Rhody

DETAILS OF DEATH

On Sunday 5 June 1842 Constable Monaghan (238) was performing night shift at the Punt connecting Melbourne with the South bank of the Yarra River. He was last seen about 4.40am when checked by District Constable John Guest. At 7.30am on Sunday morning Constable Nathan Rogers went to take over from Monaghan but couldn’t find him. Constable Rogers had reported that a number of drunken and quarrelsome groups of men had used the punt the previous evening and one man had threatened to throw him into the river. Constable Monaghan’s body was discovered on the morning of 23 June when Constable William Blair saw a body rise to the surface of the river near the Punt. The remains were Constable Monaghan’s. Constable Monaghan’s body was found to have bruising to the chest and temple consistent with violence inflicted prior to death. As far as is known no person was ever charged with the offence.