MURDER AT THE TOWN HALL -

The Fremantle Town Hall was officially opened on the 22nd of June 1887. The following day a children's fancy dress ball was held and a group of unruly people were denied entry.

The event progressed until about midnight and it was not long after this that the sound of a gunshot was heard.

W. Conroy, the landlord of the National Hotel in High Street had shot W.J. Snook. Snook had apparently been involved in earlier denial of entry to the group of which Conroy was a part. Conroy had gone home, picked up a gun and returned to take revenge for being thrown out.

Snook was badly wounded but did manage to survive for about 3 months before passing away. Conroy was tried, found guilty and executed in the old Perth Gaol. He had the dubious honour of being the last person to be executed there. A large number of people petitioned for a stay of execution but Governor Broome decided against it and Conroy's execution went ahead although apparently not smoothly as his neck did not break when he fell and it took him some time to die.

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