Bill Wallace: the world’s oldest prisoner, who died at 107 in an asylum in Ararat
In 1925 in Melbourne, two young men were having lunch in a cafe in King Street, Melbourne when one of them lit a cigarette. Another diner confronted them and a brawl ensued outside. The complainer, Bill Wallace, was set upon and bashed. He pulled out a pistol and shot one of the men. With no court appearance, Wallace was incarcerated for the rest of his extraordinarily long life in mental asylums. At 107, Bill made it into the Guiness Book of Records as the oldest prisoner in the world. But his schizophrenia was never treated. Guest: Gideon Haigh, journalist and author of Who is Wallace? The Enigma of the World’s Oldest Prisoner” published by the Archives Liberation Front. Producer: Catherine Zengerer
Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast · Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Show Notes
In 1925 in Melbourne, two young men were having lunch in a cafe in King Street, Melbourne when one of them lit a cigarette. Another diner confronted them and a brawl ensued outside. The complainer, Bill Wallace, was set upon and bashed. He pulled out a pistol and shot one of the men. With no court appearance, Wallace was incarcerated for the rest of his extraordinarily long life in mental asylums. At 107, Bill made it into the Guiness Book of Records as the oldest prisoner in the world. But his schizophrenia was never treated.
- Guest: Gideon Haigh, journalist and author of Who is Wallace? The Enigma of the World’s Oldest Prisoner” published by the Archives Liberation Front.
- Producer: Catherine Zengerer