In late 1919, police arrested Joseph Alfred Schmidt, aged 28. He was found in a well-hidden cave at Seaforth, near the Spit, so covered with vines and creepers that it was almost impossible to discern even when very close by. The cave had been fitted out as a dwelling, including a bed, and Schmidt’s wife was also found on the premises, disguised in man’s clothing. In the cave were found apparatus and chemicals used in photography, zinc plates and a number of negatives, one of which was of a £1 Commonwealth note. There was also printing ink in 3 colours, and 2000 pieces of linen paper cut to the size of a bank note. “It was concluded that the accused was engaged in counterfeiting”. Two Winchester rifles were also found. Schmidt, who also went by the name Fritz Yackles, pretended at his trial to have no English, but this was not believed.[1]
Schmidt hit the headlines again in 1921. Mr Brimbecomb, the owner of a well-known dairy at Balgowlah, woke to find a man standing over him, pressing a cloth to his face which smelt strongly of chloroform. Brimbecomb, dazed, fought off the intruder, who fled, leaving behind a knife and a pry bar. The safe in the bedroom, however, was undamaged. The assailant was discovered hiding in a cave in the vicinity, and was captured by the police, but managed to escape into the bush, and evaded re-capture for several weeks. Again, he seems to have been living in an elaborately fitted-out cave at North Harbour.[2] It was Schmidt, who was also wanted on charges of motor car theft, stealing and receiving. He was sentenced to hard labour at Bathurst jail.[3]
Schmidt’s wife Daisy sued for divorce, and obtained a decree nisi in 1925. The couple had originally married at Manly in 1919.[4]
While at Bathurst Schmidt attempted to escape, and on his release, he soon re-offended. This time, he was charged with breaking and entry, and receiving. He had committed multiple thefts in the Manly area. Judge Scholes on sentencing stated: “You are the renowned Smith, who had an apparatus at Manly for the purpose of printing Commonwealth notes and whom the police chased all over the country. You are a clever man but you are a confirmed criminal. You are sentenced to four years’ penal servitude and I declare you an habitual criminal.” Earlier offences for horse and cattle stealing at Newcastle and malicious damage at Goulburn were disclosed, as well as firearms offences.[5]
On 14 November 1930, Schmidt and another prisoner escaped from police custody by removing a plank from the floor of the police van in which they were being transported between Burwood Police Station and the Central Police Court, and dropping though onto the road. Passers-by on Parramatta Road watched them melt into the crowd.[6] He was recaptured on 1 December 1930.
On the outbreak of WWII, Schmidt was interned as an alien with a long police record. His internment records give his nationality as Dutch[?], born in 1895, arriving in Australia in 1911. On 10 February 1940, possibly with the help of confederates who had put the local sub-station out of action a month earlier, he escaped from Liverpool internment camp, by hiding under a sanitary wagon. The bloodhound “Disraeli” and two Alsatians brought in to track him were unable to find a scent! This was the first escape from any internment camp in Australia in WWII, and sparked Australia’s biggest man-hunt for many years.
He was recaptured at the Balmain lodgings of his second wife (one Marie Smith) and child, after a dramatic scuffle and another attempted escape across the rooftops. He was granted bail, despite a forged banknote being found in his possession, and he and his wife were later acquitted on a charge of having a forged banknote.[7]
Scmidt was returned to internment, and after two unsuccessful appearances before the Appeals Tribunal, he was released from internment on 11 September 1944.
What happened to him thereafter is unknown.
Schmidt hit the headlines again in 1921. Mr Brimbecomb, the owner of a well-known dairy at Balgowlah, woke to find a man standing over him, pressing a cloth to his face which smelt strongly of chloroform. Brimbecomb, dazed, fought off the intruder, who fled, leaving behind a knife and a pry bar. The safe in the bedroom, however, was undamaged. The assailant was discovered hiding in a cave in the vicinity, and was captured by the police, but managed to escape into the bush, and evaded re-capture for several weeks. Again, he seems to have been living in an elaborately fitted-out cave at North Harbour.[2] It was Schmidt, who was also wanted on charges of motor car theft, stealing and receiving. He was sentenced to hard labour at Bathurst jail.[3]
Schmidt’s wife Daisy sued for divorce, and obtained a decree nisi in 1925. The couple had originally married at Manly in 1919.[4]
While at Bathurst Schmidt attempted to escape, and on his release, he soon re-offended. This time, he was charged with breaking and entry, and receiving. He had committed multiple thefts in the Manly area. Judge Scholes on sentencing stated: “You are the renowned Smith, who had an apparatus at Manly for the purpose of printing Commonwealth notes and whom the police chased all over the country. You are a clever man but you are a confirmed criminal. You are sentenced to four years’ penal servitude and I declare you an habitual criminal.” Earlier offences for horse and cattle stealing at Newcastle and malicious damage at Goulburn were disclosed, as well as firearms offences.[5]
On 14 November 1930, Schmidt and another prisoner escaped from police custody by removing a plank from the floor of the police van in which they were being transported between Burwood Police Station and the Central Police Court, and dropping though onto the road. Passers-by on Parramatta Road watched them melt into the crowd.[6] He was recaptured on 1 December 1930.
On the outbreak of WWII, Schmidt was interned as an alien with a long police record. His internment records give his nationality as Dutch[?], born in 1895, arriving in Australia in 1911. On 10 February 1940, possibly with the help of confederates who had put the local sub-station out of action a month earlier, he escaped from Liverpool internment camp, by hiding under a sanitary wagon. The bloodhound “Disraeli” and two Alsatians brought in to track him were unable to find a scent! This was the first escape from any internment camp in Australia in WWII, and sparked Australia’s biggest man-hunt for many years.
He was recaptured at the Balmain lodgings of his second wife (one Marie Smith) and child, after a dramatic scuffle and another attempted escape across the rooftops. He was granted bail, despite a forged banknote being found in his possession, and he and his wife were later acquitted on a charge of having a forged banknote.[7]
Scmidt was returned to internment, and after two unsuccessful appearances before the Appeals Tribunal, he was released from internment on 11 September 1944.
What happened to him thereafter is unknown.
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