This year marks 75 years since Derwent Evans Arkinstall murdered taxi driver Howard Thomas Chambers at Holland Park on Brisbane’s Southside. In June 1939, Brisbane was shocked when it was learnt that the killer was only 18 years of age. An electrician’s apprentice Arkinstall seemed a most unlikely killer. Indeed when interviewed by police soon after his arrest in Bangalow New South Wales where he had fled after committing the crime, he seemingly did not realise the gravity of what he had done: “It was not an accident, and I did not do it deliberately, yet I do not know how I did it. I just took the revolver out of my pocket and fired it.”

It was truly a terrible crime. Tom Chambers was a veteran cabbie, 74 years of age. His body was found at Slack’s Creek. He had been shot twice in the back of the head and once in the forehead – to make sure he was dead.

When he appeared in Brisbane Police Court Arkinstall was asked whether he admitted he had fired the shots that had killed Chambers. Cold-bloodedly the youth responded “They say there were only two shots, but I am sure I fired three”.  Arkinstall was found guilty of murder in the Supreme Court soon after.

His release 31 years ago was controversial. He had only one word for reporters at the time when asked what it was like to be leaving prison – “wonderful”.

Listen to True Crime – every Thursday at 9.30pm on Radio 4BC for this and more crime stories.

Out on the “back track” of Number 2 Division at Boggo Road Gaol, a lonely lifer weeded and swept. This elderly figure caused no trouble and longed to hear the sound of birds once again. When asked by a new prison officer what he was in for,  Jack Foy would reply ‘I got life because his wife nagged me’.

The 42 year-old council worker and local handy-man was addicted to drink. He and his wife Lola 41, lived in Kingsmill Street Chermside. Jack was an epileptic and should not have been drinking; a fact Lola reminded him of daily. It seems that her nagging resulted in Jack picking up a tomahawk and striking her in the head. The Foy’s neighbour Mrs Jarvis was horrified when Jack walked over to the fence and handed over his little daughter saying ‘I’ve killed Lola, could you look after the kids and call the Police?’

When does “life” imprisonment mean for life?

Hello everyone - the stories are true! I'm back at my desk, hard at work planning another year of crime, hauntings & history. I'd like to say I have had a break, but I haven't...I've been in Gaol.

Quite a few of you have contacted me recently wondering whether there was any truth in the rumour that I had been sent to prison over the Christmas period.

Yes, I have been given jail time - and I couldn't be more thrilled!

In early December 2012 the State Government licenced me to operate historic Boggo Road Gaol.

I am proud to have been given this responsibility, and I thank every one of you for supporting my efforts to popularise Brisbane's and our state's history. 

Telling the story of Boggo Road Gaol, managing this important heritage site, and creating a commercially viable tourism business will be a challenge - I strongly believe that the tales of this place need to be told through human beings.

We have created a great family-friendly script called THE HISTORY OF BOGGO ROAD GAOL aimed at all ages. My Ghost Tours have resumed at the old Gaol after 8 years and are just are popular as ever.

For those that do not know, I started running tours at Boggo Road Gaol 15 years ago - both history tours and ghost tours (not that there is any difference).

For nearly eight years I tried to convince the then State Government to let me develop the tourism potential of Boggo Road. There was a general reluctance to enter into any arrangement. Frankly, under the previous Government, all I really had were knockbacks. It was for myself, the public, our staff and supporters an extremely frustrating period. Most people would have quit. In 2005 the Gaol was closed for tours. Initially it was supposed to be only for 18 months - 2 years. A letter from the State Government crushed all hope saying they could not promise we would ever be able to recommence at the Gaol.

The 18months - 2 year window became 7 years. The public were shut out of what was really their property.

Last year we met with the new Government and found a committment to get the Gaol open, and for it to be used.

If you haven't as yet taken one of our tours at the Gaol now is the time to show your support - please visit the website at www.boggoroadgaol.com

My staff and I have made very attempt to work with other stakeholders, but I am determined that the story of Boggo Road Gaol should not be told by prison officers alone. Prisoners have tales to be told as well. The people impacted and affected by Boggo Road Gaol extend outside the walls into the Queensland community and beyond. Every piece of the history of this Gaol is fascinating, and in time I hope to meet expectations and create something positive out of a place whose history was largely bad.

Keep reading!

Jack Sim

Criminal Mind at Work

Welcome to the first Blog at Jack Sim Publications. Over the weeks, months and years ahead, join me and our other authors as we present the findings of our research into the subjects of Crime & Murder, Ghosts & Hauntings, Prison History & Boggo Road Gaol. Piece by piece, we will reveal the mysteries, urban legends, stories and tales of dreadful crimes, ghosties, beasties, monsters, creepy characters, villians, rouges, desperados, gangsters, escapologists, crooks, killers, larrikins and heros that have played their part in the history of Australia. As those of you who routinely read my books and follow my tour guides through the darkness know, always be thankful you did not live in the past... I look forward to creeping you. JACK.

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