Michael Doyle

Michael Doyle was a policeman in Redan,.

History
Michael Doyle was born in Wexford, Ireland, c.1838, the son of Patrick Doyle and Elizabeth Brown. He arrived in Australia on 25 Aug 1857 on board the Talbot, and disembarked in Geelong.

Doyle was the Senior-constable in charge of the Redan Police Station. When it was reported that he was leaving in October 1881, this letter was written to the paper: "REMOVAL OF CONSTABLE DOYLE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, —I see by advertisement that it is the intention of the department to remove Constable Doyle from the Redan district. Now, Sir, in my opinion it is a grave mistake for the department, district, and the gentleman concerned. I have known the Redan district for more than a quarter of a century. During that time I have seen many changes, but a more painstaking or efficient officer cannot come to the district. He is honest, strict, and just. Yours, &c., THOS CARVOSOE. 98 Ripon street, Ballarat, 9th October."

On 27 August 1882, Doyle was one of the first people to arrive at the fire which destroyed the Atlantic Hotel in Skipton Street in the early hours of the morning.

Doyle shot himself at the Ballarat Police Station on 21 December 1882: "Suicide of a Constable - BALLARAT. Thursday Evening. What at present appears a case of most determined suicide occurred at about 1 o'clock this afternoon, at the city police station, Lydiard street, when Constable Michael Doyle deliberately shot himself twice through the heart, and once in the left thigh, causing instantaneous death. Deceased had been a member of the force for upwards of twenty years and was forty-one years of age. He lately resigned his position, in the force as Senior-Constable, in charge of the Redan Police-station, for the purpose, it was alleged, of entering another branch of the Civil Service, and was entitled to receive about £320 retiring allowance. From a statement made by Constable Corrigan, deceased was talking to him in front of the barracks, and suddenly left, and proceeded to the room of the barracks where the revolvers and accoutrements of the mounted police were placed. When inside he had evidently gone to the rack, and taken off a revolver belonging to Constable Beckman, then walked about 15ft. to the fireplace, and put the muzzle of the weapon close to his left breast, and pulled the trigger twice. Corrigan, on hearing the reports, at once rushed in, accompanied by Constable O'Keefe, and found Doyle lying at full length on his back, with the revolver grasped in his right hand. He was quite dead, and so close had he placed the weapon that his coat was on fire from the explosion of the powder. His features were perfectly calm, and he resembled more the appearance of a man quietly sleeping than a man who had 'lived and suffered death.' The only cause that can be assigned for the commission of the deed is that Doyle was in pecuniary difficulties. An inquest will be held to-morrow afternoon by Mr. Coroner Thomson, P.M.." SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A CONSTABLE. Constable Michael Doyle, who but lately resigned his charge of the Redan police station to enter the Lands Office as clerk, yesterday shot himself dead at the barracks in Lydiard street at about one o'clock. Shortly before that time he was conversing with Constable Corrigan upon his prospects in his new position, and when Corrigan sat down on the seat under the verandah of the barracks, Doyle went into the dormitory. He had hardly left the other four minutes when Constable Maguire, who was in the mess-room, heard a report of the discharge go of some firearm, but it was so faint that it seemed as if the storekeeper was cleaning a revolver with blank cartridge. Corrigan also heard the report, and came to a similar conclusion, but a second, and a third following in rapid succession, they, with Constable O'Keeffe, ran into the dormitory,where they found Doyle lying on the floor at his last gasp. They hastened to his side, and found a revolver belonging to Constable Beckman, of the mounted force, in his right hand, his thumb being forced into the trigger guard in such a manner that it was fastened there. They noticed two wounds in his left breast in the region of the heart, and one in the left groin. Doyle's coat was burning just where the two bullet holes were visible. They put out the fire, but found that they could do nothing to aid the suicide, he having accomplished his death in a manner that rendered even the best surgical skill, had it been available, useless. Dr Usher was sent for, but before he arrived Doyle was dead. One bullet must have passed right through his heart, and the second one very close to that organ. Doyle had not unfastened his coat, as the bullet holes in that garment showed. From appearances it is evident that Doyle, when he went into the dormitory, went directly to where Beckman's kit was hanging, and taking the revolver out of its case walked across the room to the fireplace—some six or seven yards from where he got the weapon.

It is suggested by one of the constables, who was in the mess-room at the time the tragedy took place, that Doyle laid down on the floor before firing, as no noise of his body falling was beard after the report of the first or other shots but from the fact that his hat was found on the floor some little distance from the body, and the fact that the noise of a fall might not be heard in the mess-room. It would appear that Doyle steadied himself by the mantelpiece with his left hand while firing the fatal shot with his right. The position his body was found in favors the latter supposition. The first shot is believed to have been a deadly one and sufficient to cause death without the others. Indeed the other shots, though fired at regular intervals, were apparently involuntary ones. The revolver used is of the kind which cocks itself immediately upon a shot being fired, and all the person using it has to do is pull the trigger at intervals, and it will go off as long as there is a charge in it. Doyle's thumb was jammed into the trigger guard just as a man not used to such firearms would put it on turning the weapon upon his own breast. The convulsions caused by the first wound would most likely make the then dying man clench his hand. This would fire the second shot. Another convulsion following, the third shot succeeded. It is believed that the wound in the groin was caused by the third shot, for, when Doyle was found, the revolver pointed in the direction of it. The terrible tragedy caused quite a sensation in the barracks, for it was as startlingly unexpected as it was dreadful. The body was placed in the lavatory at the barracks. Nothing was found upon the person of the deceased to explain his suicide.

From what we gather, it appears that the deceased was fortunate in mining during the Hurlsfield rush, and made some money. He then went deeper into mining, with unfortunate results, and became so involved that be could not get clear of his engagements. He hoped, by means of his retiring allowance, to free himself of difficulties, and to start afresh in the Lands Department. We hear, however, that he did not succeed in these matters, and could not obtain the portion in the Lands Department he hoped to have. Latterly he has been in low spirits, and the only document found in his pockets yesterday was a summons from a tradesman to appear at the City Court, for debt. His financial difficulties would appear to have turned his brain, and caused him to resort to this last fearful way to escape from them. When his house was searched yesterday nothing of moment was found in it except & bottle of laudanum In the cupboard in which he kept his food, Doyle was forty-five years of age, had been twenty one years in the force, and was unmarried. On Wednesday night, as may have been seen by a notice in our columns yesterday. Constable Doyle received a handsomely illuminated complimentary address from the residents of Redan. An inquest on his remains will be be held to-day.