Was he really dead or legally on that date?

[majm]

Whether that sighting was Donald or some other male who had fallen on hard times, and was tramping, it is certainly possible that they may have eaten contaminated foods.   

I have living relatives who vividly recall the Great Depression, and their Dad/Uncle and their Mum/Aunty striving to keep the families together.   I also still have several living relatives who were young adults in the 1930s.  None of them has ever spoken any 'good' about those times, and I am a child of the 1940s.     

Very sad.   

ADD

Added;

Then animals may the have devoured his body as it was a "Skeleton"?

The Coroner has the DD as April 1935.   The remains were not left out at Hassan's Wall in the exposed bush. 

JM

[sparrett]

Byron Bay is hundreds of miles from Lithgow.    Hassans Wall is natural cliffs at Lithgow.   

JM

mmm...need  geography refresher course

Sue

[rosball]

Thinking I'm getting light-headed - and luckily ancestry has reported hitting a snag with the viewer so I can take a guilt-free break.

[majm]

 

NSW geography can be confuddling at times...  there's many a place name that is repeated at various locations across the state,   

don't ever ask me about Vic geography because I have vivid memories of being lost at the vehicular ferry terminal to go across to Tasmania... Lost I tell you, the rest of the family were there to walk onboard, and I was to drive the car on, and then meet back up.  OH was responsible for keeping the oldies 'in line'.... so,  I dropped them off, and had the 'easy' task .... get the car onboard .... and/BUT then ALL BY MYSELF I managed to get into 'wrong' queue and went around block and around and around and around.   Over an hour before I was able to get back into boarding queue....   

JM. 

[majm]

Here is a detailed cutting re the body at Hassan's Wall, Lithgow.  This cutting appeared in the Lithgow local press.   
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220690026 29 July 1935  Lithgow Mercury.

The attempts to determine the identity are detailed in that report.  To me, these are typical of the efforts undertaken in NSW in that era.


JM

[McGroger]

Might not be on air for a couple of days - with this do we’ve got on - but just wanted to mention, for what it’s worth:

My grandfather, Peter Brown McGregor - Don’s brother - was in the electoral roll for Lithgow (Wallerawang) in 1933 and part 1934, then went to St Marys. He was a letter carrier (postie).

And: Donald was in reform school 4 Nov 1909 to 12 June 1911 (image on ancestry.com). On entry he was 5 ft one and three quarters. On release he was 5ft 2 and a quarter at age 16 and half years. Could fit with JM's newspaper cutting. (Thanks JM)

Thanks everyone again. You’re all Legends! You especially, Ros, even if you don’t drink beer.

Sorry, have to go.

Cheers, Peter

[rosball]

Well I have reached 7/6/1937 page 554 without any success. 

What I was hoping to find was ... and there were a few entries like this ...

Unknown male body found at blah near whatsit with scribbled underneath
(believed to be XYZ)
or
Fred Smith  with scribbled underneath
(also known as XYZ)

And I was hoping that XYZ would be Donald MacGregor and that ancestry had failed to index it   But no luck.

I did find another 8 or 9 unknown males of age 35-55 who I may look at further but I think we all previously searched trove for inquests or bodies found and MacGregor so probably won't be able to get any further with these men. Or would you like me to list them?  Tomorrow?

Ros

You're excused Peter - have fun     

[rosball]

I suddenly have to dash off for a few days so I will list these now.

p415 30-12-36  Unknown man  Manly poisoning age 36
p349 23-5-36   Unknown man 5 ft 6 1/2 medium build, brown hair, blue (!) eyes, Lysol poisoning,
                        age 35 or 55
p345 12-5-36  Unknown  man found in Waters of Murray River near Albury drowning age about 56
p279  31-10-35 Unknown man railway line near Burwood age 45-50
p253  29-7-30   (Lithgow man)
p247  4-7-35  12-7-35 Unknown man at Campbell Hill near Maitland by a motor car unknown age

Adding : and a few curiosities like Hector MacGregor did he exist

[Jamjar]

12-5-'36 Albury inquest - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112707879

J.