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Caught in the Act: Mugshots of 1920s Australia

The mugshots of the 1920s in Australia capture a fascinating moment in the country’s criminal history. These images provide a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who found themselves on the wrong side of the law during this decade.

The 1920s was a time of great social and cultural change in Australia, marked by the aftermath of World War I, the rise of the Jazz Age, and the beginning of the Great Depression. With this change came an increase in crime and an expansion of the police force, leading to many mugshots being taken and recorded.

The mugshots from the 1920s are a unique form of portraiture, capturing the subject’s likeness in an unguarded and unadorned way. They were taken for official purposes, such as for identification or for use in court, but they also serve as historical documents that provide insight into the appearance, demeanor, and expressions of the individuals captured in the images.

They also reveal a diverse range of people, including both men and women, who were arrested for a variety of crimes. Some of the most common offenses during this period were theft, robbery, and disorderly conduct, but there were also cases of murder, assault, and prostitution.

One interesting aspect of the mugshots of the 1920s is the fashion choices of the subjects. Despite being arrested and facing criminal charges, many of the individuals in these photos took pride in their appearance and dressed in a stylish and fashionable manner. Women often wore elaborate hairstyles and makeup, while men sported well-groomed mustaches and clean-shaven faces.

While the mugshots of the 1920s may seem like a distant and far-removed moment in history, they offer a compelling glimpse into the lives of the men and women who lived in Australia during this time. Whether viewed as historical documents or as works of art, these images offer a fascinating window into a bygone era.

#1 Ruth Young (1923. Aged: 43).

Australia Mugshots 1920s

Ruth Young had a problem with alcohol and was often homeless. She had multiple convictions for drunkenness, vagrancy and petty theft.

#2 Ruth Carruthers (1926. Aged: 28).

Ruth Carruthers (1926. Aged: 28).

Convicted of false pretenses. Ruth Carruthers went on a criminal spree in 1926, using the art of persuasion to obtain goods and money from hapless shopkeepers. She was eventually convicted on four charges of false pretenses and sentenced to six months at Long Bay.

#3 Philomena Mary Best (1927. Aged: 33).

Philomena Mary Best (1927. Aged: 33).

Philomena Best stole silk and other goods valued at over 36 pounds (about $2000 today) from a Bourke shopkeeper in north-western New South Wales. She was convicted and sentenced to 12 months with light labor.

#4 Pearl McFadden (1928. Aged: 18).

Pearl McFadden (1928. Aged: 18).

Pearl McFadden may have been supporting herself by working as a prostitute. Many sex workers were charged with vagrancy and having insufficient means of support, as it was a relatively easy charge to prove. McFadden was sentenced to six months with hard labor.

#5 Myrtle Lee (1927. Aged: 35).

Myrtle Lee (1927. Aged: 35).

Myrtle Lee, described in the media as 'a well-dressed woman', stabbed Mary Moon twice at the residence of a Chinese man in Alexandria. The press emphasized the racial nature of the attack with a headline 'White and Yellow'. Lee was sentenced to six months gaol.

#6 May Smith (1929. Aged: 49).

May Smith (1929. Aged: 49).

May Smith, alias 'Botany May', was an infamous drug dealer. She once chased policewoman Lillian Armfield with a red-hot iron to avoid arrest. Smith was sentenced to 10 months with hard labor.

#7 May Ethel Foster (1928. Aged: 27).

May Ethel Foster (1928. Aged: 27).

May Foster worked with a male accomplice to break into numerous houses and steal the contents. She had previous convictions for vagrancy, failing to appear in court and receiving stolen goods. She was sentenced to six months with hard labor.

#8 Matilda Devine (1925. Aged: 25).

Matilda Devine (1925. Aged: 25).

Matilda 'Tilly' Devine used a razor to slash a man's face in a barber's shop and was sentenced to two years gaol. She was Sydney's best-known brothel madam and her public quarrels with sly-grog queen Kate Leigh provided the media with an abundance of material.

#9 Mary Rubina Brownlee (1923. Aged: 64).

Mary Rubina Brownlee (1923. Aged: 64).

Convicted of unlawfully using an instrument to procure a miscarriage. Mary Brownlee was a backyard abortionist who was caught during an extensive police investigation. She was sentenced to 12 months light labor, but her male accomplice was acquitted.

#10 Tasmanian Lillian Sproule (1928. Aged: 50).

Tasmanian Lillian Sproule (1928. Aged: 50).

Became involved in Sydney’s cocaine trade. She was labeled a 'parasite in skirts' by the newspapers and had multiple convictions relating to drug dealing. She was sentenced to six months in prison.

#11 Kathleen Ward (1925. Aged: 21).

Kathleen Ward (1925. Aged: 21).

Had convictions for drunkenness, indecent language and theft. She obviously enjoyed thumbing her nose at the authorities.

#12 Jessie Longford (1926. Aged: 30).

Jessie Longford (1926. Aged: 30).

A well-known shoplifter.

#13 Janet Wright (1922. Aged: 68).

Janet Wright (1922. Aged: 68).

Convicted of using an instrument to procure a miscarriage. Janet Wright was a former nurse who performed illegal abortions from her house in Kippax Street, Surry Hills. One of her teenage patients almost died after a procedure and Wright was prosecuted and sentenced to 12 months hard labor.

#14 Evelyn Courtney (1920. Aged: 19).

Evelyn Courtney (1920. Aged: 19).

Stole a remarkable array of items, ranging from an umbrella to Irish linen napkins. She was a suspect in at least seven different robberies during 1920.

#15 Eugenia Falleni (1920. Aged: 43).

Eugenia Falleni (1920. Aged: 43).

Eugenia Falleni spent most of her life masquerading as a man (Harry Crawford). In 1913 Falleni married a widow, Annie Birkett, whom she later murdered. Convicted of murder in 1928, the case whipped the public into a frenzy as they clamored for details of the 'man-woman' murderer.

#16 Ettie Sultana (1922. Aged: 37).

Ettie Sultana (1922. Aged: 37).

Worked in northern New South Wales and in the Queensland cities of Brisbane and Toowoomba for most of her career. She had multiple convictions for prostitution, theft, drunkenness, swearing and vagrancy. She was sentenced to six months with hard labor.

#17 mily Gertrude Hemsworth (1925. Aged: 24).

mily Gertrude Hemsworth (1925. Aged: 24).

Killed her three-week-old son but could not remember any details of the murder. She was found not guilty due to insanity. Hemsworth was to be detained in custody until judged fit to return to society – it is unknown if she was ever released.

#18 Elizabeth Singleton (1927. Aged: 22).

Elizabeth Singleton (1927. Aged: 22).

Had multiple convictions for soliciting and was described in police records as a 'common prostitute'. She was imprisoned at Long Bay but the details of her sentence have been lost.

#19 Edith Florence Ashton (1929. Aged: 37).

Edith Florence Ashton (1929. Aged: 37).

Was a backyard abortionist who also dabbled in theft and fencing stolen goods. Described in the media as a ‘social somebody’ and an 'equestrienne' she was, however, not adept at performing abortions and was suspected of contributing to the deaths of at least two women.

#20 Dorothy Mort (1921. Aged: 32).

Dorothy Mort (1921. Aged: 32).

Convicted of murder. Mrs. Dorothy Mort was having an affair with dashing young doctor Claude Tozer. On 21 December 1920, Tozer visited her home with the intention of breaking off the relationship. Mort shot him dead before she attempted suicide.

#21 Doris Winifred Poole (1924. Aged: 21).

Doris Winifred Poole (1924. Aged: 21).

Appeared before the Newtown Police Court charged with stealing jewelry and clothing. She had previously been convicted on a similar charge in North Sydney and so received a six-month sentence with light labor.

#22 Annie Gunderson (1922. Aged: 19).

Annie Gunderson (1922. Aged: 19).

Teenager Annie Gunderson was charged with stealing a fur coat from a Sydney department store called Winn's Limited, in 1922. Police records do not indicate whether the fur she is wearing is the stolen item.

#23 Alice Adeline Cooke (1922. Aged: 24).

Alice Adeline Cooke (1922. Aged: 24).

Was convicted of bigamy and theft. By the age of 24 she had amassed an impressive number of aliases and at least two husbands. She was described by police as 'rather good looking'.

#24 Marjorie Day (alias Elma Walton) (1925. Aged: 20).

Marjorie Day (alias Elma Walton) (1925. Aged: 20).

Marjorie Day convinced a shopkeeper to let her take two dresses home to show her mother. She promised to return promptly but instead sold the clothes at a second-hand clothing shop. A repeat offender, Day was sentenced to six months prison.

#25 Doris Winifred Poole, criminal record number 639LB, 31 July 1924.

Doris Winifred Poole, criminal record number 639LB, 31 July 1924.

Doris Poole appeared before the Newtown Police Court charged with stealing jewellery and clothing. She had previously been convicted on a similar charge in North Sydney and so received a six-month sentence with light labour.

#26 Emily Gertrude Hemsworth, criminal record number 657LB, 14 May 1925.

Emily Gertrude Hemsworth, criminal record number 657LB, 14 May 1925.

Emily Hemsworth killed her three-week-old son but could not remember any details of the murder. She was found not guilty due to insanity. Hemsworth was to be detained in custody until judged fit to return to society – it is unknown if she was ever released. Aged 24.

#27 Jean Wilson, criminal record number 644LB, 25 September 1924.

Jean Wilson, criminal record number 644LB, 25 September 1924.

Jean Wilson had numerous convictions for housebreaking and theft. She preferred stealing jewellery as it could be easily pawned for money. She also robbed her employer. Wilson was charged with larceny, for which she served a 12-month sentence. Aged: 23.

#28 Kathleen Ward, criminal record number 658LB, 14 May 1925.

Kathleen Ward, criminal record number 658LB, 14 May 1925.

State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay. Kathleen Ward had convictions for drunkenness, indecent language and theft. She obviously enjoyed thumbing her nose at the authorities, as can be seen in this image where she appears to have deliberately fluttered her eyes in order to ruin the long-exposure photograph.

#29 Matilda Devine, criminal record number 659LB, 27 May 1925.

Matilda Devine, criminal record number 659LB, 27 May 1925.

Matilda “Tilly” Devine used a razor to slash a man's face in a barber's shop and was sentenced to two years gaol. She was Sydney's best-known brothel madam and her public quarrels with sly-grog queen Kate Leigh provided the media with an abundance of material. Aged 25.

#30 Nellie Cameron, criminal record number 792LB, 29 July 1930.

Nellie Cameron, criminal record number 792LB, 29 July 1930.

Nellie Cameron was one of Sydney's best-known, and most desired, prostitutes. Lillian Armfield, Australia's first policewoman, said Cameron had an “assured poise that set her apart from all the other women of the Australian underworld”. Aged 21.

#31 Phyllis Carmier, alias Hume, criminal record number 515LB, 1 April 1921.

Phyllis Carmier, alias Hume, criminal record number 515LB, 1 April 1921.

British-born Carmier was known as “Yankee” Phyllis because of her peculiar accent. She stabbed her “bludger”, or pimp, to death during a violent altercation in Crazy Cottage, a sly-grog shop in Surry Hills. Carmier attracted much sympathy in the media, who labelled her crime a justifiable homicide. Aged 32.

#32 Eddie McMillan, John Frederick “Chow” Hayes, Thomas Esmond Bollard, Special Photograph number 2057, 6 November 1930, Central Police Station, Sydney.

#33 Mug shot of William Cahill, 30 July 1923, Central Police Station, Sydney.

#34 Mug shot of Hampton Hirscham, Cornellius Joseph Keevil, William Thomas O’Brien and James O’Brien, 20 July 1921, Central Police Station, Sydney.

#35 Mug shot of Harold Price, 13 August 1923, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Harold Price, 13 August 1923, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Harold Price was a thief and gunman. This photograph was taken after he was was arrested and charged with committing robbery under arms at a house in Randwick, Sydney, for which he was sentenced to two years hard labor.

#36 Mug shot of Harris Hunter, 17 September 1924, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Harris Hunter, 17 September 1924, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Hunter is listed in the NSW Police Gazette, 1924 as charged, along with William Munro, with receiving stolen goods to the value of 536 pounds 4 shillings and 1 penny, the property of Snow's department store.

#37 Mug shot of John Walter Ford and Oswald Clive Nash, June 1921, possibly North Sydney Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of John Walter Ford and Oswald Clive Nash, June 1921, possibly North Sydney Police Station, Sydney.

A week after the photograph was taken the pair, both aged 16, appeared in North Sydney Police Court on break, enter and steal charges, for which they were put on bonds to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

#38 Mug shot of Sidney Kelly, 25 June 1924, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Sidney Kelly, 25 June 1924, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Details surrounding this particular photograph are unknown, but Sidney Kelly was arrested many times and much written about in newspapers during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. He was charged with numerous offences including shooting, and assault, and in the 1940s was a pioneer of illegal baccarat gaming in Sydney.

#39 Mug shot of Thomas Sutherland Jones and William Smith, 15 July 1921, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Thomas Sutherland Jones and William Smith, 15 July 1921, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Smith and Jones are listed in the NSW Police Gazette as charged with stealing seven packages of twine (value 14 pounds). Jones was further charged with stealing thirty horse rugs (value 15 pounds) and two bales of kapok (value 20 pounds). Smith was fined 20 pounds; Jones was sentenced to 18 months hard labour, suspended.

#40 Mug shot of William Stanley Moore, 1 May 1925, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of William Stanley Moore, 1 May 1925, Central Police Station, Sydney.

This picture appears in the Photo Supplement to the NSW Police Gazette, 28 July, 1926 captioned: “Opium dealer. Operates with large quantities of faked opium and cocaine. A wharf labourer; associates with water front thieves and drug traders”.

#41 Mug shot of Alfred John (or Francis) West, 7 April 1922, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Alfred John (or Francis) West, 7 April 1922, Central Police Station, Sydney.

He was kept under observation however and was caught in the act of attempting to rob a man, being then accompanied by Phillip Noonan, alias Allan Noonan, alias Peter Newman, a spieler operating in the country.

#42 Mug shot of B. Moody, Newtown Court, around 1919.

#43 Mug shot of Ellen Kreigher, 13 July 1923, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Ellen Kreigher, 13 July 1923, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Ellen (“Nellie”) Kreigher was one of four people arrested and charged over the murder of Gertrude Mabel Heaydon. In October the previous year Gertrude Heaydon had been taken to the Coogee flat of a woman known as “Nurse Taylor” to procure an illegal abortion. She died there in the flat. Police later claimed she was murdered by Nurse Taylor, at the behest of Heaydon's husband, Alfred. A team of low-lifes was eventaully assembled by Taylor's husband Frank to remove the putrefying remains in a horse and cart, and their somewhat farcical progress across Sydney was later recounted by numerous witnesses. Police became involved the following year after Gertrude Heaydon's relatives in England became suspicious. The case became known in the press as the “Coogee Trunk Mystery” (referring to the trunk in which the corpse was allegedly removed from the flat).

#44 Mug shot of Ernest Joseph Coffey, 2 June 1922, location unknown.

#45 Mug shot of Francis Flood, Central Police Station, May 1920.

Mug shot of Francis Flood, Central Police Station, May 1920.

An entry in the NSW Police Gazette, 5 May 1920 lists Flood as one of two men arrested over the theft of 400 blouses from a Kent Street merchant. Both were sentenced to two years hard labour.

#46 Mug shot of Frank Murray alias Harry Williams, 4 February 1929, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Mug shot of Frank Murray alias Harry Williams, 4 February 1929, Central Police Station, Sydney.

Harry Williams was sentenced to 12 months hard labour on March 1929 for breaking, entering and stealing. Murray/Williams' entry in the NSW Criminal Register, April 30 1930 describes him as a housebreaker and thief, whose MO includes “[breaking] leadlighted door or windows or [forcing] the fanlights of dwelling houses during the absence of tenants“. He “disposes of stolen property to patrons of hotel bars or to persons in the street ... professing to be a second-hand dealer”. Although he “consorts with prostitutes” and “frequents hotels and wine bars in the vicinity of the Haymarket”, he is described as being of “quiet disposition”.

#47 Emily Gertrude Hemsworth, 14 May 1925.

Emily Gertrude Hemsworth, 14 May 1925.

Emily Hemsworth killed her three-week-old son but could not remember any details of the murder. She was found not guilty due to insanity. Hemsworth was to be detained in custody until judged fit to return to society — it is unknown if she was ever released. Aged 24.”

#48 Sidney Kelly – June 25, 1924. New South Wales Police Department.

#49 Frederick Edward Davies, July 14, 1921.

Frederick Edward Davies, July 14, 1921.

The handwritten inscription on this unnumbered Special Photograph reads ‘Frederick Edward Davies stealing in picture shows and theatres Dets Surridge Clark and Breen Central 14-7-21.’ Police held sneak thieves in particularly low regard, which may account for the decision to photograph Davies in front of the police station’s toilet stalls.”

#50 George Whitehall – February 24, 1922.

George Whitehall – February 24, 1922.

George Whitehall, carpenter, handed himself into Newtown police after hacking to death his common-law wife, Ida Parker on Thursday afternoon 21 February 1922, at their home in Pleasant Avenue, Erskineville. This photo was apparently taken the following morning at Newtown Police Station.”

#51 Frank Murray alias Harry Williams – February 4, 1929.

Frank Murray alias Harry Williams – February 4, 1929.

Harry Williams was sentenced to 12 months hard labour on March 1929 for breaking, entering and stealing. Although he ‘consorts with prostitutes’ and ‘frequents hotels and wine bars in the vicinity of the Haymarket,’ he is described as being of ‘quiet disposition.’”

#52 Hampton Hirscham, Cornellius Joseph Keevil, William Thomas O’Brien and James O’Brien – July 20, 1921

#53 Eugenia Falleni, alias Harry Crawford, 1920. “When ‘Harry Leon Crawford,’ hotel cleaner of Stanmore was arrested and charged with wife murder he was revealed to be in fact Eugeni Falleni, a woman and mother, who had been passing as a man since 1899. In 1914, as ‘Harry Crawford,’ Falleni had married the widow Annie Birkett. Three years later, shortl

#54 Mary Harris, 15 August 1923. State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, New South Wales Police Department

#55 Mr. William Stanley Moore, 1925, New South Wales Police Department

#56 Valerie Lowe, 15 February 1922, Central Police Station, Sydney

#57 Sydney Skukerman, or Skukarman – September 25, 1924, New South Wales Police Department

#58 Walter Smith – December 24, 1924, New South Wales Police Department

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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