TIMELINE 1890-1895
1890
'Major Pelly' stayed at Yarawa station, owned by the Bucknell brothers, (near Mungindi) for some months, claiming to be a wool classer.
G.R. Skelton, brother-in-law of N.C. Bucknell, and his employee Colin Harding recounted stories of his visit. Trapped by the floods (of
late March), Starlight stayed at Yarawa for some months. He had 'all the ways, manners, and appearance of a most perfect English
aristocrat' and was friendly and amusing but always carried a loaded revolver. He was suspected of being a Russian spy.
Starlight possibly worked at Panjee Station in NSW (120 miles west of Dubbo), possibly using the alias Patrick Pelly
1891
May 18: ‘Frank Pelly’ was taken on as a boundary rider at Tubbo Station at Narrandera, New South Wales
1893
April: ‘Pelly’ abruptly left Tubbo Station
1895-1896
‘Pelly’ travelled to South Australia and lived in Magill. He bought the trappings of a drover: horses, saddles, a spring cart, a harness,
hobbles and bells and picked up a bit of work
‘Pelly’ gained employment with two of the stations owned by Drew and Co: Ucolta and McCoy’s Wells. Ucolta station manager, Edwin
Ellis Kernôt, was initially impressed with his abilities and his charm but soon became disillusioned, finding ‘Pelly’ to be dishonest. He
was rumoured to have gotten an Adelaide girl pregnant. He also applied to Kernôt’s mother for money under false pretences
'Major Pelly' stayed at Yarawa station, owned by the Bucknell brothers, (near Mungindi) for some months, claiming to be a wool classer.
G.R. Skelton, brother-in-law of N.C. Bucknell, and his employee Colin Harding recounted stories of his visit. Trapped by the floods (of
late March), Starlight stayed at Yarawa for some months. He had 'all the ways, manners, and appearance of a most perfect English
aristocrat' and was friendly and amusing but always carried a loaded revolver. He was suspected of being a Russian spy.
Starlight possibly worked at Panjee Station in NSW (120 miles west of Dubbo), possibly using the alias Patrick Pelly
1891
May 18: ‘Frank Pelly’ was taken on as a boundary rider at Tubbo Station at Narrandera, New South Wales
1893
April: ‘Pelly’ abruptly left Tubbo Station
1895-1896
‘Pelly’ travelled to South Australia and lived in Magill. He bought the trappings of a drover: horses, saddles, a spring cart, a harness,
hobbles and bells and picked up a bit of work
‘Pelly’ gained employment with two of the stations owned by Drew and Co: Ucolta and McCoy’s Wells. Ucolta station manager, Edwin
Ellis Kernôt, was initially impressed with his abilities and his charm but soon became disillusioned, finding ‘Pelly’ to be dishonest. He
was rumoured to have gotten an Adelaide girl pregnant. He also applied to Kernôt’s mother for money under false pretences
Sources 1890-1895
Newspapers
A sensational story: Starlight the bushranger a civil servant. (1900, Nov 27), Kalgoorlie Western Argus, pp.38,39
An old identity. Tubbo Pelly and “Starlight”. (1900, Dec 7). Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser, p.3
Captain Starlight: more memories. (1939, May 10). West Australian, p.13
How "Major Pelly" came to Western Australia. (1900, Nov 29). Kalgoorlie Miner, p.8
Tubbo Collection, CSU Regional Archives
Journal 1891, RW2/UV/344
Journal 1893, RW2/55/346.
Ration and Store Issue Book 1893, RW2/67/458
Unsorted Agreements from Contractors and Employees 1888-1893. RW2/UV/303.
Wages Book 1890-1896, RW2/296/1665
State Records Office of WA
Western Australia Police Service, Death of Major Pilley 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1900/1818. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684
Western Australia Police Service, History relating to the Australian bushranger `Starlight' 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1940/1693. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684.
Supreme Court of Western Australia, Civil Court of Western Australia, Patrick Francis Marie Pelly 1 Jan 1832, 1901/035. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 3403
State Library of South Australia
(nd). Frank Pearson. Series list PRG 95
Books
McCarthy, P. (1972). Starlight: the man and the myth. Melbourne: Hawthorne Press. Back to top
Newspapers
A sensational story: Starlight the bushranger a civil servant. (1900, Nov 27), Kalgoorlie Western Argus, pp.38,39
An old identity. Tubbo Pelly and “Starlight”. (1900, Dec 7). Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser, p.3
Captain Starlight: more memories. (1939, May 10). West Australian, p.13
How "Major Pelly" came to Western Australia. (1900, Nov 29). Kalgoorlie Miner, p.8
Tubbo Collection, CSU Regional Archives
Journal 1891, RW2/UV/344
Journal 1893, RW2/55/346.
Ration and Store Issue Book 1893, RW2/67/458
Unsorted Agreements from Contractors and Employees 1888-1893. RW2/UV/303.
Wages Book 1890-1896, RW2/296/1665
State Records Office of WA
Western Australia Police Service, Death of Major Pilley 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1900/1818. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684
Western Australia Police Service, History relating to the Australian bushranger `Starlight' 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1940/1693. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684.
Supreme Court of Western Australia, Civil Court of Western Australia, Patrick Francis Marie Pelly 1 Jan 1832, 1901/035. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 3403
State Library of South Australia
(nd). Frank Pearson. Series list PRG 95
Books
McCarthy, P. (1972). Starlight: the man and the myth. Melbourne: Hawthorne Press. Back to top
TIMELINE 1896-1899
1896
‘Pelly’ frequently threatened suicide and made a will naming Kernôt and Robert Fraser (Ucolta’s book-keeper) as beneficiaries
March: Kernôt dismissed ‘Pelly’
‘Pelly’ travelled through Petersburg (now Peterborough), SA, where he tricked a Mr Fletcher out of £10
March: ‘Pelly’ arrived in Perth, possibly having travelled through Menzies, WA
March 14: ‘Pelly’ wrote to Sir John Forrest asking for employment; on the same day Forrest wrote to Octavius Burt, the Under-secretary:
Write & ask him to call to see you & then let me know whether there is anything that I could do for him – he writes like a good fellow
May 18-23: Further correspondence to and fro regarding government employment
May ?: ‘Pelly’ visited the Wesley Church in desperation, claiming to be destitute and starving and on the point of suicide; Reverends Charles
Alfred Jenkins and Arthur Johnstone Barclay lent him money
May/June: ‘Pelly’ may have been employed briefly as a clerk with the local undertaking firm of Donald J. Chippers
June: ‘Pelly’ got a job as a draftsman in the Mines Dept
Nov 9: ‘Pelly’ started work with the Geological Survey of WA as a clerk and was soon promoted to Chief Clerk and Accountant
1899
Dec 22: ‘Pelly’ visited his friend Michael Callaghan, accountant at Bickford’s, for a drink after work. He later went home, accompanied by his landlady Ambrosine Bowley, to his lodgings at 288 Beaufort St. Michael Callaghan joined them on the way home. ‘Pelly’ was drunk and got into a fight with his neighbour. His landlady’s son, Harry, calmed the ‘Major’ down and ‘Pelly’ went up to his room. He called out for his heart medicine but moments later said that he had found it. However he had accidentally drunk from a bottle of cyanide instead and he collapsed shortly after Harry went upstairs. Harry brought Dr Nyulasy to the patient but he was pronounced dead in the early hours of 23 Dec.
Dec 23: 'Pelly' buried at Karrakatta Cemetery
Dec 30: Inquest 12:00 noon in the Coroner’s Court, Barrack Street, presided by Acting Coroner, Dr Ernest Black; verdict death by accidentally
swallowing cyanide.
For sources 1896-1899 see below Back to top
‘Pelly’ frequently threatened suicide and made a will naming Kernôt and Robert Fraser (Ucolta’s book-keeper) as beneficiaries
March: Kernôt dismissed ‘Pelly’
‘Pelly’ travelled through Petersburg (now Peterborough), SA, where he tricked a Mr Fletcher out of £10
March: ‘Pelly’ arrived in Perth, possibly having travelled through Menzies, WA
March 14: ‘Pelly’ wrote to Sir John Forrest asking for employment; on the same day Forrest wrote to Octavius Burt, the Under-secretary:
Write & ask him to call to see you & then let me know whether there is anything that I could do for him – he writes like a good fellow
May 18-23: Further correspondence to and fro regarding government employment
May ?: ‘Pelly’ visited the Wesley Church in desperation, claiming to be destitute and starving and on the point of suicide; Reverends Charles
Alfred Jenkins and Arthur Johnstone Barclay lent him money
May/June: ‘Pelly’ may have been employed briefly as a clerk with the local undertaking firm of Donald J. Chippers
June: ‘Pelly’ got a job as a draftsman in the Mines Dept
Nov 9: ‘Pelly’ started work with the Geological Survey of WA as a clerk and was soon promoted to Chief Clerk and Accountant
1899
Dec 22: ‘Pelly’ visited his friend Michael Callaghan, accountant at Bickford’s, for a drink after work. He later went home, accompanied by his landlady Ambrosine Bowley, to his lodgings at 288 Beaufort St. Michael Callaghan joined them on the way home. ‘Pelly’ was drunk and got into a fight with his neighbour. His landlady’s son, Harry, calmed the ‘Major’ down and ‘Pelly’ went up to his room. He called out for his heart medicine but moments later said that he had found it. However he had accidentally drunk from a bottle of cyanide instead and he collapsed shortly after Harry went upstairs. Harry brought Dr Nyulasy to the patient but he was pronounced dead in the early hours of 23 Dec.
Dec 23: 'Pelly' buried at Karrakatta Cemetery
Dec 30: Inquest 12:00 noon in the Coroner’s Court, Barrack Street, presided by Acting Coroner, Dr Ernest Black; verdict death by accidentally
swallowing cyanide.
For sources 1896-1899 see below Back to top
TIMELINE 1900-1901: THE DISCOVERY
1900
Jan 1: A friend of Sister Mary Joseph of Portumna, read of the inquest of Patrick Francis Pelly in Perth’s Morning Herald.
Believing the deceased to be her friend’s nephew, she wrote to her.
Jan/Feb: Sister Mary Joseph received the letter and wrote to her nephews (Patrick Edward Pelly’s brothers) James Pelly and Cornelius Pelly
(Father Elias)
Feb 7: James Pelly wrote to the Coroner Dr Black requesting details
Feb 11: Cornelius Pelly (Father Elias) wrote to his brother Patrick Edward Pelly in Pentridge Gaol
April 25: Patrick Edward Pelly wrote to the Coroner with his suspicion that the deceased was his friend Frank Gordon
May 29: PC Walter Charles Whyte interviewed Ambrosine Bowley, who was unco-operative
May-July: There was much correspondence between Police of WA, NSW and Victoria regarding the identity of the deceased; Patrick Edward
Pelly was shown a photograph of the deceased and he identified it as his friend Gordon
July 24: Pelly wrote a memorandum to give full details of his association with FP on ST Helena
Sept 3: Ambrosine Bowley handed over the album that was in ‘Pelly’s’ possession
Sept 24: George Kirkaldy Pelly (Patrick’s brother) was shown the photo of the deceased and said he wasn’t known to him
Oct 5: George Kirkaldy Pelly was shown the album and was able to identify the photos in it
Oct 26: George Kirkaldy Pelly wrote to Perth police saying that dead man was not a Pelly
Nov 21: Perth Morning Herald broke the story of ‘Pelly’s’ past
1901
July 1: The family album was returned at last to George Kirkaldy Pelly Back to top
Jan 1: A friend of Sister Mary Joseph of Portumna, read of the inquest of Patrick Francis Pelly in Perth’s Morning Herald.
Believing the deceased to be her friend’s nephew, she wrote to her.
Jan/Feb: Sister Mary Joseph received the letter and wrote to her nephews (Patrick Edward Pelly’s brothers) James Pelly and Cornelius Pelly
(Father Elias)
Feb 7: James Pelly wrote to the Coroner Dr Black requesting details
Feb 11: Cornelius Pelly (Father Elias) wrote to his brother Patrick Edward Pelly in Pentridge Gaol
April 25: Patrick Edward Pelly wrote to the Coroner with his suspicion that the deceased was his friend Frank Gordon
May 29: PC Walter Charles Whyte interviewed Ambrosine Bowley, who was unco-operative
May-July: There was much correspondence between Police of WA, NSW and Victoria regarding the identity of the deceased; Patrick Edward
Pelly was shown a photograph of the deceased and he identified it as his friend Gordon
July 24: Pelly wrote a memorandum to give full details of his association with FP on ST Helena
Sept 3: Ambrosine Bowley handed over the album that was in ‘Pelly’s’ possession
Sept 24: George Kirkaldy Pelly (Patrick’s brother) was shown the photo of the deceased and said he wasn’t known to him
Oct 5: George Kirkaldy Pelly was shown the album and was able to identify the photos in it
Oct 26: George Kirkaldy Pelly wrote to Perth police saying that dead man was not a Pelly
Nov 21: Perth Morning Herald broke the story of ‘Pelly’s’ past
1901
July 1: The family album was returned at last to George Kirkaldy Pelly Back to top
Sources 1900-1901
Newspapers
A sensational story: Starlight the bushranger a civil servant. (1900, Nov 27), Kalgoorlie Western Argus, pp.38,39
Major Pelly: awfully sudden death. (1899, Dec 23). The Daily News, p. 4.
"Major" Pelly's will. (1901, March 19). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p. 9
More about ‘Starlight’. (1900, Dec 4). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p. 39
Probates and administrations. (1901, March 23). Western Mail, p. 61
Public service appointments. (1896, June 11). The West Australian, p.2
Starlight's will. (1901, March 16). The Advertiser, p. 7.
Supposed death by poison. (1899, Dec25). West Australian, pp. 4,5.
The Death of Major Pelly. (1900, Jan 1). The West Australian, p. 3.
The “Starlight” story. (1900, Dec 4). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p.2
The Starlight story. (1900, Nov 27). Kalgoorlie Miner, p.7
State Records Office of WA
P F Pelly; employment, applying for, 1896/1528. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 527
Western Australia Police Service, Death of Major Pilley 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1900/1818. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684
Western Australia Police Service, History relating to the Australian bushranger `Starlight' 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1940/1693. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684.
Supreme Court of Western Australia, Civil Court of Western Australia, Patrick Francis Marie Pelly 1 Jan 1832, 1901/035. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 3403
Books
Conigrave, C. P. (1938). Walkabout. London: J. M. Dent & Sons.
McCarthy, P. (1972). Starlight: the man and the myth. Melbourne: Hawthorne Press. Back to top
Newspapers
A sensational story: Starlight the bushranger a civil servant. (1900, Nov 27), Kalgoorlie Western Argus, pp.38,39
Major Pelly: awfully sudden death. (1899, Dec 23). The Daily News, p. 4.
"Major" Pelly's will. (1901, March 19). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p. 9
More about ‘Starlight’. (1900, Dec 4). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p. 39
Probates and administrations. (1901, March 23). Western Mail, p. 61
Public service appointments. (1896, June 11). The West Australian, p.2
Starlight's will. (1901, March 16). The Advertiser, p. 7.
Supposed death by poison. (1899, Dec25). West Australian, pp. 4,5.
The Death of Major Pelly. (1900, Jan 1). The West Australian, p. 3.
The “Starlight” story. (1900, Dec 4). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p.2
The Starlight story. (1900, Nov 27). Kalgoorlie Miner, p.7
State Records Office of WA
P F Pelly; employment, applying for, 1896/1528. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 527
Western Australia Police Service, Death of Major Pilley 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1900/1818. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684
Western Australia Police Service, History relating to the Australian bushranger `Starlight' 1 Jan 1900 - 31 Dec 1939, 1940/1693. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 684.
Supreme Court of Western Australia, Civil Court of Western Australia, Patrick Francis Marie Pelly 1 Jan 1832, 1901/035. State Records Office of Western Australia, Cons 3403
Books
Conigrave, C. P. (1938). Walkabout. London: J. M. Dent & Sons.
McCarthy, P. (1972). Starlight: the man and the myth. Melbourne: Hawthorne Press. Back to top
