THE WIZARD OF ALICE Father Dixon and the Stuart Case

Hardback. SIGNED. The Stuart Case is the story of a murder trial that divided Australia. In 1959, Rupert Max Stuart, an itinerant Aboriginal, was found guilty of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old white girl. The conviction was based on a typed confession delivered in precise, educated English - a language Stuart could barely speak or write. As Stuart's life hung in the balance, a courtroom drama began which put police procedures and racial attitudes on trial. A young newspaper proprietor named Rupert Murdoch and his editor Rohan Rivett put the case on the front page, causing fierce debate about Stuart's innocence, and the case against capital punishment gathered unstoppable momentum. Sentenced to death on April 24, 1959. Commuted to life in prison. Released on parole in 1973. He was in and out of gaol until 1984, when he was paroled for the sixth and final time. The author, a Catholic priest, was of the opinion that Rupert Maxwell Stuart was innocent of the brutal murder, but wasn't sure if this was because of poor judgement on his part, or a wizard deceit on Stuart's part. He therefore decided to resolve the dilemma and took 20yrs to write up his conclusion. This book, the first in favour of Stuart and his supporters, is the result. Illus. + Index. 416pp. 4to h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Nr. F. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR. Scarce. A heavy book which will require additional postage both domestic and overseas.