Very confused journalist

[sparrett]

If anyone is interested in a small Australian based puzzle....

Reading an ABC account today of the placing of a headstone for a murdered woman, Jean Morris.
in Ayr QLD

1932
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-30/ayr-residents-purchase-headstone-for-murdered-jean-morris/105343216

Halfway through the article, the journalist says

Her real name is thought to be Anna Philomena Morgan, but media coverage dubbed her "Stiletto Jean", for a dagger she supposedly kept above her bed.

A quick glance though Trove shows  Anna Philomena Morgan is the murder victim known as the " The Pyjama Girl" whose killer was arrested around 1947. The case took place in the Southern states

Can anyone explain to me how the two women have become one?

Sue

[brigidmac]

interesting case

why do you say  2 women became 1?

many people have birth names but change  through. adoption . marriage . personal preference  or professional reasons such as stage name. .

its correct to bury people under name they were kniwn by tho it doesnt help us genealogists

id be interested what records you can find for philomena .

[PatLac]

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201435822/22061744

The Pyjama Girl was Linda Agostini?

[Jennaya]

Here is the link to Anna Philomena Morgan being the pyjama girl.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11814020

[PatLac]

The coroner's verdict was that she was Linda Agostini.

Mrs. Jeanette Constance Routledge who was Anna Philomena's mother (Anna was illegitimate) claimed that the Pyjama girl's body was her daughter, but that was never proved. There were rumours that she wanted to claim her daughter's estate hence the need of a death certificate. Mrs. Jeanette (or Janet on Anna's birth record) was a mystery herself. She died in 1947 and was said to be 47 years old,  meaning she was 11 years-old when she gave birth to Anna?!

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22805874

There are still doubts that the Pyjama Girl was Linda Agostini, but there's no doubt tha she wasn't Anna Philomena Morgan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Linda_Agostini

[sparrett]

Here over 2 pages
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/22061684
in1950 a retired officer reflects on the case and the confusion and the coincidences which gave rise to it.

So not entirely a confused journalist per my heading.
A lot of confusion in general! 

Sue
 

[PatLac]

Yes, indeed 

Mrs. Routledge's questioning is something!

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/30573261

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/272241742/30573263

[brigidmac]

DNA would sort out the mystery these days if body was disinterred

you can change the topic title or ask moderators too if you want .

[PatLac]

sparrett, I thought you might like to read this account of the events https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/luminist/PU/FMDA_1951_01.pdf