Murders of Pitman and Walsh

This Smith and Wesson revolver belonged to Inspector John Joseph Walsh of the Gold Stealing Detection Branch. In late April 1926 he and Sergeant Alexander Pitman left Kalgoorlie in the early morning hours to track down the bush camp of suspected gold thieves. Some hours later they found the camp. and rushed the two thieves, Treffene and Coulter. Tragically, Walsh had left his revolver behind and while rushing the thieves they were overwhelmed and he and Pitman were shot dead.

Their absence caused a large manhunt in the district. Some weeks after their disappearance travellers noticed a strong smell and flies coming from an old mine shaft. The remains of the two detectives were found down the mine; their bodies had been heinously treated, having been cut up, and partially burnt.

The key piece of evidence in tracking down the murderers was tyre tracks at the murder site. There were few cars on the Goldfields at this time, and the marks were tracked to an accomplice, Evan Clarke, who owned the Cornwall Hotel.

All three were found guilty of murder. Clarke turned King's Evidence and Treffene and Coulter were hanged.