor. Yeah, 240 00:15:50,001 --> 00:15:53,001 Speaker 2: and it is a remarkable set of circums. As you say, 241 00:15:53,481 --> 00:15:56,641 Speaker 2: he's going for drinks, he's got no history of depression, 242 00:15:56,681 --> 00:15:59,161 Speaker 2: there's no inkling of this. He walks out of the 243 00:15:59,321 --> 00:16:02,321 Speaker 2: pub the club there, gets in his vehicle and shoots 244 00:16:02,401 --> 00:16:06,561 Speaker 2: himself with his own service pistol. That's sus as hell. 245 00:16:07,721 --> 00:16:11,321 Speaker 4: You'd have to think there was something suspicious about it. 246 00:16:11,641 --> 00:16:15,361 Speaker 4: The timing, for instance, bragging about or not publicly, but 247 00:16:15,481 --> 00:16:19,081 Speaker 4: letting people know he was about to make this huge pass. Now. 248 00:16:19,121 --> 00:16:23,641 Speaker 4: What's also interesting is that Stevenson investigated, but the results 249 00:16:23,641 --> 00:16:27,521 Speaker 4: of that investigation didn't come out in a later inquiry 250 00:16:27,881 --> 00:16:32,561 Speaker 4: into drugs because Stevenson demanded that it was strictly confidential 251 00:16:32,561 --> 00:16:36,081 Speaker 4: it was operational, and he refused to release any details 252 00:16:36,641 --> 00:16:37,881 Speaker 4: and they accepted that. 253 00:16:39,201 --> 00:16:42,721 Speaker 2: I mean in Stephenson at the time was not internal affairs, 254 00:16:42,801 --> 00:16:45,921 Speaker 2: he wasn't homicide. He was in no way in a 255 00:16:45,961 --> 00:16:48,601 Speaker 2: position to be the one who should have been investigating 256 00:16:49,081 --> 00:16:50,001 Speaker 2: the death of Connor. 257 00:16:50,921 --> 00:16:53,281 Speaker 1: No, that's the weird part about it all. 258 00:16:53,841 --> 00:16:57,401 Speaker 4: And there was only a few paragraphs that hughe he 259 00:16:57,521 --> 00:17:01,401 Speaker 4: managed to get about Stevenson, and it was a comment 260 00:17:01,561 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 4: that Stevenson had grossly mismanaged that inquiry. Well, unfortunately, some 261 00:17:08,921 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 4: of the confidence that I've had no longer with us, 262 00:17:11,321 --> 00:17:15,561 Speaker 4: that they've passed on. But I did interview an old 263 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:20,321 Speaker 4: stock squad officer from up in the table lands who 264 00:17:20,441 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 4: told me about how on a many weeks out in 265 00:17:23,921 --> 00:17:26,481 Speaker 4: the scrub and back in those days, they had I 266 00:17:26,561 --> 00:17:32,041 Speaker 4: think almost a pedal wireless to communicate with headquarters and 267 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 4: they'd found a big drug farm and they were about 268 00:17:34,481 --> 00:17:37,001 Speaker 4: to come down and make the raid. And he was 269 00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 4: just confirming that with head office and suddenly the next 270 00:17:41,961 --> 00:17:45,281 Speaker 4: message was I bought the whole show. So he was 271 00:17:45,321 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 4: pulled off it. And he claims because the grazier that 272 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 4: was letting this farm operate, there was a major donor 273 00:17:53,001 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 4: to the Country Party back in those days. But I 274 00:17:56,521 --> 00:18:00,761 Speaker 4: asked him, I said, did you ever encounter Mervyn Henry Stevenson? 275 00:18:00,801 --> 00:18:03,201 Speaker 4: And he said, I never met the man, and I'm 276 00:18:03,201 --> 00:18:07,481 Speaker 4: glad I didn't because the rule shot my best mate, 277 00:18:07,681 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 4: the constable at Riba. So there's an old time that 278 00:18:13,241 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 4: you know, you tend to find that ex policemen don't 279 00:18:16,721 --> 00:18:21,281 Speaker 4: make statements like that unless they've got pretty firm indication, 280 00:18:21,921 --> 00:18:26,041 Speaker 4: either with evidence or with their own police nouse that 281 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 4: even was. 282 00:18:27,001 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 1: Quite capable of doing something like that. 283 00:18:29,721 --> 00:18:33,441 Speaker 4: So either doing it or covering it up, or being 284 00:18:33,521 --> 00:18:38,081 Speaker 4: part of the system that organized the fake suicide. 285 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 2: You mentioned evidence, and that's always been what's been lacking 286 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 2: in Stevenson's case. And I know that Tony fitzgeral QC 287 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 2: was hell bent on getting evidence from police stations and 288 00:18:49,801 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 2: other sources to stand up these allegations, to corroborate them 289 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,321 Speaker 2: because there was so many fixes going in and Charter's 290 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,120 Speaker 2: Towers police stations should have been a rich source of 291 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,801 Speaker 2: evidence for that inquiry. But what happened to Charters Towers 292 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,801 Speaker 2: Police station is our hearing to search it for evidence. 293 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,561 Speaker 4: Well, it either got burnt down or was severely damaged 294 00:19:12,561 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 4: by fire. That was at a stage too when I 295 00:19:16,001 --> 00:19:20,441 Speaker 4: believe Stevenson had retired, but he's still there were allegations 296 00:19:20,441 --> 00:19:23,001 Speaker 4: that he was still in the corrupt association with the 297 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 4: senior police officer there with cattle theft. So the word 298 00:19:28,281 --> 00:19:32,041 Speaker 4: was out. Everyone knew the Special Branch shreded all their evidence. 299 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 4: There was no evidence of Fitzgerald to look at the 300 00:19:34,481 --> 00:19:37,801 Speaker 4: Special Branch, and that MERV got in and burnt the 301 00:19:37,921 --> 00:19:41,081 Speaker 4: Pleae stationed down. Now I tended to sort of dismiss 302 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,521 Speaker 4: that a bit, but I was on a friends His 303 00:19:44,721 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 4: name was Paul burt from Bertiken Downs. I was at 304 00:19:47,961 --> 00:19:51,761 Speaker 4: Paul Burke's place and there was a young policeman boarding 305 00:19:51,801 --> 00:19:55,441 Speaker 4: there because he was from the barracks at at Charlestowns 306 00:19:55,481 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 4: that got burnt down. And I got introduced to him, 307 00:19:58,561 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 4: and Paul said, and whatever the young constable's name was, 308 00:20:02,281 --> 00:20:05,041 Speaker 4: he said, he meet him, and he's pretty upset because 309 00:20:05,281 --> 00:20:07,561 Speaker 4: MERV Stevenson didn't warn him he was going to burn 310 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,561 Speaker 4: the police station down. And I thought it was a joke, 311 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:16,561 Speaker 4: but then my host said, oh, Eliot Hannes, retired editor 312 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,801 Speaker 4: of The bullet he could do a good story on it, 313 00:20:20,120 --> 00:20:22,961 Speaker 4: and the poor police constable went white as a sheet 314 00:20:23,001 --> 00:20:25,241 Speaker 4: and he said, please please keep me out. 315 00:20:25,041 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: Of this, keep me out of this. 316 00:20:26,761 --> 00:20:30,801 Speaker 4: And Paul said that he feared for his life from Stevenson, 317 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,081 Speaker 4: that he even when he was staying on the. 318 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: Cattle station he had a loaded pistol under his pillar. 319 00:20:37,201 --> 00:20:38,281 Speaker 1: He feared for his life. 320 00:20:39,321 --> 00:20:43,241 Speaker 2: And you've looked into the eyes of Stephenson, what did 321 00:20:43,281 --> 00:20:45,921 Speaker 2: you see in terms of a ruthless, calculating character. 322 00:20:46,721 --> 00:20:49,121 Speaker 4: Well, it's interesting that you pick up on the eyes 323 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:54,761 Speaker 4: because Max Tomlinson had the same experience after he published 324 00:20:54,761 --> 00:20:59,681 Speaker 4: the story, and it's this intimidation with this venomous stare 325 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,281 Speaker 4: of his eyes, and they saw a shake in his 326 00:21:02,441 --> 00:21:06,121 Speaker 4: head at the same time. The other one Steve Austin, 327 00:21:06,241 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 4: who's still a working broadcaster for ABC in Brisbane. As 328 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 4: a young fellow up here, he was heroic in pursuing 329 00:21:15,921 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 4: and challenging Stevenson. I even warned him one day that 330 00:21:20,321 --> 00:21:23,081 Speaker 4: he better be careful and that if Stevenson never decides 331 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:26,081 Speaker 4: that he's he'll give me a personal interview in some 332 00:21:26,281 --> 00:21:27,161 Speaker 4: remote location. 333 00:21:27,441 --> 00:21:27,921 Speaker 1: Make sure. 334 00:21:27,961 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 4: He took a witness with him and he spoke about 335 00:21:31,441 --> 00:21:34,881 Speaker 4: a weird thing that had happened that Stevens had came 336 00:21:34,921 --> 00:21:38,281 Speaker 4: into the ABC office and said I want to sit 337 00:21:38,321 --> 00:21:41,321 Speaker 4: down and talk to you, and gave Steve the stare 338 00:21:41,961 --> 00:21:44,201 Speaker 4: and he just sat on the other side of the 339 00:21:44,241 --> 00:21:49,001 Speaker 4: table and stared and stared. So finally as Steve said, well, 340 00:21:49,001 --> 00:21:51,241 Speaker 4: I'll make us a cup of tea. So he walked 341 00:21:51,241 --> 00:21:53,521 Speaker 4: out brought a cup of team. When he came back, 342 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 4: Stevenson had left. I think he was probably going to 343 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,001 Speaker 4: try the same idea of threats that he'd used on 344 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:02,801 Speaker 4: me and others at the time. 345 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,281 Speaker 2: Maybe it was enough just to sit there and stare 346 00:22:05,281 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 2: at him, give him the death there. Because he's obviously 347 00:22:07,921 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 2: a building where things are being recorded, he might have 348 00:22:11,001 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 2: been concerned. 349 00:22:12,041 --> 00:22:14,401 Speaker 1: Yes, So there's that, and then there's more as well. 350 00:22:14,441 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 4: The last discussion I had with Bob Catter was a 351 00:22:17,681 --> 00:22:21,041 Speaker 4: couple of months ago, and Kada was very keen for 352 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:25,041 Speaker 4: someone to do the definitive investigation and come up with it. 353 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:28,521 Speaker 4: He said, otherwise, this FOG's going to get away with murder. 354 00:22:28,561 --> 00:22:31,801 Speaker 4: You know it's wrong. But I did ask him because 355 00:22:32,521 --> 00:22:35,801 Speaker 4: there was also from the indigenous community up here, and 356 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,761 Speaker 4: I had contact with some of the long standing elders 357 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,961 Speaker 4: up here who believed that Stevenson. Of course, the traditional 358 00:22:44,001 --> 00:22:46,521 Speaker 4: owners out in that country, they don't miss much what's 359 00:22:46,561 --> 00:22:50,041 Speaker 4: going on, and that they picked up on what was 360 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 4: going on, and they were also at risk. And Bob 361 00:22:53,721 --> 00:22:58,481 Speaker 4: Catter was approached by a grazier who said, look, well, 362 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 4: I've got a head stockman who's a traditional owner man, 363 00:23:02,561 --> 00:23:07,281 Speaker 4: and he's got a brother who a tracker for Stevenson, 364 00:23:07,681 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 4: and he's terrified. He wants to get out, he wants 365 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 4: a transfer, but Stevenson weren't transferring because he reckons there's 366 00:23:14,561 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 4: all sorts of dodgy things going on out in the bush. 367 00:23:17,241 --> 00:23:19,601 Speaker 4: Do you think you can do anything for him? So 368 00:23:20,241 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 4: Bob I think was going to have a talk to 369 00:23:21,961 --> 00:23:25,561 Speaker 4: the commissioner. That wouldn't have been much use. But soon 370 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:31,201 Speaker 4: after that the grazier contacted Bob and said, my head 371 00:23:31,201 --> 00:23:36,521 Speaker 4: stockman's brother has died mysteriously on a patrol, fell off 372 00:23:36,521 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 4: a horse, hit his head on a rock and drowned 373 00:23:38,801 --> 00:23:42,281 Speaker 4: in a shallow pool. And as Bob Cat said, not 374 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,161 Speaker 4: too many Aboriginal stockmen fall off their horses too easily. 375 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,321 Speaker 4: And what happened after that was this crazier friend of Katter, 376 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:56,041 Speaker 4: his head stockman who'd made the complaint. He disappeared too, 377 00:23:56,120 --> 00:23:59,841 Speaker 4: He took off, and Bob doesn't know whether he disappeared 378 00:24:00,441 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 4: as in ended up in a shallow grave, or whether 379 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 4: he was just so far of what was happening. So 380 00:24:07,761 --> 00:24:10,481 Speaker 4: there was that other side to it. It's quite understandable 381 00:24:10,481 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 4: that First Nations deaths out in the bush wouldn't have 382 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,521 Speaker 4: bothered the judicial system and the police investigations too much 383 00:24:17,521 --> 00:24:18,401 Speaker 4: in those days. 384 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 2: That's right. The other one that's intriguing is the case 385 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:26,681 Speaker 2: of Tony Jones, who disappeared and only need to well 386 00:24:26,721 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 2: hitchhiking from Townsville to Mount iSER and he's in the 387 00:24:30,241 --> 00:24:35,161 Speaker 2: Rising Sun Hotel in Townsville, I believe, and he's seen 388 00:24:35,281 --> 00:24:39,881 Speaker 2: with somebody who looks a lot like Mervin Henry Stephenson. 389 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,081 Speaker 4: That was a bit after my time, but I did 390 00:24:43,201 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 4: follow it, particularly the Townshill Bulletin was giving it a 391 00:24:47,721 --> 00:24:50,801 Speaker 4: pretty detailed coverage. But what struck me about that I 392 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:52,761 Speaker 4: think there was a coronial inquest. I think there might 393 00:24:52,801 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 4: have been a follow up one, and my understanding was 394 00:24:56,001 --> 00:25:00,880 Speaker 4: that the witness definitely identified Stevenson. It was Stevenson that 395 00:25:00,921 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 4: this young fellow drove away with. Wonder my view was 396 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 4: that he's an unlikely culprit for the missing backpack of girls. 397 00:25:12,961 --> 00:25:18,161 Speaker 4: I think he was capable of dastardly deed to cover 398 00:25:18,241 --> 00:25:21,561 Speaker 4: his tracks and to protect himself and his reputations and 399 00:25:21,921 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 4: want to end up in jail. So, if this young 400 00:25:25,281 --> 00:25:29,120 Speaker 4: fellow that was alleged that Stevenson not only had a 401 00:25:29,241 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 4: stolen cattle, that he also had a legal outlet for 402 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 4: his own sort of small abatuile meatworks to get it 403 00:25:37,961 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 4: out away from the other controls that there are, and 404 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:45,281 Speaker 4: that there was something on the go out near Pentland. Now, 405 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 4: if so, the credence that you could possibly give to 406 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,880 Speaker 4: the Tony Jones story is that he he offered this 407 00:25:52,961 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 4: young fellow some work out there quite and that somehow 408 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:00,400 Speaker 4: or other, Tony Jones became a liability or a risk, 409 00:26:01,241 --> 00:26:03,241 Speaker 4: and that's why he never got to Mount iSER. 410 00:26:03,961 --> 00:26:05,041 Speaker 1: It must be horrible for. 411 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:08,441 Speaker 4: The families involved, you know, not knowing what went on 412 00:26:08,481 --> 00:26:11,880 Speaker 4: and all this innuendo. But I'd be really worried about 413 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 4: that outcome. 414 00:26:13,921 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, Stephenson's family is still very keen to 415 00:26:17,321 --> 00:26:21,441 Speaker 2: protect his legacy, and barrisses for the family have got 416 00:26:21,521 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 2: up there and in in quests and things and tried 417 00:26:23,681 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 2: to plead the fact that Stevens had nothing to do 418 00:26:26,001 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 2: with it. But the fact is, you're pretty sure that 419 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 2: that identification was Stevenson at the Rising Sun Hotel, and 420 00:26:32,681 --> 00:26:34,121 Speaker 2: therefore it does raise questions. 421 00:26:35,561 --> 00:26:37,761 Speaker 4: Yes, I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I can 422 00:26:37,961 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 4: remember reading it at the time where it seemed to 423 00:26:40,961 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 4: be accepted by the coroner that the last person probably 424 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 4: had anything to do with this young fellow was in 425 00:26:48,241 --> 00:26:50,121 Speaker 4: fact with Stevenson. 426 00:26:51,241 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 2: Amazing figure to have gotten away with all this. I mean, 427 00:26:54,241 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 2: I guess it was the tone of the times, and 428 00:26:55,961 --> 00:26:58,561 Speaker 2: I guess for you, as an editor of the Townsville 429 00:26:58,561 --> 00:27:02,360 Speaker 2: Bulletin in those years there was some occupational hazards you 430 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:03,561 Speaker 2: had to toe the line. 431 00:27:04,241 --> 00:27:07,281 Speaker 4: Well, it was hard because I copped to three million 432 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:10,801 Speaker 4: dollars writed from Abe Saffron, Whi's terrified the board of 433 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 4: directors because we weren't at Murdoch Newspaper. We were an 434 00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 4: independent Northcuff the newspaper back then. Plus the fact that 435 00:27:18,961 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 4: there was one of Saffron's associates big noting himself around 436 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 4: the local pubs, called himself Eddy the Torch or something 437 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:31,241 Speaker 4: and said we send our victims ears home to their 438 00:27:31,281 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 4: families as a keepsake. 439 00:27:33,321 --> 00:27:33,481 Speaker 1: You know. 440 00:27:33,521 --> 00:27:36,321 Speaker 4: I went through Australia posts, so that was on the GOHO. 441 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 4: So it was pretty hard at the time when even 442 00:27:40,241 --> 00:27:43,241 Speaker 4: if I had I didn't have as much knowledge about 443 00:27:43,281 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 4: Stevenson back then as I've got now. But it was 444 00:27:46,481 --> 00:27:50,801 Speaker 4: pretty hard to put stuff in print when you had so. 445 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 1: Much litigation hanging over it. 446 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,041 Speaker 4: And the other thing is not enough evidence to really 447 00:27:56,120 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 4: nail someone in the newspaper columns. 448 00:27:59,441 --> 00:28:01,721 Speaker 2: Well, and more than that you've got there's the most 449 00:28:01,801 --> 00:28:05,321 Speaker 2: senior police officer in the district of the region sitting 450 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 2: in front of you, showing his ankle holster with a 451 00:28:08,481 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 2: thirty eight and saying to you you should stop writing 452 00:28:11,521 --> 00:28:14,801 Speaker 2: these stories. I mean, did it prevent you from going 453 00:28:14,801 --> 00:28:15,881 Speaker 2: as hard as you might have? 454 00:28:16,521 --> 00:28:20,481 Speaker 4: Ah? I was a bit naive, you know. I was 455 00:28:20,521 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 4: a brash young newspaper the back then. I was pretty 456 00:28:24,041 --> 00:28:26,921 Speaker 4: naive and I didn't know at that stage where it 457 00:28:27,001 --> 00:28:30,121 Speaker 4: was just theater had these two other cronies with him 458 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:32,801 Speaker 4: who he claim were members of the police union, but 459 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:36,121 Speaker 4: they were special branch guys, and of course they had 460 00:28:36,201 --> 00:28:39,961 Speaker 4: treated it as a joke. And I had my manager 461 00:28:40,281 --> 00:28:44,561 Speaker 4: with me and all he saw was was Stevenson's sort 462 00:28:44,601 --> 00:28:47,801 Speaker 4: of point. You know, he didn't see the pistol in 463 00:28:47,881 --> 00:28:51,041 Speaker 4: his holster, which just added a little bit more malice 464 00:28:51,081 --> 00:28:54,801 Speaker 4: to the whole thing. So yeah, but I mean, those 465 00:28:54,961 --> 00:28:56,561 Speaker 4: sorts of things were on the go. 466 00:28:57,521 --> 00:29:01,161 Speaker 2: It's kind of remarkable because at this time Stevenson is 467 00:29:01,201 --> 00:29:05,321 Speaker 2: a superintendent, he's not a frontline officer, He's not in 468 00:29:05,321 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 2: in gunplay. If he comes to a meeting with the 469 00:29:09,001 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 2: local editor of the paper armed with a concealed weapon, 470 00:29:13,641 --> 00:29:15,601 Speaker 2: I mean, how intimidating is that. 471 00:29:16,521 --> 00:29:20,001 Speaker 4: I wrote about that in my member going through my mind, 472 00:29:20,121 --> 00:29:24,081 Speaker 4: Why does he have to carry a weapon it's designed 473 00:29:24,081 --> 00:29:27,841 Speaker 4: for shooting people in a class range, either in defense 474 00:29:27,961 --> 00:29:31,841 Speaker 4: or offense to the local Chinese restaurant to sit an 475 00:29:31,841 --> 00:29:36,321 Speaker 4: ava talk with the newspaper editor about some general conflict 476 00:29:36,321 --> 00:29:39,801 Speaker 4: of interest between journalists and coppers. And it wasn't It 477 00:29:39,841 --> 00:29:44,281 Speaker 4: was genuine intimidation. Again, you'd have to have experienced the 478 00:29:44,321 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 4: extent of corruption at very senior levels of the police 479 00:29:48,801 --> 00:29:51,601 Speaker 4: force to know what you're up against. And you know, 480 00:29:51,841 --> 00:29:54,841 Speaker 4: my hat goes off to the honest coppers of that 481 00:29:55,001 --> 00:29:59,481 Speaker 4: period that tried to conduct themselves professionally and stay alive. 482 00:29:59,561 --> 00:30:00,401 Speaker 1: At the same time. 483 00:30:00,921 --> 00:30:03,121 Speaker 2: Well that's right. I note in your memoir the cult 484 00:30:03,161 --> 00:30:06,601 Speaker 2: with no regrets. After threatens you at the Chinese restaurant, 485 00:30:06,841 --> 00:30:08,241 Speaker 2: you get left with a bill as well. 486 00:30:09,121 --> 00:30:12,561 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was classic. 487 00:30:13,201 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 4: Stevenson sat there and made the chili mud crabs and 488 00:30:16,761 --> 00:30:21,921 Speaker 4: slept them all, never contributed anything, totally ignored me except 489 00:30:21,921 --> 00:30:25,761 Speaker 4: for the threat. Tried to charm the North Queensland newspaper 490 00:30:25,961 --> 00:30:30,521 Speaker 4: manager Guy my good friend, and then made sure he 491 00:30:30,961 --> 00:30:34,521 Speaker 4: was hal well, met with the owner of the restaurant, 492 00:30:34,601 --> 00:30:37,361 Speaker 4: and I could hear him chatting to the kitchen staff 493 00:30:37,401 --> 00:30:38,401 Speaker 4: as he went through the back. 494 00:30:38,441 --> 00:30:39,761 Speaker 1: And you had left us with the bill. 495 00:30:41,441 --> 00:30:44,521 Speaker 2: What a character. And you wonder, after all these years 496 00:30:44,521 --> 00:30:47,801 Speaker 2: whether there's still evidence out there, because if there were murders, 497 00:30:47,801 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 2: there were involvements in disappearances, there were still loved ones, 498 00:30:52,721 --> 00:30:56,281 Speaker 2: family the community that haven't had answers. Do you think 499 00:30:56,721 --> 00:30:58,281 Speaker 2: in your heart of hearts there are still people out 500 00:30:58,321 --> 00:30:59,161 Speaker 2: there with information. 501 00:30:59,961 --> 00:31:03,921 Speaker 4: Well, I'm hoping it's programs like this, particularly yours, that 502 00:31:04,041 --> 00:31:06,681 Speaker 4: might prompt someone, because I agree with you the stories 503 00:31:06,721 --> 00:31:10,601 Speaker 4: out there there's i'd reckon people with living memory or 504 00:31:10,761 --> 00:31:14,881 Speaker 4: stories told from their father or grandfather with a fair 505 00:31:14,961 --> 00:31:19,201 Speaker 4: bit of passion in the Charterstowers area, light up through 506 00:31:19,281 --> 00:31:21,361 Speaker 4: to the tablelands and out to the Gold Country. As 507 00:31:21,361 --> 00:31:25,121 Speaker 4: I write about I couldn't get evidence to stack it up. 508 00:31:25,881 --> 00:31:29,361 Speaker 4: So after a long career in journalism, I became a 509 00:31:29,401 --> 00:31:33,281 Speaker 4: novelist and I started to make things up for this story. 510 00:31:33,321 --> 00:31:37,241 Speaker 4: But they're not. Most of the murders and the disappearances 511 00:31:37,921 --> 00:31:42,281 Speaker 4: are all true from my experiences up here, and the 512 00:31:42,441 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 4: nemesis in the whole story is the head of the 513 00:31:45,721 --> 00:31:48,561 Speaker 4: Stock Squad. I nominated the Stock I had a talk 514 00:31:48,601 --> 00:31:51,841 Speaker 4: to the current Stock Squad guys, who are tremendous. They 515 00:31:51,881 --> 00:31:54,601 Speaker 4: do a wonderful job out there, and I said, look, 516 00:31:54,641 --> 00:31:57,161 Speaker 4: I'm writing this book and it's a work of fiction. 517 00:31:57,281 --> 00:32:00,761 Speaker 4: It's kind story, but it's based on true experiences with 518 00:32:00,881 --> 00:32:03,361 Speaker 4: the Stock Squad. And I said, Oh, as long as 519 00:32:03,401 --> 00:32:06,401 Speaker 4: you got a young hero copper in it, it'll be 520 00:32:06,401 --> 00:32:09,001 Speaker 4: all right, which there is because there were young hero 521 00:32:09,121 --> 00:32:10,081 Speaker 4: cop is making the day. 522 00:32:10,561 --> 00:32:13,521 Speaker 2: Yeah, fantastic. Well, so hopefully someone out there can provide 523 00:32:13,521 --> 00:32:15,601 Speaker 2: some information that can clear some of these questions up, 524 00:32:15,641 --> 00:32:17,601 Speaker 2: because you know, if it wasn't as bad as you 525 00:32:17,641 --> 00:32:21,041 Speaker 2: said that, there should be evidence to support that. But Equally, 526 00:32:21,241 --> 00:32:24,121 Speaker 2: if there's evidence that he was involved in murders, then 527 00:32:24,321 --> 00:32:26,521 Speaker 2: it should come forward. So Elliott, thank you so much 528 00:32:26,521 --> 00:32:28,721 Speaker 2: for your time today. I really appreciate it. 529 00:32:29,441 --> 00:32:29,921 Speaker 1: Thank you. 530 00:32:34,401 --> 00:32:37,641 Speaker 2: That's Elliot Hannah, the former editor of the Townsville Bulletin. 531 00:32:38,001 --> 00:32:40,921 Speaker 2: You can find his memoir The Cult with No Regrets 532 00:32:41,241 --> 00:32:44,561 Speaker 2: and also his work of fiction Embedded the Golf Country Murders, 533 00:32:44,601 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 2: both published by Wilkinson Publishing Fine Publishing House. And like 534 00:32:48,801 --> 00:32:50,801 Speaker 2: I say, I think there's probably instill of it. It's 535 00:32:50,801 --> 00:32:54,001 Speaker 2: still out there. Of what Stevenson did you think about 536 00:32:54,001 --> 00:32:57,281 Speaker 2: the so called suicide of John Conner? Is there something 537 00:32:57,361 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 2: still in the files, in the exhibits that can be 538 00:33:00,241 --> 00:33:02,921 Speaker 2: tested again? Is there evidence out there? I know back 539 00:33:02,921 --> 00:33:05,321 Speaker 2: in those days, if you're a newspaper at it and 540 00:33:05,401 --> 00:33:08,561 Speaker 2: the media, you're up against it in Queensland because you 541 00:33:08,641 --> 00:33:12,801 Speaker 2: had a conspiracy of government, of capital, of police to 542 00:33:12,921 --> 00:33:16,001 Speaker 2: keep things just nice and quiet, because everyone was making 543 00:33:16,121 --> 00:33:17,961 Speaker 2: their money when you had the Commissioner of Police of 544 00:33:18,001 --> 00:33:20,761 Speaker 2: those days. So Terrence lewis going to jail. The rot 545 00:33:20,801 --> 00:33:22,961 Speaker 2: started at the top. So I'd love to hear from 546 00:33:22,961 --> 00:33:26,601 Speaker 2: anybody who's got information about those days that can help 547 00:33:26,641 --> 00:33:28,921 Speaker 2: clear the picture. Like I say, I'm not in the 548 00:33:28,921 --> 00:33:32,601 Speaker 2: business of smearing people if there's no evidence but or 549 00:33:32,601 --> 00:33:34,841 Speaker 2: there's a lot of smoke in the case of Mervyn 550 00:33:34,961 --> 00:33:38,161 Speaker 2: Henry Stevenson, so get in touch. You always call crime 551 00:33:38,161 --> 00:33:39,961 Speaker 2: stoppers as well if you if you feel coy about 552 00:33:39,961 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 2: sharing information one eight hundred, triple three, triple zero, or 553 00:33:43,481 --> 00:33:44,881 Speaker 2: you can send me in their mail if you don't 554 00:33:44,881 --> 00:33:49,281 Speaker 2: trust the coppers. That's Adam Shander writer at gmail dot com. 555 00:33:49,761 --> 00:33:51,641 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening today. This has been real crime 556 00:33:51,681 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 2: with Adam Shand