Inquest into the deaths of Robert Jackson Craig & William Smith

17 pages of blue foolscap paper, containing a transcript of the Inquest into the death of: Robert Jackson Craig & William Smith which was held on 27 December 1877 at Smithfield Police station.

Police Magistrate William Matthew Mowbray, Smithfield Police Station, December 1877.
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On Boxing Day 1877 there was a murder-suicide at Smithfield involving publican Old Bill Smith (after whom the township was named), and merchant Robert Jackson Craig. Smith was accused of fatally shooting Craig with two shots from his revolver, before turning the firearm on himself and committing suicide.

The following day at Smithfield police station, Cairns District Police Magistrate William Matthew Mowbray held an inquiry into Craig’s death. Evidence was taken from Craig's brother-in-law William Cochrane, Smithfield police constable James H. Norris, the officer in charge of the Smithfield police station, constable Michael McCormack, and packer James Ferrier.

At the conclusion of the Inquest, Mowbray found that Smith murdered Craig, but Mowbray was unable to establish a motive for the murder-suicide, as “Craig and Smith always appeared to be very good friends” and no one knew of any disagreement between them.

The newspapers reported on "The Smithfield Tragedy", noting that "Cairns and Smithfield have both been thrown, into the wildest excitement and horror by the perpetration at the latter place of a murder and suicide, perhaps the most extraordinary and terrible in the annals of Australian crime".

Smith was buried near Smithfield in an unmarked grave on the day of the Inquest. Craig's body was taken into Cairns and a large, well-attended funeral was held the next day.

Smith left behind a young widow, Mary, who remarried but then committed suicide shortly afterwards. Craig left a pregnant wife and three children.

⇒ Read more details of the Smithfield Boxing Day murder-suicide tragedy

⇒ Read a transcript of the Coroner's Report

The Smithfield Tragedy.
The Telegraph (Brisbane), 29 December 1877: 2.