Colin Campbell Ross
The Gun Alley Murder took place in 1921 in Melbourne, Australia. 12-year-old Alma Tirtschke was sent on an errand for her aunt and never returned. She was eventually found raped and strangled in the Gun Alley. Headlines reported the gruesome crime and claimed that there was a maniac on the loose that was likely to strike again. With the newspapers causing panic, the police were desperate to quickly find the killer. Ross reported to police that he had seen the girl walk by his saloon and other witness stated they had seen the girl look worried as a man (who they identified as someone other than Colin Campbell Ross) was following her. The police focused their attention on Ross because of his prior police record (he was acquitted of shooting and robbing one of his customers).
As the interviews with the police continued, Ross told them of a number of witnesses who were at his saloon and could testify that he had never left the bar. These witnesses were never questioned. On January 12, 1921, Ross was arrested and charged with murder. At the trial, a jailhouse witness who had a history of committing perjury told the jury that Ross had confessed to him.
Two other witnesses, a prostitute and a fortune-teller, split part of the reward money when they testified that Ross confessed to them. Hairs from Alma Tirtschke were compared with hairs found at Ross’ home, one blonde and one red, but an examiner still testified they came from the same person.
Ross was found guilty and sentenced to death. His hanging used a new type of rope that did not break his neck, only fractured it. For several minutes, he struggled against the rope as he slowly strangled to death. For decades, numerous people sought to clear Ross’ name, and on May 8, 2008, he became the only judicially executed person to be pardoned in Australian history.
