MURDERED FOR GOLD -

Inspector John Joseph Walsh and Detective Sergeant Alexander Henry Pitman were reported missing in April 1926. Their job was to investigate gold theft and fears were held for their safety when nothing was heard from them for some time.

The worst fears were realised when their burned and mutilated remains were found down an abandoned mine shaft.

After a lengthy investigation William Coulter and Phillip Treffene were tried for the murders, convicted and executed by hanging. Evan Clarke, who had apparently been involved in disposing of the bodies, turned King's evidence and managed to save himself. He was given a new identity and went into hiding.

Today there is a memorial to the two men located where they were killed at Millers Find, 10 kilometres southwest of Kalgoorlie.

The Gold Stealing Detection Unit was established in 1907 and is the longest serving crime squad in the W.A. police force.

There was talk at one time that headless ghost of Detective Pitman still wandered around the historic gold squad building in Kalgoorlie.

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