William Slade Vincent

12.2.1
William Shoots Himself

There was a report in a newspaper that there was a “Mystery Shooting”, of a man in Geelong, on 2nd February 1925. The man’s name was William Slade Vincent, a textile worker and from the report we can conclude that William was working in Uncle Robert’s woollen mill or hosiery business.

William Slade Vincent Shot

At the time of the shooting, William was living at his lodgings at 28 Walker Street, North Geelong.

28 Walker Street, North Geelong [97]

Williams’s first story to the newspaper “took a turn” when a further article was published. The Police found that William had lied about the incident.

William Changes his story

After the episode above, William realised he had a problem with alcohol. He sought help and was admitted to the Lara Inebriate Retreat, Lara, just outside of Melbourne, on 14th March 1925. He was not committed by any agency but was a voluntary boarder. He was discharged, on his own request, on 11th May 1925.

William as Patient at Lara Inebriate Retreat [98]

William was to absent himself for a day from the Lara Retreat as he and his co-accused, in the shooting incident, appeared in court on 24th March 1925, on various charges relating to the shooting in February.

William’s Day in Court 24th March 1925

A record of his conviction was entered into the Register for Convictions, Orders and other Proceedings on 24th March 1925.

William’s Conviction is Registered [99]

On 31st March 1925, William notified the Repat. Dept. his permanent address would be c/o Major W. Slade Vincent (his father), Bank of N.S.W., Melbourne but the physical address was “Lara House”, Lara, Victoria.

“Lara House” was formerly known as “Pirra Homestead”. In 1907, the Pirra property was taken over by the Victorian Government and beside the smaller blocks that were sold at auction, 637 acres was allocated for the Lara Inebriates Institution where William had admitted himself. It is believed that Major Vincent lived on one of the smaller blocks.

On 24th April 1925, William advised the Repat. Dept. that his address for all future correspondence would be the Bank of N.S.W. Melbourne. He most likely wanted to still receive his pension without the Dept. knowing he was in an inebriate retreat.

Just before William left the inebriates retreat, Major William and Emily Alice returned from England and settled in St. Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Major Vincent and Emily Alice return from England5

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[97] Google Maps
[98] - [99] Public Records Office Victoria