It’s the 150th anniversary of reports of “Ellen the Cutter” gracing the streets of Dalby, Queensland. I told a version of this story live on Darling Downs radio 4AK.

In May 1875 reports appeared of an Eleanor Clinch being charged in the police court in Dalby with stealing a silver watch, gold chain, and a cashbox containing upwards of £35 in cheques and notes.

But this story is far more remarkable than that.

The accused was known by many names. Ellen Clinch alias Ellen Simple, alias Ellen Morris, alias Ellen Morley, and most impressive of all – alias “Ellen the Cutter”.

Prior to Ellen the Cutter’s appearance in Dalby, across a 20-year career, she had at least 34 court appearances and 17 convictions for things like drunk and disorderly, obscene language, stealing clothes and cashboxes, and for good measure one for prostitution.

Ellen showed a remarkable talent for ensuring both evidence and witnesses rarely saw the light of day. She was discharged in half the charges she faced for lack of evidence or witnesses simply changing their statements.

But when she came to Dalby, Ellen made one fatal mistake that was her undoing.

In 1875, Ellen went to work for the Dalby horse breaker and well-known racing identity Morgan Cavanagh. He was the owner of equally well-known racehorse Carbine. That’s not the Melbourne Cup-winning Carbine, but the original by that name that dominated Dalby horse racing right from the early days, winning the Maiden Plate, Dalby Town Plate, and Christmas Handicap right off the bat.

Anyway, one night Ellen aroused Cavanagh, telling him that she noticed a man running away from the stable which Carbine occupied. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanagh got up, and Cavanagh searched the stables but found no one there and the horse quite undisturbed. On coming back in, he thought of his cashbox and looked for it in his bedroom but found it was gone and with it £35, as well as with his watch and chain. Suspecting his servant Ellen, he sent for the police.

The watch in a pair of old trousers was discovered buried with near the house, and the empty cash box was also found outside. The police had no evidence against Ellen, and she of course denied all knowledge, so she was let go.

The next morning, Ellen went to visit a Mrs. Catherine Moran who herself was a convicted thief, having only just been released after six months imprisonment for stealing a significant amount of money including nineteen gold half sovereigns. Anyway, Ellen was allowed to go into the bedroom to “do up” her hair and that’s when she appropriated a pair of earrings lying on the dressing table. When faced with the accusation, Ellen was of course indignant and demanded to be searched, which didn’t happen.

Ellen then went to visit the boarding house in Cunningham Street of Mrs. Mary Anne Green, who herself would shortly be charged with robbing a lodger. This is when Ellen made her mistake, you see she asked Mrs. Green to look after a pair of earrings for her. Mrs Green immediately informed the police and “Ellen the Cutter” was now captured with the evidence to convict.

Faced with this information in the Dalby court, Ellen elected to be dealt with summarily and was sent to the Toowoomba gaol to be laid up for three months. This signalled pretty much then end of her storied career.

But how did she get her name “Ellen the Cutter”? Back then, “cutter” was someone who cut cloth and sold the pieces, and Ellen did have a liking for stealing clothes, so maybe that’s where she got her name.

But there’s so much extra to tell about “Ellen the Cutter”. So in the coming weeks I may have more to share about this 19th century villain who came undone when she went to Dalby.

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

Photo credits:
Ellen the Cutter in Dalby courthouse – ChatGPT Image May 20, 2025.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing in Australia – Scone Vet Dynasty website, 2019.
Cunningham Street, Dalby – Aussie~mobs Flickr page, 2018.