Pictorial Week, Part 3: - City of Shadows: Cars, Crime Scenes and Corpses

Caution: The following photographs include images of dead bodies.

The final instalment of photographs from City of Shadows,an exhibition currently showing at the Justice and Police Museum in Sydney. 

Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, near the corner of Riley Street, looking east, circa 1930. Photos believed to be of a murder scene.

Same intersection, 2010

It was noted by peter Doyle, curator , author and organiser of the City of Shadows exhibition, that whereas all murder scene and crime scene photos were bereft of bystanders or onlookers, motor vehicle accident scenes were heavily attended by such persons.

Accident involving two trucks, corner Balfour and Meagher Streets, Chippendale, early 1940s.

Corner Harmer and Palmer Streets, Woolloomooloo, c1935.  The men shown are almost certainly detectives.

Bedroom with female murder victim on bed. Location and details unknown; presumably Sydney, ca 1942. Note the American flag on the wall above the mantelpiece and the magazine on the chair. The words at the bottom of the magazine cover read “I was the town’s bad girl”.

Commercial interior showing damaged safes. Details unknown, late 1930s.

Domestic interior, showing kitchen stove, kitchen shelves and canisters. Details unknown. Late1930s. Note picture of Jesus above mantlepiece

Domestic interior, showing kitchen, sink, mugs and utensils, inscribed "Hurlstone Park Murder 1074".

Street scene, Mount Street, Pyrmont, at the corner of Miller St. Details unknown, but a companion photograph to this is inscribed "indecent assault on girl 11 10/12 years, 14.11.23".

Streetscape, Goold Street, Chippendale, looking east to the Flower Manufacturing Company in Regent Street. Early 1930s, details unknown.

Scene of the shooting murder of Dr Claude Tozer, at the home of Dorothy Mort, Lindfield, NSW, 21 December 1920. Tozer (1890 – 1920) was an Australian medical doctor and first-class cricketer who played for New South Wales. Following active service in World War 1 he commenced general practice, played for Australia against the touring MCC and was appointed captain of the NSW team to play against Qld. On 21 December he was shot three times and killed by a depressed female patient, Dorothy Mort (pictured below), with whom he was having an affair and who had developed a fixation on him. Tozer was a engaged, Mort was married with children. Tozer had visited her home to call off the relationship and was murdered at that location. Mort sought to commit suicide but was unsuccessful. At her trial she was found not guilty on the ground of insanity and was imprisoned in Long Bay Gaol at the Governor's pleasure. She was released nine years later.

Mort’s husband, Harold, stood by her throughout the trial and throughout her detention. He was waiting for her when she was released (photograph above taken on release) and they remained living together in the same house, “Inglebrae”, where she had murdered Dr Tozer. Harold died in 1950, Dorothy survived him by 16 years, dying in 1966 at Inglebrae aged 81.

Dorothy Mort on release.