Julian James McEvoy

• Birth Notes

  
  His father's name was recorded as George McEVOY while his mother's name was recorded as Julia McEVOY (nee Martin).
  
  Birth registration: Julian James McEvoy
  Birth date: 08/09/1917
  Mother's name: Julia Martin
  Father/parent's name: George McEvoy
  Registration details: 1917/C/14781
  
  

• Death Notes

  Qld Death Cert No. 1946 / C5457 states that the death of Julian James McEVOY was registered in country Queenaland. His father's name was recorded as George McEVOY while his mother's name was recorded as Julia McEVOY (nee Martin).
  
  Death registration: Julian James McEvoy
  Death date: 11/10/1946
  Mother's name: Julia Martin
  Father/parent's name: George
  Registration details: 1946/C/5457
  
  Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) - Saturday 12 October 1946 - Funeral Notice
  "THE Relatives and Friends of Mrs J. J. McEvoy (Wife), Mr and Mrs George A. McEvoy and family. Mr and Mrs Justin McEvoy and family, Brisbane, Mr Joseph John McEvoy (Brothers and Sisters-in-law), Mr and Mrs Francis Patrick McInally and family (Brother-in-law and Sister), are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of their deceased beloved Husband, Brother. Brother-in-law and Relative, the late MR JULIAN JAMES McEVOY, of "Malachy Park," Nine Mile, to move from St Vincent's Catholic Church, Wandal. THIS (Saturday) FORENOON, at 10 o'clock, for the Rockhampton Cemetery.
  TUCKER & NANKIVELL. Undertakers. Telephone Nos 2616 and 2478.
  
  Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) - Saturday 23 November 1946
  "INQUEST INTO DEATH OF GRAZIER 
  Before the Coroner, Mr B. Power, BM., in the Coroner's Court yesterday, an inquest was held into the manner and cause of the death of Julian James McEvoy, which occurred on October 11 last.
  Senior-Sergeant J. L. Greenwood appeared on behalf of the Police Department, and Mr C. C. Boland (Messrs Rees R. and Sydney Jones) tor the next of kin of the deceased.
  Joseph John McEvoy, 36, single, of Malachy Park, about nine miles from Rockhampton, brother of the deceased, stated that the deceased and Mrs McInally were the owners of the property at Malachy Park. Since April 9 last witness had resided on the property and assisted his brother in working the farm.
  About eight or 10 weeks ago deceased told witness that he had some financial worries and that if it rained he would be in a better financial position and would be able to meet his financial commitments. He stated that he proposed to dispose of the farm.
  The drought caused his late brother a good deal of worry as the wells were giving out and a certain loss ef stock was occurring.
  On September 28 the deceased's wife went to hospital in Rockhampton and while she was away it was the deceased's custom to prepare the breakfast.
  On October 11 witness and an employee named Smith rose about 5.30 a.m. and went to the cowyard to milk. The deceased later brought a cup of tea to the yard and then helped with the milking and feeding the cows. About 7.45 a.m. he went to the house to prepare the breakfast.
  BREAKFAST NOT PREPARED
  About 8.15 a.m., witness and Smith went to the house and found that the breakfast had not been prepared. Witness catted to the deceased, but received no reply. He searched the house and the lavatory, but could not find his brother.
  Smith and witness then searched the yard, which is fenced with wire netting and if about half an acre in area. They found the body of the deceased lying in the south-eastern comer of the yard.
  On close examination witness saw blood on the deceased's face and a bullet wound in his forehead. A .32 single shot rifle was nearby. Its butt was in the netting fence and the barrel was across his legs.
  Apart from covering the body with a tent fly they did not touch it. They went to Rockhampton and reported the matter to the police.
  On October 11 the deceased appeared to be in his usual state of health. The deceased appeared to be despondent over financial worries, the prevailing drought conditions, the fact that water was becoming scarce and that the cattle were in very poor condition.
  The deceased made no mention to witness at any time that he intended to take his own life and as a result witness was unable to say whether he committed suicide or whether the death was due to an accident. Witness was satisfied that no other person was respon sile for his brother's death.
  The rifle was generally kept in the pantry of the house and was intened to kill beef.
  EMPLOYEE'S EVIDENCE
  Valentine Joseph Smith, 19, farmhand employed by McEvoy and Company, stated that about two weeks prior to the deceased's death they were working together fixing an irrigation plant when the deceased said that things did uot seem to go weil with him. The deceased appeared to be consider- ably worried about supplies of water and the fact that the stock were becoming low in condition.
  On the morning of October 11 the deceased returned to the house from the çowyard to prepare the breakfast at about 7.46 a.m. Some time after witness heard a report like that of a gun being discharged. He did not take any notice of the direction from whence it came as it was not uncommon to hear fire- arms discharged in the locality. He did not mention it to Joseph John McEvoy, the deceased's brother, who was working with him .
  Witness then gave evidence similar to that already given.
  Constable Harold Henry Wyatt, of Rockhampton, stated that he received certain instructions about 9 a.m. on October ll. Accompanied by Plainclothes Constable Benjamin he went to Malachy Park, where Joseph John McEvoy pointed out to him the body of Julian James McEvoy.
  The body was lying on its back in the south-eastern corner of the house yard. He saw a rifle, the butt of which was supported in the mesh of a wire netting fence, about eight inches from the ground. The barrel of the rifle was lying over the deceased's left shin and under the right leg. The muzzle was pointing out below the left knee joint.
  The deceased's hands were across his chest. There was blood about the deceased's face and head. Witness saw a wound about 3.8 inch in diameter on the deceased's forehead above the left eye. There was extensive burning around the wound. Further round the wound there was a powder mark about 1 1/4 in. in diameter.
  On examination witness found that the rifle was a .32 single shot Winchester. There was an empty shell in the breech. The bore ot the rifle showed signs that the piece had been recently discharged.
  Inquiries revealed that the deceased and his wife took up residence at Malachy Park in July, 1943. The deceased carried on business as a grazier and dairyman.
  FINANCIAL WORRIES
  Witness interviewed Evelyn Mary McEvoy, wife of the deceased, who stated that the deceased was worried about financial matters, about the dry weather conditions prevailing at the time, about the scarcity of water and the fact that his cattle were becoming very poor. The drought, in particular, caused the deceased a considerable amount of worry and extra work.  
  While Evelyn Mary McEvoy was in hospital the deceased visited her at night. She last saw him alive on the night of October 9.
  When questioned the employee, Smith, said that he had seen the deceased use the rifle to destroy crows around the house, but had not seen him use the weapon for some considerable time. Witness had been able to obtain no evidence to show that the deceased had attempted to destroy pests on October 11.
  The cowyard was approximately 150 yards from where the body was discovered. Ike locality was covered with trees and shrubs and it would have been impossible to see the deceased from the cowyard. The fact that Joseph John McEvoy was feeding the cattle would probably account for the fact that he did not hear the shot.
  From the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased, witness was satisfied that the deceased had taken his own life. Witness was of the opinion that this was caused by financial worry and the existing drought conditions, which caused the cattle to become poor and water scarce.
  At 1.50 p.m. on October 11 witness was in attendance at the Rockhampton City Morgue when Dr N. C. Talbot, the Government medical officer, performed a post mortem examination on the body of the deceased.
  The doctor handed witness a post mortem certificate, which showed the cause of death to be due to a compound comminuted fracture of the skull with laceration of the brain, due to a rifle bullet, the point of entry of which was over the right frontal bone and the point of exit through the left temporal bone.
  The Coroner declared the inquest closed and stated that the exhibits would be forwarded to the Under-Secretary of the Department of Justice."
  
  According to the South Rockhampton Cemetery Records...
  Julian M McEVOY, aged about 29, was buried in the South Rockhampton Cemetery on Saturday, 12 October 1946.