Murder of Olive Duck explained

Olive Duck
Birth Date:27 March 1912
Birth Name:Olive Violet Ruby Duck
Birth Place:Australia
Death Place:Queensland, Australia
Death Cause:Ballistic trauma
Known For:Murder victim

Olive Violet Ruby Duck (also known as Olive Moores; 27 March 1912 – 19 May 1925) was a 13-year-old Australian girl who was murdered on 19 May 1925 by her father, Oliver Johnson Duck in a case of paternal filicide.[1] [2]

Johnson Duck shot and killed his daughter while they were travelling on horseback between Marmor and Calliope in Central Queensland after which he carried the body on horseback until he reached the Calliope River where he buried Olive's body on the riverbed, and hid the weapon.[3] [4]

Johnson Duck then surrendered himself to police at Calliope at approximately 10pm on 21 May 1925 where he confessed to his daughter's murder, prompting police to retrieve Olive's body from the Calliope River and transport it to Gladstone for a post-mortem examination.[5] [6]

Olive's body was then transported to Rockhampton, where she had lived with her maternal grandmother Margaret Moores since her mother relocated to New South Wales when she was an infant. Duck's body was buried in the South Rockhampton Cemetery on 22 May 1925.[7]

Johnson Duck was charged with wilful murder and appeared in the Rockhampton Police Court several times between 23 May 1925 and 10 June 1925, when he was committed to stand trial.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] Johnson Duck's trial commenced at the Rockhampton Supreme Court on 7 July 1925, and was held over two days.[14] [15] The case concluded on 8 July 1925 when a jury returned a verdict of wilful murder.[16] [17]

Judge Frank Brennan sentenced Johnson Duck to life imprisonment with hard labour.[16] [17] [18] Johnson Duck applied for leave to appeal, but his application was rejected.[19] [20]

Johnson Duck died in Brisbane on 30 July 1972.[21]

Like other murders to take place in Central Queensland during the early 20th century, such as the murder of Fanny Hardwick and the murder of Emily Salsbury, the murder of Olive Duck generated interest from the national press.[22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

Notes and References

  1. (21 May 1925) A Grim Tragedy, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  2. (9 July 1925) Father murders daughter - imprisonment for life, The Argus. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  3. (21 May 1925) A Calliope Tragedy: Thirteen-year-old shot by father, all night ride with dead body, The Evening News, Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  4. (21 May 1925) A Grim Tragedy - father shoots daughter, carries victim all night, buries body in sand, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  5. (27 May 1925) Father's alleged confession, The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  6. (2 June 1925) Marmor murder case, The Evening News. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  7. (January 2018) Surname: Duck, Given Names: Olive Violet Ruby; Age: 13; Sex: F; Burial Date: Friday, 22 May 1925; Compartment: CE; Section: 31X; Burial Number: 6197, South Rockhampton Cemetery Burial Index, Rockhampton Regional Council. Accessed 9 August 2019.
  8. (25 May 1925) The Calliope Tragedy, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  9. (27 May 1925) Accused before court, sensational evidence, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  10. (3 June 1925) Marmor Tragedy, Duck before court, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  11. (10 June 1925) Marmor Tragedy, Accused's mental condition, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  12. (11 June 1925) Marmor Tragedy: Accused committed, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  13. (11 June 1925) O. J. Duck to stand trial, The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  14. (8 July 1925) Marmor shooting: child's father on trial, The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  15. (8 July 1925) The Marmor Murder: Victim's grandmother swoons in court, an adjournment necessary, The Evening News. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  16. (9 July 1925) Marmor Tragedy: Duck found guilty, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  17. (9 July 1925) "Wilful Murder", Duck found guilty - life imprisonment imposed, The Evening News. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  18. (9 July 1925) "Wilful murder", imprisonment for life, The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  19. (26 August 1925) The Marmor Murder: Appeal refused, The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  20. (26 August 1925) Leave refused, The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/5587730f3f855eda505fefada48b2d81a42dec35a76611a764533dc8e0ebf983 Event type: Death registration; Death date: 30/07/1972; Registration details: 1972/B/34530
  22. (21 May 1925) Father's crime: shoots his daughter, surrenders to police, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  23. (11 June 1925) Girl killed by father, The Age. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  24. (4 June 1925) Murder of a girl, her father accused, The Advertiser. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  25. (9 July 1925) Death of Olive Duck, father found guilty, The West Australian. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  26. (31 May 1925) Father pursues daughter with loaded revolver, Olive Duck's vain race for life, Truth. Retrieved 9 August 2019.

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