Today, we travel back in time to the 16th of November, a day in true crime history filled with tales of impressive heists of gold, a mystifying Alphabet Murder Mystery, the devastating massacre in Queensland, the execution of a burglar in early Australia, along with numerous other intense stories.

1795: 🔒 The Infamous Hanging of William Smith for a Burglary in Sydney

Fast rewind to 1795 when William Smith was handed the death penalty and met his demise at the gallows in Sydney. The crime for which he was convicted? A burglary at William Parrish’s home on Prospect Hill.

Smith, abetted by his partners in crime, broke into Parrish’s house, forcibly taking belongings estimated at around 32 shillings. The stolen items comprised a piece of cloth, a velvet waistcoat, three other waistcoats, two jackets made of flannel, and several brooches.

Translating this into contemporary monetary terms, it equates to roughly $260 AUD. 🏠⚖️🔒

1798: ⚓ “Shanghaiing” of US Sailors by British Seamen

Leaping forward three years to 1798, British seamen board the U.S. frigate Baltimore and participate in the contentious action of impressment, commonly known as “shanghaiing.”

In a shocking turn of events, 55 US sailors were forcefully conscripted into service (enslaved) onto a ship of the British Royal Navy without warning. This action significantly escalated hostilities leading to the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. ⚓

1906: ⚖️ Unmasking of Notella Habibulla’s Crime by a Fleeing Horse and a Bloodstained Buggy

Flash forward to 1906, and Notella Habibulla faced the gallows at Adelaide Gaol, accused of brutally murdering his wife, Edith, on Bristol Street.

The series of events that led to his arrest began with an alarming discovery. Policemen stumbled upon a seemingly abandoned horse and blood-doused buggy near the residence of the victim’s mother, which pointed to a violent crime.

The puzzle deepened when Habibulla recounted to the authorities that his horse had bolted unpredictable with the buggy, prompting the police to detain him and dig deeper.

The investigation took a grim turn when they retrieved a bag containing a dismembered body of a woman from a nearby river. The devastated victim turned out to be none other than his wife Edith.

A further probe revealed incriminating evidence at the home of the couple. Marks indicating a body had been dragged covered the ground, and enormous bloodstains dotted the backyard. To further implicate Habibulla, the garments of the victim, soaked in her blood, were found hidden under a bed.

The string of horrifying revelations left no room for doubt: Notella Habibulla was swiftly arrested and accused of his wife’s gruesome murder, a crime uncovered all because of a fleeing horse. ⚖️🐎🔍

1911: 😢 The Sorrowful Ching Family Massacre

Fast forward to 1911, and we recount the heinous act committed by George Silva, which has become infamous as the Ching family massacre in the small town of Alligator Creek, located 20 km south of Mackay, Queensland.

Drunk on malevolence, George Silva mercilessly shot and clubbed six members of the Ching family to death. The victims were Agnes Ching, a 45-year-old mother, and her children, Maud (15), Eddie (9), Dorrie (7), Hughie (5), and Winnie (1). His senseless act left the community traumatized and created lasting scars.

However, amidst the horror, tales of courage and resilience emerged. Several members of the family escaped Silva’s rage, including Charles and Agnes Ching’s three older children: Florence, Henry, and Henrietta. They were spared the terrifying events that befell their family because they had left the home before the massacre took place.

In the wake of the massacre, Charlie Ching, the last surviving member of his immediate family, mustered the strength to rebuild his life. Despite the grievous loss of his wife and five children, he made the tough decision to leave Mackay and Australia in 1915. He sought comfort in Hong Kong, returning to his native village of Shataukok, where he spent the remainder of his life, remarrying and fathering another child.

The Ching family massacre of 1911 remains etched as a haunting episode in Mackay’s history. It serves as a grim reminder of the lasting impact of senseless acts of violence on survivors and society as a whole. 😢🏠⚖️

1971: 🕵️‍♂️ The Disappearance of Carmen Colón, a Victim of the Alphabet Murders

Jumping ahead to 1971, we recount the woeful disappearance of Carmen Colón, a 10-year-old girl, who unfortunately became the victim of the Alphabet Murders.

The Alphabet murders, also known as the Double Initial Murders, are a series of unresolved murders that took place between 1971 and 1973 in Rochester, New York.

The signature feature of the Alphabet Murders was that each victim’s first and surnames began with the same letter. Each victim was killed in a similar method, and their bodies were discarded in or near a town or village whose name began with the same letter as the victim’s names. 🕵️‍♂️🔍

1989: 💔 Jesuit Priests Tragically Attacked by Salvadoran Army Death Squad

Fast forward to 1989, on this day a horrifying event took place at Jose Simeon Canas University in El Salvador. A Salvadoran Army death squad conducted a savage attack, resulting in the fatalities of six Jesuit priests and two other individuals. 💔🕊️🙏

The Salvadoran Civil War, spanning 1980 to 1992, was marked by extreme conflict between the government and leftist rebel factions. During this volatile period, different sections within the military and government resorted to violent tactics, including extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.

The six Jesuit priests, known for championing peace, social justice, and human rights in El Salvador, were killed in this dreadful incident. Their deaths sent reverberations around the world and brought the spotlight on the human rights infringements in the country. 🌍🕯️✝️

2001: 💰 The Assassination of Brinks-Mat Bullion Heist Participant

Fast forward to 2001, Brian Perry, an accomplice in the notorious Brinks-Mat bullion heist of 1983, was brutally murdered.

The Brinks-Mat heist, which took place at the Heathrow International Trading Estate in London, yielded an estimated £26 million in gold, diamonds, and cash.

Before Perry went to prison, McAvoy entrusted his share of the stolen gold to Brian Perry. However, Perry never returned the gold to McAvoy and instead went to prison for mishandling it.

Upon his release, he was fatally shot three times in the back of the head while returning from shopping. His murder deepened the mystery around the criminal underworld of the Brinks-Mat heist, leaving investigators and the public intrigued to unearth the truth behind his assassination.

Despite relentless investigations, a considerable portion of the stolen bullion remains unaccounted and continues to elude authorities. 💼🔍🔫

And with that, we wrap up the events of the 16th of November in the annals of true crime history. Who knows, something you do on your own 16th of November might make history! Meanwhile, enjoy your day and be sure to join us on a Dark Stories True Crime Tour soon!