DONNYBROOK SLAYING -

29th June 1923 - SLEEPER HEWER SHOT - Mistaken for Kangaroo.

Donato Pizatti, was a native of Pendilasco, a little village nestling in one of the mountain valleys of the Sandrio department of Lombardy.

He was shot dead in Brookhampton, not far from his camp where he was cutting sleepers.

MURDER or MISTAKEN IDENTITY ?

17 year old English youth Thomas Brookes was charged with his murder and was tried and found guilty of manslaughter, Brookes was sentenced to two years hard labor.

Brookes worked as a sleeper cutter also and admitted shooting Pizzatti, mistaking him for a kangaroo, he shot him from behind into the shoulder, and a second time in the back of the head.

Brookes went to Pizzattis camp and took money, he the purchased new trousers and left for Perth. He was arrested and lead detectives to Pizzatti's body near Brookhampton (Pizzatti had been reported missing). It is reported Pizzatti had blood on his hands as if raised to his shoulder from the first shot, the coroners report shows the first shot was not fatal.

Pendilasco is a small mountain village were Don Pizzatti toiled until maturity, on the loss of his mother, Don headed for America, working for some years to save to help his family, on returning to Pendilasco he purchased a small vineyard for his father Pietro. Having provided for his father he set forth again this time to Australia.

In 1914 he arrived in Western Australia, and at once made for the goldfields. He worked on the woodline outside Kalgoorlie, for some years. One who knew him then described Pizzatti as a quiet, inoffensive fellow, he was never communicative, and such a few particulars were learned of his early life, gleaned only on the few occasions when he took a little holiday and foregathered with his countrymen in a pub or wine shop.

Donato was worried about his father, hearing from the priest's letter's that it was time for him to come home.

Fired by the tales of a sleeper cutter's fabulous earnings, Don Pizzatti decided to try his luck in the South West and he left for the jarrah forests.

When the shears of destiny snapped his thread of life, Piazatti was camped about 10 miles outside Donnybrook (Brookhampton) working as a hewer. He was also a good grafter, be made good money, in spending he was noted as 'careful'. Talk amongst the hewers was he must have a 'fat roll' planted some where. Possibly this idle gossip may have had some bearing on the tragedy.

Donato Pizzatti will never again wield the axe or stack a sleeper again. Never again for him the bush or hillsides of the mountain home, nor did he ever make it home to his feeble father.

"May Peace be with Donato Pizzatti"

Story submitted by : Donnybrook Stone History Irishtown, Western Australia

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