“A QUICK-TEMPERED, VIOLENT MAN”

In the 1920s Theodore was having a run of bad luck with business deals and was constantly having income issues.  The household bills were feeling this, and his 2^nd wife, Mary May Brice, constantly had to deal with how to meet the unpaid bills.

The Adelaide Electric Supply Company had a number of unpaid bills with the Vetter home in Semaphore, and decided to act in May 1927.  Wilfred Aldersey, the Electricity company’s accountant arranged for one of their collectors to go out to Semaphore and get the unpaid bill finalized and if this didn’t happen to turn the electricity off at the home’s meterbox.

On May 5^th Francis Pascoe dually turned up at the Vetter home and knocked on the front door.  Mrs. Vetter answered the door, and Mr. Pascoe informed Mrs. Vetter why he was there.  Mrs. Vetter left Mr. Pascoe at the front door, leaving him with the impression that she was going to get money to clear the unpaid bill.  He started to fill out the receipt when Theodore appeared at the front door and asked Pascoe what he was doing there.

Mr. Pascoe repeated what he had already explained to Mrs. Vetter and that he was waiting for her to return with the money so he could complete the receipt. Theodore then advised Mr. Pascoe that he was going in to Adelaide the next day to do business and would pay the bill at the company’s office then. Mr. Pascoe informed Theodore that unless he was given the money then he was obliged to disconnect the electricity at the meterbox.

Theodore advised him that he had a deposit with the company as a guarantee that the electricity would not be cut off.  But Mr. Pascoe stated that he did not know of any such arrangement and needed to enter the house so that he could access the meterbox to disconnect the service.

As Mr. Pascoe went to step in the front door Theodore struck him with a blow to the side of the head, sending Mr. Pascoe back against the verandah wall.

About a month later on June 11^th Mr. Pascoe again came face to face with Theodore.

This time in Port Adelaide Police Court, where Theodore was up in front of Mr. G.W. Halcombe, Stipendiary Magistrate, for assault.

Based on the information of both Mr. Pascoe and Mr. Aldersey, for the electricity company, Theodore was charged for having violently assaulted Francis J. Pascoe at Semaphore on May 5^th.  Theodore pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Theodore was representing himself, and when cross-examining Mr. Pascoe, he proceeded to comment after every reply.  Starting with “Lie One” and eventually getting to “Lie Seven”, when the Magistrate’s warnings to Theodore sank in and he stopped with the acrimonious comments.  He then requested to cross-examine the Electricity Company’s counsel, Mr. A.M. Moulden, but at this the Magistrate was firm. He could not!!

Both Mr. Pascoe and Mr. Aldersey gave evidence, and it was clear that Theodore had indeed hit Mr. Pascoe, and that he had hit him so hard that Mr. Pascoe was initially deaf afterwards, and had ringing in his ear for the next 2 days.  Theodore also used abusive language towards Mr. Pascoe, telling him to “Get to ------ out of this” as Mr. Pascoe staggered on the verandah.

Theodore called his wife as a witness, and she stated that it was a lie for Mr. Pascoe to say a blow was struck.  Theodore then claimed that in fact Mr. Pascoe had pushed him as he tried to enter the house, and that Theodore had simply put him out on the verandah.

The Magistrate said that judging by the demeanor of Theodore in the Court room it was obvious he was a quick-tempered, violent man, with little control over himself, and that he did not believe the either Theodore or his wife.

He dually fined Theodore with assault and ordered him to pay a fine of £3 with an additional £3 2/ costs.

The Register – June 11, 1927 – COLLECTOR ASSAULTED

The Advertiser – June 11, 1927 – A COLLECTOR ASSAULTED

Naturalization - 1941

At the beginning of 1941 Theodore decided to become a naturalized Australian.  To do this he had to lodge a notice in the local newspaper stating his intentions to become a citizen.

In the January 14^th edition of the Adelaide Advertiser there appeared in Public Notices section the following:-

I, THEODORE WILHELM VETTER, of German Nationality, born near Magdeburg, Germany and resident 55 years in Australia, and residing at Eden West, near Adelaide, intend to apply for naturalisation under the Nationality Act 1920-1930.

Unfortunately Theodore had forgotten one little thing – Australia was at war with Germany and as he was still a German citizen by birth, he was an enemy alien and required at the beginning of the war to register as such.

In the second week of February a summons was issued for his arrest under the National Security (Aliens Control) Regulations – a fine of £5, with 10 shillings costs.

As with most fines issued against him Theodore ignored this and lodged his application for Naturalization on March 12^th.  He had to provide two references and have a Justice of the Peace witness the document.  The references were from Albert Henry Kruss, who had known Theodore for 40 years, and Garnet Leslie Goldsworthy, who had known him for approximately 8 years.  John Henry Bell was the Justice of Peace who witnessed Theodore declaration.

On the form Theodore had claimed that he was a carpenter/gardener residing at Eden West, that he had come to Australia in December 1886 on board the North German liner “Preussen”.  He had resided in Victoria for 10 years, then moving to South Australia for 3 years, then Western Australia for 6, before settling in Adelaide for the last 35 years. 

He was the son of Louis Vetter & Mathilde Peters, and that he was born on the 23^rd of April 1866 at Magdeburg, in the Province of Saxony.  He was 5 ft, 7 inches, with grey hair and blue eyes.  He was a widower, with three children, the eldest two, he had no idea of their whereabouts.  The youngest, Joan Margaret, was residing with a Mrs Press, in Woodville Road, Adelaide, and working at John Martins in Rundle Street.

But like most of Theodore’s dealings with the Law, they caught up with him.  On April 1 at the Adelaide Police Court, Theodore found himself facing Justice Muirhead and Police Prosecutor Crafter.  Inspector Crafter advised the court that “Vetter had come to Australia with his parents in 1886.  He had registered his name on January 15.”  But despite the fact he had eventually registered as an alien, it was too late, Justice Muirhead fined Theodore £10, with 10 shillings costs.  He was allowed to pay the fine in instalments, but if he had of paid it back in February when 1^st summonsed he would have received a reduced fine of only £2 10 shillings.   However if he didn’t pay the fine at all he would end up with a month in gaol.  Theodore paid the fine.

As part of the Naturalization process a Police check is done on the applicant.  Sergeant Trezona of the Police Special Branch in Adelaide reported that Theodore had had 6 Police records against him, 2 for breaches of the Master & Servants Act in 1931, 1 for passing a valueless cheque in 1932, one in 1936 for Larceny, but this had been dismissed.  In 1937 he also had an unregistered gun, and then of course the “fail to register as an alien” in April 1941.

Sergeant Trezona also stated that Theodore “is reported to be addicted to drink and is not a good citizen.  Said to have made the following statement in Adelaide streets, “We want our colonies back, we were robbed by the British bastards.  Hitler will rule this country better than the British.”  (He) Is regarded as irresponsible.”

In June of 1941, S.G. Eyles of the Investigation Branch for National Security, interviewed Theodore about his application.  Theodore confirmed everything he had stated on the application, as well as confirming what Sergeant Trezona had reported.  When Mr Eyles asked Theodore    why he was now applying for naturalization after being in Australia for nearly 55 years, Theodore stated it was so he could get the old-age pension.

When asked about his first marriage, the details of which he had left off his application, Theodore stated that he believed his 1^st wife was in a Mental Hospital, and that of three children of that marriage, one had died and the other two were living somewhere in Western Australia.

Theodore also confirmed that he had been the President of the German Club in Adelaide prior to World War One, and that he had not come under any notice or interned during that period.

Theodore was asked his opinion of the current war, “he stated that 7 years ago he was of the opinion that Hitler was a wonderful man.  He considered Hitler a social reformer, but in 1935 when Hitler annexed the Saar Valley, he thought that he was too ambitious.  He now thinks Hitler has overstepped the mark and says that he is a “Landgrabber.”  He thinks that the Versailles Treaty was a mistake and that before this war started, England should have given a few colonies back to Germany.”

On August 8^th the Investigation Branch sent Theodore’s application to the Department of the Interior in Canberra.  They had previously contacted Military Intelligence, who had advised that they did not consider Theodore “a proper person” for naturalization.  But Mr. S.G. Eyles, who had interviewed Theodore had the closing argument against his application, “My opinion of this man is that he is a cunning rascal and is not a fit applicant for naturalization.”

On the 26^th of August, 1941 Theodore received the following letter:-

            Dear Sir,

With reference to your application for naturalization I desire to inform you that this matter has received careful consideration, but it is regretted that the issue of a certificate of naturalization in your favour has not been approved.

                                                            Yours faithfully.

                                                                       

We do not know Theodore’s thoughts on receiving this letter, but I can surmise that if Mr Eyles thought Theodore was a Cunning Rascal, Theodore thought Mr Eyles was a lot worse!

You can view a copy of Theodore’s application at the National Archives website under the following reference:-

Series number
A659 Control symbol
1941/1/4019 Contents date range
1941 - 1941 Access status
OpenLocation
Canberra

Barcode 1771085

Theodore’s Arrival in Australia – December 23, 1886

In 1941 at the age of 74 Theodore decided to become a Naturalized Australian. In his application he states that he arrived in mid December 1886 on the “Preussen”.  The Victorian State Archives show a Y. Vetter aged 36 years on board the Preussen.  Whether this is Theodore or not we will never know, but the “Y” could just be someone’s handwriting of a “T”, and in 1886 all German males were required to do a number of years in the Imperial Army.  If you were going to leave Germany, you would have to lie about your age.  Theodore was 20 in 1886 – did he say he was 36 as he boarded the Preussen?

The Norddeutscher-Lloyd steamer “Preussen” was on it maiden voyage when she left Bremen on the 3^rd of November 1886.  She called in at Antwerp and Southampton before heading down the English Channel on 8^th, but she hit strong gale winds and the vessel rocked severely, causing the passengers to feel the first effects of seasickness.  Those in the Steerage section of the “Preussen”, as no doubt Theodore would have been, were bruised and batter from the tossing of the vessel until they near Gibralter on the 11^th.

The food on board, or at least the preparation of the food, did not sit very well, and a number of the British passengers in Steerage sent a petition to the Captain asking for improvement in the standard but alas through the voyage the food continued to sit uneasily on their stomachs.

As the vessel sailed through the Mediterranean Sea the passengers started to relax more and during the evenings dances were held on the Forecastle.  Some of the passengers even attempted to fish over the side of the vessel, hoping that if they caught something, that it would provide a better meal than what they were currently receiving.

On the 18^th the vessel arrived at Port Said, here she needed to re-coal, and wait for the German mails.  A number of the passengers took the opportunity to venture ashore, but despite them being only Steerage passengers, the locals saw them as wealthy Passengers, and beggars constantly approached them.  The crew also went ashore, but they returned late at night intoxicated and waking the passengers with their carousing.

On the 22^nd the vessel entered the Suez Canal, and proceeded south for Aden.  Fresh water was limited on the vessel, and the passengers were left to have salt-water baths.  When they approached the Captain he stated, “he did not see necessity of washing every day as he simply had a salt water bath and never washed since he started.”[i]  The British passengers particularly had a different view.

Aden was reached on the 27^th of November, and more coal and provisions were taken on board, and the vessel was covered in coal dust.  Most of it was stored on the Steerage deck, so the Steerage passengers were allowed to use part of the 2^nd class deck space.   As the vessel headed now for Australia, Whales were spotted along side, and this caused great excitement amongst the passengers, most who having lived in rural parts of Germany had never seen the sea before let alone been out on it.

For the next few days, there was a mixture of storms and perfect seas, and the passengers experienced the effects, but on the morning of the 8^th of December they learnt that a passenger had died during the night and had been hastily buried at sea.  The following day rumours started to spread as the passengers were requested to be vaccinated for Smallpox.

The vessel continued to sail toward Western Australia, still rolling, but now most of the passengers had become accustomed to this.  Sporting carnivals were held on board with the younger passengers having running races around the deck.  On the afternoon of the 14^th of December they sited Australia for the first time, and the next day the Pilot came out from Albany.

Unfortunately the 1^st thing the Captain told him was that there was Smallpox on board, and the Pilot immediately told him to raise the Yellow Flag at the masthead, this being the International warning for Smallpox on vessels.  More Coal was sent out to the vessel and some of the German Steerage passengers moved the coal on board, receiving 1/- per hour for their work.

The vessel sailed on to Port Adelaide, but  the news of Smallpox had proceeded them, and when they arrived on the 20^th the Captain had to inform the Harbour Doctor that another passenger had died.  They were immediately order back out 10 miles to sea to bury the deceased passenger.  27 Passengers disembarked but they were being sent to a Quarantine Station.  The Melbourne passengers started to worry and wonder what would happen when they arrived there.

On the 23^rd of December , 1886 the “Preussen” arrived at Hobson’s Bay in Victoria.  At 3 p.m.  the 240 passengers were allowed to disembark but it was to the Quarantine Station and not to the Port of Melbourne.  But although the passengers were dishearten that they were quarantined, there was a good Australian meat tea awaiting them, which they all thoroughly enjoyed, “Tea in cups, clean plates, &c,&c, was something to be remembered after 6 weeks of stuffy dirty semi starvation.” [ii]

For the next 4 weeks the passengers lived at the Quarantine Station, enjoying the clean living, good food and fresh air, but at the same time, watching the number of passengers affected by small pox gradually increase.  On Christmas Day a full Christmas fare was provided, and a dance in the evening was held, but the next day isolation of a number of people started to take place.  By the 4^th of January 1887 there were 25 admissions to the Isolation area.

On the 11^th the authorities stopped any one from sending letters outside the Quarantine Station, as they were worried they this might spread the contagion to the colony.  To pass the time Cricket matches were held on the grounds, but whether the German passengers (including Theodore) took part I do not know.

On the 28^th of January the passengers who had not been affected were allowed to leave and head in to Melbourne, to commence their new lives in Australia.

---

[i] Diary on the N.G.L. Ship Preussen, November 1886-January 1887, by Thomas Platt

[ii] Diary on the N.G.L. Ship Preussen, November 1886-January 1887, by Thomas Platt

Knowing Theodore - Part 2

On finding the Statuary Declaration made by my father changing his name, I spoke with my mother one day, telling her that I had come across it. Her initial reaction was “you just can’t help yourself!” She then went on to say that I was not to speak with my father about it, or tell my brother & sister. She said that Dad was very much ashamed of being born illegitimate and that he had run away from home at an early age because his stepfather had beaten him.

In 1984 I decided to write to my Dad’s sister Mary, and try and get information from her on my grandparents. In all honesty at this stage I was only thinking of my dad’s mother, Mary May Brice, as at least I knew her name.

Aunty Mary told me that her mother had died in 1937 from cancer and a nervous breakdown after finding out that the cancer was incurable. She also said that her mother had married Theodore Wilhelm Vetter, who she had met in Greenock (in the Barossa Valley) in about 1914.

In the same letter she also said “Don’t worry too much about your ancestors, I don’t, build up a good life for yourself, wife and young ones, that really is all that counts. I envy your youth, so you be grateful too & make the future good for you & yours, compared with my youth you are very lucky.”

I now went in search of more certificates and found both my paternal grandparents death certificates, though my grandmother’s was registered under Netter and Theodore’s under Vetters.

Life was changing for me now, and the research into the family started to drop off. I separated from my wife & moved back to Sydney in 1991, and work took me travelling around Australia. For the year 1995 I was based in Adelaide but I never tried to look up anything about my father’s family.

It was during this year that my father started to get seriously ill, and he did start to talk about his youth. He mentioned the street where he lived at Brighton in Adelaide, in the early 1920s, that they had money, and a big German car, the only one of it’s kind in Adelaide. I asked Dad why he had changed his name, and he told me that his step-father had beaten him, and he had run away. They had sent the police after him, who had also beaten him and put him in a boy’s home. He decided to run away again, but change his name so they could not find him. I asked how he decided on the name, and he said he had picked it out of a newspaper.

One weekend while working in Adelaide I visited Brighton. I found the house where Dad lived and I wanted to take a photo of it to show my father. I knocked on the door and asked the owner if they would mind me taking a photo from the front yard so I could show my dad. They were very kind and invited me in to the house to show me the rooms. They also showed me the original certificate of title, with my grandmother’s name on it. They promised to photo-copy the certificate and post it on to me.

When I got the photo of the house in Brighton printed, Dad was so excited. He got out of bed (the first time in weeks) and rang his sister to tell her I had been in the home. This was early December 1995, and Dad passed away on the 18^th of that month.

Once again my research stopped.

It was not till October 2009 when a friend who was tracing his family history told me that there was a new website that allowed you to search Australian newspapers. I decided to have a look and found that they had the Adelaide Advertiser online. I quickly typed in Theodore Vetter and up came a vast number of entries for him, but one jumped out at me.

September 5, 1919 – MORE DIVORCE CASES – A Wife’s Petition.

Here was an article outlining the divorce proceedings of Theodore Vetter and his first wife. The article also mentioned that he had committed adultery with a Mary May Brice (my grandmother) but more importantly for me was a statement by Theodore that he “was the father of two children by Miss Brice”.

After 32 years of researching, 25 years from 1^st seeing his name, here was finally proof that Theodore Wilhelm Vetter was my grandfather!

Knowing Theodore

When I was about 13 I started becoming interested in my family history. I had 2 grandparents, Grandfather and Grandma, who were my mum's parents. There was never any mention of my dad's parents. They were dead, had died many years before I was born. According to my parents wedding certificate, their names were Theodore William Brady and Mary Agatha Price.

Tracing my mum's family was simple, my grandfather provided initial names, and with that I went off and discovered so much, 6 convicts ancestors, upstanding citizens in Newcastle, Mittagong, Berrima & Young. Leaders of the community.

My maternal grandfather said one thing to me, "be careful of what you go looking for you might not like what you find". I told my mother this and she said that it was nothing.

My dad was born in Adelaide, so knowing his date of birth and the names of his parents I wrote of to the South Australia Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, for his birth certificate. I got back a "No Record". This didn't stop me, so I wrote off for a marriage certificate of a Theodore William Brady and Mary Agatha Price, "No Record."

I gave up, and continued with my mum's family for the next few years.

In 1975 my dad was contacted by the Red Cross. They had a letter from someone trying to get in contact with him. It was his sister Mary, who he said he had not seen since before the war.

Contact was made, and Mary and her husband, Bob Morris, visited our home at Greenacre, but none of us children met them then.

Knowing I now had an aunty, I decided to write for her birth certificate. The reply was again "No record."

My interest in family history fell away and I left it all packed under my bed.

By 1984 I was now married and the father of 2, and had just bought a house in Casino. I wanted to know who owned the house and how old it was, so on a visit to Sydney that year I went into the Registrar-General's Office in Sydney to look up the Title Deeds.

I was sent to the wrong indexes and did not find my title deed, but there was a reference there that caught my eye.

Brady, Alan Louis - see Brice, Lewis Frank.

There were no other details, just a reference number. I quickly went and asked to view the document.

It was a statuary declaration dated July 6, 1982 saying that since 1930 dad had been using the name Alan Louis Brady, but that his actual birth name was Lewis Frank Brice.

I immediately wrote of to get his birth certificate and at last a certificate was returned.

It stated that his mother's name was May May Brice and that the father's name was unknown. The informant was the matron of the hospital where he was born.

I then wrote off for dad's sister's certificate. A certificate was returned. Again mother Mary May Brice, father unknown.

There was a difference - the informant was T.W. Vetter, Employer.

This was my 1st connection with the man who 25 years later would finally be confirmed as my paternal grandfather.