Frederick Henry Thompson

Case overview

Frederick Henry Thompson was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Evelyn Maughan, a child of seven who had disappeared after attending Sunday mass. Her body was later discovered by a visitor from Sydney who was looking for his father’s grave in the disused Queenborough Cemetery. Two women gave statements saying they had seen a man pushing an old pram towards the cemetery. Enquiries led to Thompson.

Thompson was a married man of 32. He was brought to trial before Mr. Justice Clark, convicted, and sentenced to death.

It was later revealed that Thompson had two previous convictions for indecent exposure and had also been an inmate at the Lachlan Park mental hospital.

The offence

Evelyn Maughan, aged seven, had disappeared after attending Sunday mass. She was murdered.

Thompson was convicted of murdering Evelyn Mary Maughan. The case materials also state the date “Dec. 17 last” in relation to when Thompson was found guilty.

Trial

Thompson was convicted and sentenced to death after being brought to trial before Mr. Justice Clark.

The materials include an account of an attempted appeal: “An appeal against the conviction on the grounds that his previous criminal record was wrongfully admitted failed.”

The materials also state that “The question of Thompson’s mentality was not raised by the defence.”

Sentencing

Thompson was sentenced to death.

The Executive Council considered the case. All Cabinet members were present at the meeting of the Executive Council.

“The Council did not see fit to recommend to His Excellency the Governor to exercise the Royal Prerogative of mercy. The sentence of death will, therefore, be carried out, in accordance with the requirements of the Criminal Code. No official statement on the time of the execution was made, but it is believed the hanging will be carried out at 6.30 a.m.”

After the Executive Council’s decision, the materials state that Thompson was carried out in accordance with the Criminal Code.

The materials also state that Thompson had been in the condemned cell under close guard since his conviction, and that he had “shown no outward signs of strain before the Executive Council’s decision not to interfere with the court’s penalty.”

Execution and inquest

A newspaper report included the headline: “THOMPSON TO BE HANGED TODAY”.

The materials state:

“Frederick Henry Thompson (32) who on Dec. 17 last was found guilty of murdering Evelyn Mary Maughan (8) will be hanged at Hobart Gaol this morning”

The materials state that “Thompson has passed much of his time reading travel literature, particularly the ‘National Geographic’ magazine.”

The next day, it was reported that Thompson “had gone calmly to his death,” which was followed by an inquest held by the Coroner (Mr H.R Dobbie) at the Hobart Police Court. Det-Inspector Fleming appeared for the Police Department.

Dr. W.J Freeman, the medical officer to the gaol, examined Thompson’s body at 6.9 a.m. The materials state that:

• The cause of death was “dislocation of the cervical vertebrae inflicting fatal injuries on the spinal cord through the hanging.”
• Dr. W.J Freeman’s opinion was that “death was instantaneous.”
• The Coroner recorded a finding of death by hanging in accordance with the warrant of sentence of death.

Thompson was later buried at Cornelian Bay.

Other details

Thompson had two previous convictions for indecent exposure.

Thompson had also been an inmate at the Lachlan Park mental hospital.

The materials state that the Executive Council decision involved all Cabinet members being present.

The materials state that the disused Queenborough Cemetery was the place connected to the discovery of Evelyn Maughan’s body.

The materials include the burial place: Cornelian Bay.