5
« on: Wednesday 07 February 24 02:13 GMT (UK) »
Sorry, I have been back through what records I have but cannot find any reference to Charles Alan, only Charles Sibree, I have no idea why I used that name as it appeared sometime ago. I did find a review about a magician in Australia called "Eagle". He toured the goldfields. Comment was made in that review as follows:
The most odd aspect of this tale is that the released man, Charles Wallack, apparently the lessee of the Pavilion Theatre, is said to have changed his name to Charles Sibree, and then joined Eagle in his tours, under the guise of “the Goblin Sprightly”. He must have been a slippery character, as newspapers from New Zealand (12) state that he later became Charles Stanley, posed as a doctor at Stringer’s Creek, moved to New Zealand where he was accused as “Yankee Charlie” of fraud in relation to a supposed quartz reef discovery, assault in 1876 for which he was gaoled for two years, and in early 1879 was turned in to police by his own wife, on the accusation of having murdered a man named Thomas Costello some seven years earlier. He had in fact been charged with the murder back in 1872, but released for want of evidence. Ultimately there was some suggestion that the wife, whom Sibree had been assaulting, had made a false accusation to police; in either case she would not appear in court, and the charge was dismissed. A newspaper search reveals that the same Charles Wallack was also charged in 1854 with armed robbery, and in 1865 with sexual assault on a drunken woman. Sprightly … indeed. He died in February 1880.
(12) Grey River Argus, September 3, 1872
Hokatika Star, New Zealand March 13, 1879 in the case of the “Costello Murder”.
Death – New Zealand Times, February 4, 1880.
I thank all for their help in this matter but I think it is unlikely progress on the matter is possible. I am impressed with all the help given. Many thanks, Sibbie.
Show Posts