Timothy STARR

OBITUARY.

SENIOR-CONSTABLE STARR.

Senior-Constable Timothy Starr, of the Marrickville Police Station, died in Lewisham Hospital on Friday from pneumonia, contracted through a chill he received while recovering the body of one of the boys who was drowned in a waterhole at Marrickville on September 23 last.

Deceased was a strict Catholic, the last rites of the Church being administered to him by the Very Rev. Father Frederick, C.P., who also visited him during his illness.

The late Senior-Constable Starr was a native of the County Clare, Ireland, and was 46 years of age.

He came to Australia about 26 years ago, and had just completed 20 years’ service in the police force.

He was first appointed to No. 3 Station, and subsequently to Paddington, where he was promoted to the rank of Senior-Constable.

Three years ago he was transferred to Marrickville.

Deceased was a popular officer, and was much respected and esteemed by the residents of the districts in which he had done duty.

He was a man of sterling character, and had the confidence of his superiors.

His wife predeceased him three years ago, and he has left one child — a little girl about six years old.

A Mass for the repose of the soul was celebrated in St. Brigid’s, Marrickville, by the Very Rev. Father Frederick, C.P., on Saturday morning.

The funeral left the church in the afternoon for the Waverley Cemetery, and after the Last Absolutions had been pronounced the coffin was carried to the hearse by four of the deceased’s comrades, the ‘ Dead March ‘ being played on the organ meanwhile.

Over 100 members of the Metropolitan Police Force, under Inspector McIntosh, marched in front of the hearse, which was also preceded by the Very Rev. Fathers Frederick, C.P., and P. B. Kennedy, O.F.M., who officiated at the grave.

The cortege was headed by the Police Band, under Senior-Constables Mankey and Hamilton, which rendered the customary funeral music.

The attendance at the funeral was very large, the crowd that gathered around St. Brigid’s Church being a very big one.

Father Frederick preached the panegyric at the grave.

Amongst those present were Senior Sergeants Griffiths ( Ashfield ) and Parkinson ( No. 1 Police Station ), Senior-Constables Orr ( North Sydney ), Graham ( Paddington ) and Phelan, and Constable Thomas Moloney ( No. 3 Station ), one of deceased’s oldest and most trusted friends.

R I. P.

DEATH OF SENIOR CONSTABLE STARR.

The death occurred in the Lewisham Hospital today of Senior-constable Timothy Starr, of the Marrickville police.

The deceased officer contracted influenza about ten days ago, and about four days later pneumonia set in.

He was admitted to the hospital on the 2nd instant, and lingered until a quarter past 8 this morning.

Senior constable Starr had been a member of the police force for about 20 years, and for the last four years had been stationed at Marrickville.

Prior to this he was attached to No. 3 Division.

He was about 45 years of age, was a widower, and leaves one child, a girl of 6 years of age.

THE CONSTABLE AND DOG.

John Docksay, of Annandale-street, Darling Point, is the owner of a handsome retriever dog.

On the evening of October 11 Constable Timothy Starr happened to be in the neighborhood of the place mentioned, and the animal, without preliminary warning or ultimatum of any kind, bit him in the shin, not, however, in such a way as to prevent him from discharging his duty.

At the Paddington Police Court yesterday Docksay was proceeded against for keeping a dog that endangered Constable Starr‘s limbs.

The defendant could not account for the animal’s foolish behavior, though he held the opinion that it only desired to play with the constable on the occasion referred to.

He was, however, ordered to pay £2, with 4s,10d costs, in default levy and distress.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113692868

RUSHCUTTER’S BAY SENSATION

A MAN AND A REVOLVER. EXTRAORDINARY BEHAVIOR. TWO LIVES IN DANGER EFFECTS OF THE WAR FEVER.

Many of the residents of Rushcutter’s Bay, in the neighborhood of the power-house, were startled on Saturday night last by the unusual sound of arms being discharged in that quiet neighborhood. The facts in connection with the occurrence go to show that what might have been very grave consequences were escaped by sheer good luck, two lives having been seriously endangered.

It appears that at about 10.25 p.m., Mr. Benjamin Bernard, a resident of Elizabeth-street, Paddington, and engaged in business at 89½ King-street, Sydney, was walking along Bayswater-road, on his way home by that route. He passed the power house, and reached that open portion of the road opposite Rushcutter’s Bay Reserve. As he neared the hoarding on the right hand side of the road, he saw a man under the lamp post flourishing a revolver, and just when he got within a few yards of him the weapon was discharged in the direction of the reserve.

Mr. Bernard at once remonstrated angrily with the man upon the recklessness of his conduct, and gave him a strong warning not to repeat it, and then proceeded on his journey.

When he had gone 50 or 100 yards, he met Constable Timothy Starr, to whom he related the occurrence, saying that he thought, there was a man running amuck farther down.

The constable proceeded towards the power house, and after he had gone a few moments it occurred to Mr. Bernard that he had better go back, in case his assistance might be required.

He accordingly turned, and crossed over the road towards the Bayswater-road Hotel. As he stepped on the footpath he found himself face to face with the man, who evidently had escaped the constable.

The man instantly raised his revolver, and discharged it at Mr. Bernard’s head.

Mr. Bernard had seen the danger, and ducked to one side, and the bullet whizzed past over his shoulder. The man then passed on, leaving Mr. Bernard for the moment dazed. The latter’s blood, however, was now up, and he determined to close with the man, and for that purpose prepared to rush on him unawares.

Just then Constable Starr, who had heard the shot, flew past in the direction of the man, and immediately got close to him. The man thereupon turned round, and levelled his revolver at the constable. The latter almost instinctively raised up his cloak to ward off, as well as it could, the bullet which he was certain was coming. The trigger was heard being drawn, and the leaden messenger was awaited, but providentially it did not come.

The revolver would not work for just that instant, and before the man could do anything both the constable and Mr. Bernard were upon him, and had him soon pinned to the ground.

Starr quickly took the revolver out of his hand ; but had hardly got hold of it when it went off — fortunately in a safe direction.

The man was then taken to the Paddington Station, where he gave the name of Charles Willis, 29, groom, an Englishman, and said to be in the employ of Mr. McGrath, livery stable proprietor, Castlereagh street, Sydney.

On the way to the station his captors asked him for some explanation of his conduct, but he did not appear to be very coherent, or to quite understand his position.

He talked about being in the Transvaal, and being stuck up by the Boers, whom he had accordingly fired at.

In reply to the constable he also stated that he remembered having ” three rums ” that night, and was not quite sure how he got as far as Rushcutter’s Bay, since he resided in Sydney.

At the Paddington Police Court to-day, before Mr. Isaacs, S.M., Willis was charged with maliciously shooting at Benjamin Bernard, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and a remand being asked for by the police, the case was adjourned till Thursday next.

The accused is a small man, of rather depressed appearance. There was nothing about him that would suggest him as a formidable opponent for the Boers. His memory of the events of Saturday night is very confused, and he can give no coherent account of the proceedings on that occasion.

The revolver is an old one, and bears on it the imprint, ” Presse, Laloux, and Cie, Liege. ”

Three discharged cartridges were found in it, and one undischarged.