Barry Dickins to talk on Squizzy Taylor: 16 November 2006
October 22nd, 2006
Barry Dickins is to speak about Squizzy Taylor on at the Collingwood Library on Thursday 16 November 2006 at 6.30 p.m. (bookings 1300 650 444). The library is in Abbotsford, next to Collingwood Town Hall on Hoddle St and Collingwood Station. Dickins’s play “Squizzy Taylor” has apparently just completed a successful season at the Carlton Courthouse Theatre, but I missed it. I’m glad it was successful because this lover of Smith St sounded a bit down on the writing side of things in this article. Joseph “Squizzy” Taylor was born in 1888 and shot dead in 1927, aged 39, having married at St James’s Fitzroy, committed murder at Glenferrie Station in 1923, and died at St. Vincent’s after a Carlton shootout. According to the brilliant online edition of the Australian Dictionary of Biography:
“Between 1913 and 1916 Taylor was linked to several more violent crimes including the murder and robbery of Arthur Trotter, a commercial traveller, the burglary of the Melbourne Trades Hall, in which a police constable was killed, and the murder of William Patrick Haines, a driver who refused to participate in the hold-up of a bank manager at Bulleen. Taylor was tried for the murder of Haines and found not guilty. Although rarely convicted after 1917, Taylor remained a key figure in an increasingly violent and wealthy underworld. His income came from armed robbery, prostitution, the sale of illegal liquor and drugs, as well as from race-fixing and protection rackets. With Paddy Boardman, he conducted an efficient and lucrative business in rigging juries, a service of which he made regular use. …
‘Squizzy’ was a colourful figure in the drinking and gambling clubs of Fitzroy, Richmond and Carlton. A dapper little man who dressed loudly, he strutted through the courts, race-courses and theatres. While hiding from the police, he wrote letters and verse to the press. Yet he had few redeeming qualities. Taylor won lasting notoriety by imitating the style of American bootleggers; he never matched their influence or immunity from the law, and at the time of his death could no longer command fear or loyalty from the underworld.”
11 Responses to “Barry Dickins to talk on Squizzy Taylor: 16 November 2006”
01
I have a photo of Squizzy taylor (found amongst family photo’s) as a young man probably early 20’s with 4 other men and am trying to find out our connection with him, if we are related!!!! did he have a sister?
02
Carol, will you send me a scan of the photo for use on the blog?
03
i believe my grand father joe barnett/ barrister at law defended taylor pehaps murder charge not sure? would appreciate any information
04
I have recently found out that Squizzy Taylor is my great great uncle. i have read the book runner and i would like to find out whom it was he married, so i can know how it is i am related.
05
I have found out that my grandmother’s name was queenie taylor before she was married to william spears, perhaps her first name was a nickname I don’t know as she was deceased before I was born and only heard her referred to as Queenie by my mum and dad, she was born around 1886, I was wondering if she is the connection with the photo I found amongst our family photo’s (see first entry dated aug 28th 2007)
06
squizzy Taylor is da best gangsta eva
07
We have a family legend that a police officer Haywood was stabbed (and survived) by one of Squizzy’s associates. I am seeking any information re this alleged incident.
08
i am a desenent of squizzy taylor i am 19 years of age and i have two older brothers myself and my second oldest brother have a very short fuse and were always watch by my mother growing up fearing that we have the gene that makes us a (theodore) taylor i seem to loose control if i get pulled over by the cops and have been in some punch ups where i have had to be draged off the person my father had the theodore gene as well and my mum said that she hopes that it doesnt make us bad people.
09
I am also a decendent. At 20 years old I am his great great grandaughter. I decend as follows: Squizzy had a son called Mervyn whom was my great grandfather. He committed suicide in 1988. When Mervyn was born Squizzy changed his surname to MacGilllivray (Mervyn's mothers name) to protect him. Mervyn had a number of children to different women one being my grandfather, Robert MacGilllivray (now spelt McGillvery) Robert had a son Anthony (my father) and a daughter (Raylene). I am one of three girls. My great grandfather (Mervyn), My grand father and my father all served in the Navy. Ironically i am a law student.
10
Not so much a comment, but a question. I own a property in Cranbourne purchased in 1966 off a lady called May Hilton who, title records show, took possession in 1925. Local anecdotal stories claim that Sqizzy Taylor owned the property and that May Hilton was Sqizzies mistress – or that she was the mistress of a lawyer who acted for Squizzy and received the property as payment. However Titles Office records do not seem to bear this out. The stories that Squizzy owned the property come from a number of diffent people some of whom have now passed on. He was reputed to have used the property, which was bushland when acquired by my family, for cycling races upon which there was illegal gambling.
I would appreciate any comments on this subject.
11
Hi Peter unfortunatly I do not have any information for you. But I thought it worth mentioning my husband and I have recently purchased a place in Old Belgrave Road, Upper Ferntree Gully claimed to be "the house of Squizzy". I know little about the history of the home but apparently is well known in the area he did live there at some point. I have also been told that possibly he had ladys staying under the house and would get them out with a gold coin?? I have no idea what this means and I somehow relate it to possibly prostitution… if anyone knows anything I would appreciate your comments.
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