It was a century ago this week in 1924 that something happened for one Halloween event in Queensland that led to a number of hellish incidents. I told a version of this story live on radio 4WK.

It was the Halloween party held by the Caledonian Society in the old Philharmonic Hall on Herries Street, Toowoomba.  Outcomes lead to the question did the president sell his soul to fulfil political ambition and so effect the innocent lives of those around him.

Ken Hillocks won the prize for best poster at the party in question. Later on a rifle he was carrying exploded, shooting him in the chest. He survived, but later when he knocked on the door of a bookmaker in Margaret Street, the man answered and dropped dead in his arms.

Then there was Melba Sigston, she came to Halloween dressed as a half woman, half man. Afterwards her father was convicted of theft even though he claimed that he had been drunk for a week, and was not aware that he had stolen anything. Melba then married a man who had been convicted of theft that involved smashing a shop window on Raff Street and a fully loaded revolver. Melba was the first of three wives for the man and none of them fared particularly well. By the time Melba turned thirty-three she was dead.

And there was the chieftain of Toowoomba’s Caledonian Society. He was Dr. David Horn. The night of the event Dr. Horn spoke of the spirits of Halloween. Not long afterwards the doctor’s mother visited Tara on the western Downs hoping that the change of air would do her good. But as soon as she got there the woman dropped dead.

In a seemingly unrelated matter, the long-time deputy mayor of Toowoomba, Alderman Ronald Rupert Rushmore Rivett, unexpectedly resigned. He was one of the best-known people in town. He was charged with stealing a Studebaker car valued at over £100. His arrest caused a sensation In Toowoomba. It was eventually found that he had no case to answer, but the damage had been done. Not only did Alderman Rivett lose his job as deputy mayor, but his son who was a bank clerk would be killed in a freak accident during the Second World War.

The man who benefited from Rivett’s fall from grace was Alderman Alexander Cathro. He was a champion at the hammer throwing, tossing the caber, and wrestling. When presented with the opportunity, Cathro grabbed the office of deputy mayor. Today there’s even a Cathro Park in Toowoomba named after him. The fact is Cathro was chairman of the Caledonian Society at the time of the 1924 Halloween from hell.

The committee of the Caledonian Society itself then appeared cursed. It was not long afterwards that the president James McLeod, treasurer Robert McAlphine, and committee member the former Toowoomba mayor Robert Sinclair, all died suddenly and in rapid succession.

So one wonders – did Alexander Cathro sell his soul for the benefit of his political ambition. And was the price he paid the lives of those around him on Halloween 100 years ago. Halloween does provide some curious questions on occasion.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD ON RADIO 4WK.

Photo credits:
Halloween from Hell – image generated by WordPress AI.
Dr. David Horn Snr – Telegraph, Brisbane, 28th July 1934, page 13.
Toowoomba council meeting, Alexander Cathro bottom left – Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 10th February 1932, page 10.
Alexander Cathro – Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 15th July 1930, page 10.