Contact

Home

Launceston Examiner (Tas.)
Date: August 9, 1889
Page Number: 3

The marble man, now on exhibition in Burke-street, is the subject of an interpleader issue at the Supreme Court. An execution was last week issued against the marble man on account of a debt of £347 owing by H. Stockdale to Mathey, Nathan, and Co., of Sydney. Stockldale swears he is only the custodian of the man. W. F. Buchanan and C. Purnell, of Sydney, claimed to be the actual owners. The former, a New South Wales squatter, stated he instructed Stockdale to purchase the marble man on his behalf from the discoverer, Mr. Sala, of Cowflat, New South Wales, for £500. Subsequently Purnell took a third interest. The case was adjourned to allow Buchanan to produce the receipt for his purchase.

Seeking information on:

Arnold Mathey
John Hyam Nathan
C. Purnell

________

William Frederick Buchanan
(1824-1911)

Cultural Heritage: Irish
Religious Influence: Anglican

Gold miner, grazier (cattle & sheep)

Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin, NT)
Date: August 10, 1889
Page Number: 3

OUR ABORIGINES.--The five natives who were taken to Sydney by Mr. Stockdale, and exhibited at the Coogee Aquarium, returned to the Territory by the s.s. "Ellora," and are apparently none the worse for their trip. They seem to have been immensely impressed with Sydney, and feel it difficult to find language in which to express their opinions of the "Beautiful Harbour," and the enormous city, teeming with a white-skinned population. One point upon which our native globe-trotters are very emphatic is, that Sydney is too-cold, and that they are pleased to get back to the genial warmth of their native land. One of the natives informs us that Mr. Stockdale is now in treaty for the purchase of the recently discovered marble man. It strikes us that, with this curiosity, and Jo-Jo, the dog-faced boy, and a "wooden-headed Territory official," to be procured easily at less than cost price on application to Mr. Todd, C.M.G., Mr. Stockdale might make a fortune which would eclipse the celebrated
Barnum's.

Sir Charles Todd
(1826-1910)

Cultural Heritage: English
Religious Influence: Congregational

Astronomer, electrical engineer, meteorologist, public service head.

Fedor Jeftichew
"Jo Jo the Dog-Faced Boy"

Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW)
Date: August 10, 1889
Page Number: 2

THE MARBLE MAN. — Yesterday was the date fixed by the Official Assignee for the enquiry respecting the bankruptcy of Mr. Sala, formerly owner of the "Marble Man." The bankrupt was called but did not answer, and the hearing was therefore postponed sine die. Mr. MacIntosh had been authorised to examine bankrupt on behalf of the Official Assignee, and Mr. Webb on behalf of creditors.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.)
Date: August 13, 1889
Page Number: 5

The dispute as to the ownership of the " petrified man" was again brought before Mr. Justice Kerferd in the Supreme Court yesterday. The "petrified man" is now being exhibited in Melbourne by one Harry Stockdale. An execution has been issued against Mr. Stockdale at the instance of Messrs. Arnold Mattey and John Hyam Nathan, who had recovered judgment in Sydney about four years ago against Stockdale. Execution on the judgment was recently issued from the Supreme Court of Victoria, and under the execution the sheriff of the Central Bailiwick seized the "petrified man" in Melbourne. A claim to the property was, however, made by Mr W. F. Buchanan and Mr. Charles Parnell, both of Sydney, New South Wales, asserting that they were the owners of the property. It was alleged that they had paid £500 for it. The case was partly heard on Thursday last, and was adjourned till yesterday to enable Mr. Buchanan to produce the receipt which he said he had received for the money he paid. He stated yesterday that he could not find the receipt, but he had cheques for £250 and £83 6s. 8d. given by him, and Mr. Parnell had given a cheque for the balance. He said that he had bought the "petrified man" at the instigation of Mr. Stockdale, who was allowed to exhibit it, and who was to receive £3 3s. per week : the receipts of the show were to be paid to his (Mr. Buchanan's) account in trust; Stockdale was to have a third interest when he paid off a certain portion of the cost, He had allowed Stockdale to be held out as the owner, because he did not wish it to be known that either he or Parnell had any interest in the exhibition. Mr. Stockdale was also examined, and denied that he was owner of the "petrified man." He said that he would not pay the debt of the plaintiffs if he lived for 4,000 years, or if he was the richest man in Victoria, because he did not consider that he owed it. Mr. Justice Kerferd said that he was of opinion that Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Parnell had made out their claim to the property, and he would, therefore, make an order in their favour as to the right to the possession of it; but he reserved the question of costs. Mr. Duffy appeared for the plaintiffs, Mr. Coldham for Messrs. Buchanun and Parnell.

Coogee Acquarium

Gippsland Times (Vic.)
Date: August 19, 1889
Page Number: 4

"Atticus" in the Leader. It is no longer a "wild guilty phantasm" that man can hold property in man--at least when the property "sleeps in dull cold marble," where very frequent mention indeed shall be heard of him. I have a sort of haunting fear on me that all the recent legal proceedings about the marble man have been nothing more than ingeniously contrived advertisements in which Mr Justice Kerferd and a number of eminent legal gentlemen have been introduced for the sake of heightening the effect. But even at the risk of helping on a fraudful puff, I cannot forbear offering a few remarks on the resurrection of this very remarkable body. In the first place he goes to prove that the early inhabitants of Australia were white men, because, as is well known to the veriest tyro in geology, when blackfellows marble they invariably marble black. There is not a single case on record where a blackfellow has changed into white marble, so that the conviction is forced on one that the old original aborigines, were whiter than their successors of to-day. Another point made clear is that our predecessors knew no more of clothes thah the inhabitants of Eden. It is just as easy for linen, boots, or belltoppers to marble as flesh and blood, and the absence of anything on him showed that he habitually wore nothing. And to have established these two facts is a proof that this very "stiff un" did not live in vain. As Judge Keferd has finished advertising the marble man; Dr. Youl should lend a helping hand. It would be of immense assistance to the future proprietors of the deceased attraction if the popular coroner and 12 men on their oaths could be induced to sit upon him and inquire into the cause of his marbling. This would establish the original humanity of the mass in so unmistakeable a manner that it would be worth the while of the owners to run the risk of having him buried for the sake of the advertisement. But if the worthy doctor ordered his interment who would be the lucky priest who would be given the task of reading his funeral service. That point could be settled when all the clergy in the colony agree to the kind of religious instruction that is to be given in State schools. And, fortunately, the body would keep till the agreement was arrived at!

Richard Youl
(1821-1897)

Cultural Heritage: English
Religious Influence: Anglican

Coroner, public servant, surgeon

George Briscoe Kerferd
(1831-1889)

Cultural Heritage: English
Religious Influence: Anglican

Barrister, boilermaker, brewer, federationist, free trade politician, general merchant, goldminer, judge, local government councillor, local government head, Member of Lower House, premier, wine and spirits merchant.

Gippsland Times (Vic.)
Date: August 23, 1889
Page Number: 3

More petrifactions from New South Wales. It was a man last time, and now the gentler sex is represented. A telegram dated Friday says:-An alleged petrified woman was brought to Sydney yesterday from Orange, by the same parties who found the marble man. They say they found the female at the same time, but kept the matter quiet until they had disposed of the man. The body is apparently that of a young woman of spare build, 5ft. high, with the facial features flattened. The body appears to be solid marble. The legs are raised at the knees; the arms, hands, nails, and fingers appear very natural. The head and an arm have been broken and re-joined roughly with plaster.

THE "PETRIFIED MAN'S" PARTNER.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA)
Date: August 24, 1889
Page Number: 5

The object which is claimed to be a second petrified figure is now on view in Sydney. It is said to be that of a woman, and is also stated to have been found within 10 feet of where the "petrified man" was discovered near Orange. Mr. Edward Sala, a son of Mr. G. H. Sala (the proprietor of the first figure), is part owner of the one now on view.

Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW)
Date: August 27, 1899
Page Number: 2

AN alleged petrified marble woman has been brought to Sydney for exhibition. It was found, so the owners allege, in the place where the marble man was said to have been discovered. In some respects it is as remarkable as its mate. Regarded as a sculpture, it is a wonderful piece of work. Probably there will be a newspaper controversy on the subject, and Dr. M'CARTHY, it may be expected, will declare it to be a genuine petrifaction. But I doubt if a large proportion of the citizens will agree with him. The owners say that they found the petrified remains of a child in the quarry whence the male and female adults were taken, but it was so much damaged that they deemed it useless to bring it away. If, however, the cause of science should require them to do so, no doubt they will respond to the pressure, and bring the fragments to the city and show them on the usual terms.

The Petrified Woman.
Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW)
Date: August 29, 1889
Page Number: 2

The curiosity said to be the petrified figure of a fully-developed woman, found within two feet of the place where the celebrated marble man was found, in the Caleula quarry, near Orange, has been taken to Sydney, and is now on view there. It is said to be 5ft 10in. in height, and with the exception of the features of the face, the form is perfect. Several medical gentlemen have been to see the wonder, and opinion is divided as to whether it is a piece of ancient sculpture or a petrified human form. The 'prospectors' who have an interest in the concern should make further search, and the whole of the members of an interesting family may be discovered — seven children, a cat, a dog, a frying-pan, and a broom handle — all petrified or all marble. In our opinion there is too much of the 'chisel' about these things for them to be pure petrifications. But, as Barnum used to say, 'the public like to be gulled.'

c. 1911

Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW)
Date: August 15, 1889
Page Number: 2

Harry Stockdale passed through Albury on Sunday en route for Sydney. He asserts that those who served the writ on him in reference to the "marble man" have no claim, as the account has since been settled. He avers that the leading geologists are positive that the "marble man" is a genuine human fossil. A hole has been drilled though the leg from the sole of the foot for some distance, and an analysis of the substanct discloses 50 per cent of bone.

"Leading geologists" or eccentric surgeons? This claim sounds like pure fiction designed to prolong the controversy and continue filling Stockdales' exhibition coffers.

The Marble Man part 10