Below also see: David Simula, 1928,
Ray(e) Bibby, 1929
Truth, Sun 10 Aug 1924 1
SENT TO THE STREETS
———◦———
SPINELESS PARASITE, WHO BATTENED ON
HIS PARAMOUR, SENT TO GAOL
————
SAD LIFE OF RAY BIBBY
Sometimes, even the worm will turn.
Broken in spirit, battered on the rocks of misfortune by an adverse, cruel Fate, poor Ray Bibby, unfortunate woman of the street, was fast travelling down the roadway to destruction.
What thoughts she may have had of the decent womanhood and dignity for which so many women long were slowly being squeezed out of her by a hulking, brutal parasite—a human being skin to the lowest strata of verminous life, living on the wages of her sin, and—for a reward—treated her as he regarded—like a dog.
Then she reached the extreme test of her endurance, and—she turned.
To-day the cur was prospered on her degradation, a Finn, by name of David [aka Dave] Simula, is in safe keeping behind prison walls for six months.
The lesson is deserved, but not a good one. The legislature should prescribe a more salutary sentence for such crimes.
The story of Ray Bibby’s life reads like any page out of “Paradise Lost.” And it serves as an example of many others, a scathing indictment on a so-called civilisation that allows brutes in human form to batten on women who march with the awful despairing army of the night.
How Ray Bibby started, or where, we cannot say; she is one of those unfortunates who for a few short years enjoy the life of innocence, and then, impelled by some strange, cruel catastrophe, slip through the alley-ways of life to goodness knows where.
Twelve months ago, or somewhere in the region of twelve months—month or two doesn’t matter any way—she met Simula in Melbourne. She became his paramour and he her parasite, for he had solved the mystery of how to live without working, even though it meant the lowest way of all.
He put her on the streets in the Southern City, and sat back and boozed at low-class pubs while she haunted darkened thoroughfares and plied her horrible trade.
THE PENITENT MAGDALENE.
But as far as she had gone, just when she felt that the things that mattered most were slipping through her fingers, she made frequent attempts to live a life of respectability—to get work, perhaps to shift to some spot where she would be unknown, and live the life that naturally should be hers as a woman.
But each time she tried she was pulled back by the grasping hands of Simula.
Such as he do not give up the easy life so easily.
Thus life went on. The woman’s face began to show the wear and tear of Simula’s fists, plied there withy painful frequency when the beast of burden failed to show up with the expected money. Her face gradually became bloated, features that once were regular and pretty were slowly becoming pale and puffed by regular drinking.
Three weeks or so ago they came to Sydney—transport paid by her—and went to live at a residential in Carrington-street—board and lodgings also paid for by her.
PACING THE PAVEMENT
And then for three weeks each night she paced the pavement that the Finn might drink and live without the trouble of hard toil.
He still continued to brutally ill-use her, giving her punches as dividends for her share in the one-sided partnership.
But the day was coming when even she, the worm beneath his heel, should turn.
It came with dramatic suddenness for him, and maybe meant the day of the loosening of her sinful fetters.
Yesterday week, August 2, somewhere before five o’clock, the went to Pfahlert’s Hotel and sat in a back parlor drinking.
Image: NSW State Library collection. Reproduction: Peter de Waal
The woman was “broke” and wanted some money to get some things. She asked for ten shillings.
“I will give you nothing!” he snapped. “You leave this place, and I will fix you!”
THE WORM TURNS
Her endurance slowly snapped, hot blood of revolt that had lain dormant for so long welled up within her, the spirit to assert herself helped her on.
She ran to escape, to tell the police.
“You call the police and I will fix you,” he yelled. “You will never be alive when I get you!”
Some inner sense seemed to tell the brutal bully that the chances were that he would lose his meal ticket. She made a dash to get away, but as quick as she was, he was quicker.
Held tight in hands that gripped like steel springs she was an easy mark in the hiding that followed.
He smashed her up, and finally punched her down the back stairs, where she lay, blood streaming from a sadly battered nose that this time was broken.
She cleared to George-street and he followed. It must have been a nightmare chase for her, perhaps with visions of insensibility racing madly through her muddled brain.
INTO THE ARMS OF THE LAW.
But there was a haven further down that she had not suspected. He caught her up in front of No. 4 Police Station, a fact that proved disastrous for him.
Constable Armstrong took the pair into custody, and inside she told her story, interspersed with sobs and borne out by the blood-smeared face and broken nose.
A charge of assault and of having knowingly lived partly upon her were presented against the man by Sergeant Sheehy, and on Wednesday last the Finn stood before the bar of justice at the Central Court to answer for his crimes.
And what a fiend he looked, like a trapped rat, as he sat brooding in the corner of the little dock, his eyes burning fire and revenge while the woman told her story.
She admitted quite openly to Sergeant Napper that she was a woman of the streets, and that Simula had lived upon her knowing her to be such. In fact, he had sent her there to earn money, which he took from her. From the time of their arrival in Sydney she had in all given him £15.
Sadly she recounted her experiences, and pathetically stated that she had often tried to get work,, but was always prevented by him.
“That is not the first time that he has done that to me,” she said. “I am afraid of him, and want to get away from him. I want to follow an honest occupation. Before I met him I always worked.”
Sullenly the man got yo his feet to ask her a question. Didn’t he spend £60 on her while they were in Melbourne?
“No,” she answered feelingly, rising in the box and leaning over the edge towards him. “You spent it the best way you could in hotels with your friends. All you gave me was a shilling to get a little bit of meat.”
Excitedly she went on, pouring out her story like one who saw the chance and the moment to take it. “You said you were going to finish me, and said no one would know who did it. You will never have me again! It was for the likes of you that Phylis Hume was nearly hung!”
Of course Simula denied it—of course he blamed the woman. She was the sink of infamy, the one who had almost ruined his life! Yes, the she-devil who had enveloped him like a cloud from hell, a tragedy in human form from whom he could never get away!
But he could not explain why he did not clear out and leave her. She was, in fact, as Sergeant Napper suggested, too good a money-earner for him to lose. That was the only explanation that one could deduce, no matter how vehement were his protestations.
“You are about as low as a man can get—to live on a woman’s prostitution,” said the SM, Mr Gale, and immediately sent Simula to gaol for six months hor having lived on the woman, and to three months for having assaulted her.
Even then he got out lightly. The sentences were made concurrent, meaning that at the most he will serve six months only.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dave Simula, Gaol photo sheet 2
![SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6112], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 6 Jun 1924-11 Oct 1924, No. 20330, p. 177.](../../images/trials/1924-Simula-6112-gaol-photo-20330-Dave-Simula.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6112], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 6 Jun 1924-11 Oct 1924, No. 20330, p. 177.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 20330
Date when Portrait was taken: 7-8-1924
Name: Dave Simula
|
Native place: Finland Year of birth: 1-2-1891 Arrived Ship: Belford Trade or occupation Religion: Lutheran Education, degree of: R & W 7 Height: 5' 10¾" Weight On committal: 161 Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey |
Marks or special features: Female figure in costume holding American flag inside right forearm. Anchor on junction right thumb. Scar right side of forehead & right eyebrow |
|
(No. of previous Portrait ... ) CONVICTIONS |
|||||
| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
|
Central PC ditto |
6 26 |
8 8 |
1924 1927 |
Assault female Stealing |
3 months HL £10-18-6- or 2 months HL |
David Simula, 1928
Evening News, Tue 13 Mar 1928 3
RECEIVING CHARGE
————
REMANDED FOR SENTENCE
————
DAVID SIMULA was convicted at Darlinghurst Sessions to-day of having received, on or about November 1927, a Commonwealth Bond, valued at £100, the property of Gibson, Battle, Melbourne, Proprietary, Limited, outside the State of New South Wales, knowing it to have been stolen.
The charge was brought under an Act which has been in force four years, and which makes it an offence to have stolen property in possession, which was received outside the State.
Simula was remanded for sentence.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 13 Mar 1928 4
LAW NOTICES.
————
Tuesday, March 13.
…
QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 Court.—David Simula, receiving stolen property outside New South Wales; William Thompson and Thomas Craig, robbery.
No. 2 Court.—Wallace Milbourne Moore, indecency; Myra Bolger, break, enter, and steal; Alexander John Fyfe, offence against daughter by father; Robert George Colliver and Thomas Marshall, robbery.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Mar 1928 5
QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 COURT.
(Before Judge Scholes.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr Neil McTague.
POSSESSING STOLEN ARTICLE.
David Simula, 35, labourer, was charged with having a bond, the property of Gibson, Battle, Melbourne Proprietary, Limited, in his possession on November 19, at Sydney, which had been stolen, and it was alleged that the accused was aware of that fact when he received it.
Mr Spear appeared for the accused, who was convicted and remanded for sentence.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 17 Mar 1928 6
QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 COURT.
(Before Judge Scholes.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr Neil McTague.
…
SENTENCES.
…
David Simula, 35, labourer, having a stolen bond in his possession, 12 months’ hard labour in Bathurst Gaol. Mr Spear appeared for the prisoner.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
David Simula, Gaol photo sheet 7
![SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6121], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 24 Feb 1928-23 Jun 1928, No. 22901, p. 65.](../../images/trials/1924-Simula-6121-gaol-photo-22901-David-Simula.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6121], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 24 Feb 1928-23 Jun 1928, No. 22901, p. 65.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 22901
Date when Portrait was taken: 14-3-1928
Name: David Simula
(aka Dave Simula)
|
Native place: Finland Year of birth: 1-2-1891 Arrived Ship: Belford Trade or occupation Religion: Lutheran Education, degree of: R & W 7 Height: 5' 10¾" Weight On committal: 161 Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey |
Marks or special features: Female figure in costume holding American flag inside right forearm. Anchor on junction of right thumb. Scar on right side of forehead & on right eyebrow. |
|
(No. of previous Portrait ... 20330) CONVICTIONS |
|||||
| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
|
Central PC Sydney Q.S Central PC Redfern PC Central PC ditto |
26 13 28 11 15 29 |
8 3 2 3 3 12 |
1927 1928 1929 1932 1932 1936 |
Stealing Having property stolen outside the State Indecent language Steal Steal Riotous behaviour |
£10-18-6 or 2 months HL. 12 months HL 5/6 or 5 days HL £20-4-0 or 40 days HL 14 days H.L. 64/- or 6 days HL |
|
And 2 previous convictions for which see Photo No. as above |
|||||
Ray(e) Bibby, 1929
Truth, Sun 3 Mar 1929 8
DRUG SALES?
CONSTABLE SEEKS
COCAINE
RAY BIBBY, 35-year-old domestic, charged with selling a packet of cocaine to a constable, and Thomas Marshall, 29-year-old laborer, charged with supplying the drug, were before Mr Camphin, SM, in the Central Police Court yesterday.
Both cases were remanded until March 8.
In the case of Bibby, Sergeant Dennis, who prosecuted, stated that the woman entered into a contract with a constable for the sale of some cocaine, and later on a man she was associated with actually sold the drug to the officer.
Mr Camphin: That meant that she was a canvasser.
Bail was fixed at £80 for the woman, and £100 for the man.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Truth, Sun 17 Mar 1929 9
LATEST QUEEN
OF
DOPE TRAFFIC
———◦———
“MELBOURNE FLO” FILLS
NEWMAN’S SHOES
————
MYSTERY WOMAN
ALMOST as soon as the prison gates closed on dope dealer “Jewey” Newman, there stepped into his infamous shoes another unknown distributor of “Coke”—known only as “Melbourne Flo,” whose name was freely mentioned at the Central Police Court last week when Ray Bibby and Thomas Marshall were sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment; the former for supplying cocaine, and the latter for procuring the drug.
Bibby had attempted to prevent her arrest by stripping herself and defying the police in naked majesty, but Constable Cecil J Chuck, who was the prime mover in the case, succeeded in getting her to the police station clothed and more or less in her right mind.
Assisting Chuck were Sergeant Russell, Constable Sabine, and a woman referred to as “Hilda.”
Constable Sabine said that he visited a house in O’Sullivan-street, Surry Hills, with Hilda on March 1 last, and when they arrived there the woman Bibby met them, and his companion said to her, “Oh, Ray, please get me some coke.”
Bibby, he said, replied “All right, darling, I haven’t any in the house now, but I will sent and get you some.”
A few more words passed between them and then, according to the constable, he handed Bibby ten shillings for two packets of “coke” and she passed the note to Marshall, who left the house by the back gate.
A little while after that, Sabine and his companion left the house, paid a visit to the Central Police Station, and then returned to O’Sullivan-street about 5.30 pm.
A couple of minutes later Marshall came back—once more by the back gate. He was carrying a small newspaper parcel which Bibby unwrapped and examined two little brown packets it contained.
“I said to her,” said Constable Sabine, “ ‘It It [sic] all right, Ray?’ And she replied, ‘Yes, I he got it from Melbourne Flo.’ ”
Just about that time Constable Chuck and Sergeant Russell descended upon the house and Russell dropped a bombshell by announcing that they were police, and had a warrant to search the place.
They did so, locating a tin of boracic powder, two small medicine bottles on the dresser, and, of course, the two small brown paper packets o0f cocaine that had been procured for Sabine.
REMOVED CLOTHING
“When we entered the premises,” said Constable Chuck, “Bibby had very little clothing on, and appeared to be under the influence of a drug or liquor. She seemed stupefied, as did Marshall and three other men who were in the house.
“Bibby had no underclothes on at all. She would sit on the floor and put her legs up in the air..
“When I said that we were going to arrest her she went into another room, removed all her clothing, and ran about the house naked. While we searched the place she was reading from the Bible.”
When placed in the witness box, Bibby, stylishly clad in a black frock with lace sleeves and decorated here and there with a few colored floral designs, proceeded to tell how much she didn’t know about cocaine.
The woman who came with Constable Sabine, she said, had called the previous day, declaring that she knew her and her brother Captain Bibby, though she had no recollection of her acquaintance.
“She asked me then if I had any ‘coke’,” stated the lady in black, “But I said no, and offered her a glass of beer.
“Then she said she would call the next day with her husband.
“She came with the man I now know as Constable Sabine and asked if she could come in. I had been drinking brandy for three days, and don’t remember much of what happened.
Then she asked for cocaine, but I do not know anything about such stuff. I do not use cocaine. I get silly enough as it id with drink.”
To Prosecuting Sergeant Dennis, Bibby said that she didn’t know what the woman asked for.
“It might have been cakes for all I know,” she exclaimed.
“Don’t you know that cocaine is known as ‘snow’?” asked the sergeant,
“I’M IN BED”
“Snow?” answered Bibby with a bit of a grin. “I haven’t seen any since I came to Australia. Last time I saw it was in Switzerland.
Do you know “Melbourne Flo”?—I know no such women—Melbourne Flo,” “Sydney Flo,” they’re all alike to me these Flos.
What did you do when the police came?—I said, “You can’t arrest me for being drunk. I’m in bed.” And I took off my clothes and got between the sheets. Constable Chuck then said he would take me naked with a sheet round me.
An old man, John Phillips, a pensioner, was called, and he said that he had been at the house in O’Sullivan-street practically all day, and had not seen Bibby handle any packets of cocaine.
Another who was there that eventful day was David Simula, a native of Finland, who has four years of was service to his credit. He said that he had lived with Bibby for two years, but was not doing so now. He declared it was an absolute lie that 10s was handed to Bibby, and that she gave it to Marshall for cocaine.
Marshall was without legal aid, and hadn’t a witness to call. A short, dark, thick-set man, he gave evidence on his own behalf, said that he was very drunk on the day in question, and denied all knowledge of getting any cocaine.
After hearing Mr McCarthy, Magistrate Geddes convicted both Bibby and Marshall.
“They are, your Worship,” said the sergeant, “what we term runners. They do not get much cocaine at a time, but they know where to get it. . . . .”
That completed the case, and Bibby and Marshall were sentenced to seven months’ hard labor.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Evening News, Wed 1 May 1929 10
GAOL TO ALTER
————
WOMAN’S APPEAL
————
NOVEL COURT SCENE
————
Having had her sentence reduced to the term she has already served, Ray Bibby left the Quarter Sessions Appeal Court to-day to be married.
Tall, dark, good looking, the woman appealed against her conviction by Mr Geddes, SM, at the Central Court on March 15, on a charge of having supplied Sergeant Russell and Constable Chuck, in a house in O’Sullivan-street, with cocaine.
At the lower court she was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment in Long Bay. Judge Curlewis varied the sentence to one of six weeks and four days, the time she had already served.
Mr RJ Browning, for the Crown, told the Judge that there was a man in court who was prepared to marry the appellant if she were released. Sergeant Russell would undertake to see that they were married. He might even act as best man.
Mr Leonard, for the appellant, suggested that Constable Chuck should give the bride away.
“If this were an American court,” remarked Judge Curlewis, “the Judge himself would
perform the ceremony.”
Mr J Leonard, instructed by Mr Heavener, appeared for the appellant; and Mr RJ Browning was Crown Prosecutor.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 2 May 1929 11
WOMAN MARRIED.
———◦———
ON RELEASE FROM GAOL.
————
A case heard at the Quarter Sessions Appeal Court yesterday ended in the appellant , a woman, leaving the Court with a man to be married at the registry office—that being the reason for her being set at liberty in spite of her appeal being dismissed.
Ray Bibby, aged 34 years, a domestic, was sentenced at the Central Police Court on March 15 to seven months’ imprisonment with hard labour for supplying cocaine. It was against this sentence that she appealed. Evidence was given at the police court that Bibby, who was known as a ‘runner,’ supplied cocaine to two plainclothes policemen.
Mr RJ Browning, for the Crown told Judge Curlewis that John Henry Schroer, who was in Court, was prepared to marry the appellant if she was released from custody. It appeared that Bibby had lived with this man for some time, and that prior to and during this period she had caused the police no trouble. She, however, fell in with some members of the underworld, left Schroer, and became involved in a career of crime.
Judge Curlewis said that there were no legal grounds for upholding the appeal, which he was bound to dismiss. He was anxious to get the appellant a chance to lead an honest life in future by reducing her sentence, and as she had served six weeks and four days, he reduced the sentence to that period.
Bibby and her prospective husband then left the Court for the registry office.
1 Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 10 Aug 1924, p. 10. Emphasis in original and added.
2 SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6112], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 6 Jun 1924-11 Oct 1924, No. 20330, p. 177.
3 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 13 Mar 1928, p. 10.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 13 Mar 1928, p. 8. Emphasis added.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Mar 1928, p. 12.
6 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 17 Mar 1928, p. 14.
7 SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6121], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 24 Feb 1928-23 Jun 1928, No. 22901, p. 65.
8 Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 3 Mar 1929, p. 10. Emphasis added.
9 Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 17 Mar 1929, p. 15. Emphasis in original and added.
10 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Wed 1 May 1929, p. 10. Emphasis added.
11 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 2 May 1929, p. 12.