Event:-  Complaint of Shooting at the Qld. Railway Quarters on North side of the old  Cloncurry Railway Station.  Saturday night about  9.45 P.M.  May/June, 1966.

Police attend to Investigate :- Two Uniformed Police Officers  attended, on arrival at the Railway Quarters found the body of a deceased Male person against the doorway after having been shot (5) times with a high powered Rifle.

Victim of the Shooting :- Edward William WANSTALL,  A.K.A. Eddie WILSON, a Fettler employed by  Qld. Rail, and resided at the Railway Quarters.

Witness to Shooting :-  A Male person named  Lee BOWERS, also a Fettler with Qld. Rail. 

Details of  Offender :-  A Polish Migrant Stanislaw SASSIN or similar Surname. This person also worked for Qld. Rail at Cloncurry, and had been employed with Q.R. for some period of time, and was well known to others in the town.

Circumstances leading up to the of Shooting :-  On the Friday night prior to the  Shooting occurring,  a card game had taken place at  the Railway Quarters  where at least 3 or 4 men were playing Poker.  Either prior to or during the course of the card games some alcohol had been consumed by all in attendance.   At some stage the Offender had a verbal altercation with the Victim over money in connection with the  game that was being played.  The Offender apparently got up from the game, issued some sort of verbal threat towards the Victim and left the Railway Quarters and did not return that night.  The game progressed further without  incident.

Further Investigations  Continued :-  As a result of local inquiries made in and around Cloncurry, it was established that  the Offender attended Ernie LEMON’s  Sporting Good Store on the Saturday morning  and purchased a SLAZANGER Brand SportCo Rifle and a quantity of Ammunition for that particular Rifle.  This Rifle was packed in a manufacturers cardboard box.   It was further established that the Offender later went to a Railway Trolley shed near the Railway Traffic Crossing  on what is locally known as Hospital Road and secreted both items under the Trolley Shed until later that day.   Under the cover of evening darkness he returned, assembled the Rifle, loaded it with rounds of ammunition, and then walked North along the Railway Tracks towards the Railway Quarters.  

Later on the Saturday night, he entered the Railway Quarters where several men were playing cards, as had been the case the previous night.  The Offender threatened the men, in particular the Victim with the loaded Rifle.  The Firearm was discharged a number of times, the fatal shots hitting the Victim at several spots over the body, resulting in his death.

The Witness, bravely challenged the Offender and was able to disarm him in an intense  struggle which took place. The Offender attempted to run from the scene, however the Witness having been a trained Second War Commando, fired the Rifle wounding the Offender in the buttock area preventing him from absconding.  The Offender was thereafter conveyed to the Cloncurry Hospital for a gunshot wound.   He was held under Police Guard for several days, but made no admissions  as to the shooting of the Victim.

The Ambulance Bearer  at that time was  a man known as Noel PEGG.

The  Government Undertaker at Cloncurry at that time was Colin DAWES.

The Coroner at Cloncurry at that time was I believe, Mr. William FAIRWEATHER who was also Clerk of the Court.

The Principal Police Investigator was Detective  Senior Constable  Desmond Leslie FRENCH, attached to the C.I.Branch, Cloncurry.   (Since passed away)

The Uniform Officers that attended the initial Shooting were Constable W.R.VEIVERS and Constable C.D.B. DUNCAN.   At that time both these Officers were in their first year of Police Service.

This Information has been provided by Col Duncan a former Uniform Police Officer Stationed at Cloncurry Police Station, and who attended the original Crime Scene.

N.B.   All details provided have been done from complete memory, having witnessed a very ugly Crime Scene.  The Offender was originally charged with the Murder of Edward William WANSTALL.

C.D.B. DUNCAN.

Retired Sergeant First Class

Member of Q.R.P.A.  Mackay/Whitsunday Branch