Posted in Murder Trails Series

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?

SPECIAL WILSTON MURDER CRIME TOUR TO BE RESCHEDULED

Thank you all who have written in wishing to join the special Wilston Murder that was scheduled for this Saturday. 

There is no doubt that this crime still attracts interest - We have had an unexpectedly large number of people indicate their interest  - this has necessitated a need to acquire a larger coach & unfortunately have to change the date for the tour.  

It is to be rescheduled for a few weeks time - there will a few vacancies - those on the standby list will be the first to know!

If you would like to attend, write to admin@jacksim.com.au - indicating how many are in your group.

FUND TO BE CREATED IN VICTIMS NAME

As the month of September closes, the 60th anniversary of the Wilston Murder also ends.

Betty Shanks was a real person, a beautiful soul who was cut down in her prime, She was not just a name associated with a crime. Betty was studying, caring for her parents and working full time - unusual for time. In many ways Betty was a very typical woman of the 21st century.

Betty fought for her life on the night she was to die. She tried to defend herself from the furious attack.  It has always seemed sad to me that her fight to live, and better herself and those around her, has become lost in the six decades of media coverage of her death.

To honour Betty's memory, I would like to announce that a fund is to be created to educate young students and help them reach university.

I hope to be able to announce in greater detail the aims and objectives over the next few months. 

Jack Sim

"EVERYBODY KNOWS THE DOCTOR DID IT"

The front page of The Queensland Times on Monday, 22 September 1952 was dominated by the bold headline "NATION-WIDE SEARCH FOR SEX-KILLER"

The tragic death of Ipswich doctor Donald Carter appeared in a smaller article beside the account of Betty Shanks' murder. Within days Ipswich locals had connected the two events. Even an experienced detective came to believe there was a connection the two people. 

In WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is The Wilston Monster Still Alive? Ken Blanch reveals his thoughts about the tenuous link claimed to exist and silences the speculation once and for all.

Sixty years after the initial article in their newspaper The Queensland Times will tomorrow publish a comprehensive article including an interview with Dr Carter's sons who have spent their lives trying to have their father's name cleared.

Read The Queensland Times - Saturday 29/9 

Meet Ken Blanch at Angus & Robertson Ipswich Saturday 29/9 between 11am and 1.30pm. Come and share your thoughts and meet the author.

WALKING THE BEAT

My apologies to my regular readers for the shortness of todays' blog but I am exhausted after a day of delivering flyers to the houses of Wilston and The Grange promoting the next few weeks of events.  

Many thanks to my staff members Dan Martin and Bridie Foster who went beyond the call of duty.

Lots of locals expressed interest in coming along to the event at Thomas & Daisy Boutique on Saturday 6 October but one fellow quite aggressively said he won't be attending the event because he knew exactly who killed Miss Shanks and didn't think anyone else could know what he knew. Once again, as is often the case, when asked had he ever taken the information he had to police, he replied it was something that was none of their business and given he has said nothing for 50 years he would rather take it to the grave.

Ah, the good old days, when everybody cared about each other. 

See you all tomorrow night

Jack

Please join us at the screening of BETTY SHANKS: The Wilston Murder tomorrow evening (27/9) at the State Library Queensland at 6pm for the official Premiere of BETY SHANKS: The Wilston Murder by Bec Newman and Maya Weidner and the launch of Ken Blanch's WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS? Is The Wilston Monster Still Alive?