Author(s): Louise Steding

Australiana

At a time of desperate brutality, when law and order were tainted by the convict stain, its enforcement took many tragic turns. In the case of Joseph Looker, involving theft, murder, trials and execution, did the court serve justice or merely presented as such. This book follows the evidence seeking clarity on a case that has remained unsolved for 213 years -- the murder of Constable Joseph Looker. They were the Constables of the young Colony of New South Wales. Joseph Looker, Isaac Simmons, William Bladders and John Russell were among the more trusted of convict transportees. Tragically the murder of Constable Looker marked the first death of a police officer on duty. Could it also have been one of the first cases of organised crime and corruption? Indeed, the circumstances of Looker's death led to the hanging of a thief -- no less than three times. Was his survival a miracle, divine intervention, coincidence, or luck? Perhaps this was one of the most daring and risky escapes in Australian history.