Inquiry Into Death of Fredrick Fuller - Bullock Driver

Magistrate to Investigate

The Coronial Inquiry into the death of Frederick Fuller, bullock driver, late of Didcot near Gayndah was convened at the Maryborough Courthouse, on the afternoon of Thursday, 3 June 1886 only hours after his death.

Henry Reginald Buttanshaw Police Magistrate, a former army Lieutenant in the East India Company presided over the inquiry.

Fuller had died about 7 o'clock that morning at the Australian Hotel. The elderly victim was taken there to recover after falling from a wagon in Adelaide Street about 5 o'clock the previous afternoon.

The accident occurred as Fuller senior, his son William and Richard Bowe a store clerk were loading a large consignment of potatoes outside Jonathan Murray's Tea and Coffee warehouse.

Left To Recover

The sixty six year old Fuller, although suffering concussion, was thought to have taken no real harm from the fall and was left to recover with Publican Carl Jocumsen.

As darkness fell William Fuller took the heavily loaded wagon to the Carriers Arms in Alice Street to water and rest the team of bullocks. He returned to the hotel three hours later to check the condition of his father but had to return quickly to the campsite to prevent freight being stolen from the unguarded wagon.

Shortly after 7 o'clock the next morning Carl Jocumsen sent a message to the carriers camp informing William Fuller that his father had died, the Police had been informed and that he should come immediately to the hotel.

Witnesses Give Evidence

A shocked Fuller arrived at the Australian Hotel to learn that his father's body had been hastily removed from the premises to a small shed in the hotel's backyard. At midday, five hours after Fuller's death Medical Officer Dr. David Watkins pronounced life extinct.

Watkins was of the opinion that Fuller had died from a brain hemorrhage caused by the fall. Failure to seek medical assistance for the old man had ultimately contributed to his death.

Five witnesses were called before Magistrate Buttanshaw. Giving evidence were William Fuller son of the deceased, Joseph Summerbell a seaman and lodger at the Australian Hotel, Carl Jocumsen licensee of that hotel, Richard Bowe a storeman employed at Jonathan Murray's and Government Medical Officer Dr. Watkins.

Inhuman Behaviour

Magistrate Buttanshaw severely reprimanded both William Fuller and Carl Jocumsen for what he described as "inhuman behavior"' for failing to exercise a duty of care that contributed to the death of Frederick Fuller.

The inquiry closed with no further action taken against either William Fuller or Jocumsen. Later that evening Fred Fuller's body was moved from the shed to the nearby undertakers Kirk and Winston to be prepared for burial.

Fred Fuller was buried in the Maryborough Cemetery the next day, 4 June 1886. His grave remains unmarked today - a stark contrast to other family members.

William Fuller accepted full responsibility for the death of his father exonerating Publican Jocumsen from any balme. The Australian Hotel burned down exactly six years after Fred Fuller's death.