For the first and probably only time in Australian history, in 1937 a murder trial was held in a Sunday school. I told a version of this story live on Ipswich’s West Bremer Radio.

It happened because the Ipswich courthouse, which was built in 1859, was being renovated, and so the circuit sittings of the Queensland Supreme Court were held in the Congregational Sunday school across the road. Locals know it now as the Uniting Church Memorial Hall in East Street and it’s still there today.

Earlier proceedings there concerned Mr. Bates who was tried in the Sunday school after absconding with funds belonging to his work’s holiday club. Just weeks later, this historic murder trial kicked off, and it was nothing short of sensational.

Once again, the trial was before his Honour Mr. Justice Edward Douglas, who was the son of the Queensland premier and grandnephew of the Marquess of Queensberry.

Wilhelm Frederick Brauer was charged with wilfully murdering his wife Wilhelmine Mary Brauer at Roadvale just thirty minutes south of Ipswich.

Brauer and his wife lived apart. Brauer had bought a house for his wife at Roadvale from a Mrs. Louisa Stumer, who then went to live with him at his farm at Milbong just outside of town.

One evening just after midnight, a fire was seen in the bedroom of Mrs. Brauer’s house. The house was destroyed, and in the ruins Mrs. Brauer’s charred body was found. She had died a violent death before the fire from two severe blows to the head while she lay in bed.

Everything pointed to the guilt of her husband Mr. Brauer. Brauer was behind in his maintenance payments to his wife. He had bought the house for £250 and had it over-insured for double that. A man fitting Brauer’s description was seen leaving the house at the time of the fire. A tracker, who was the famous police black tracker and prize boxer Ted Duggan, found sandshoe tracks matching Brauer’s shoes, leading from the fire to Brauer’s house. When police informed Brauer of his wife’s death, he had a fresh bleeding cut on his hand, which Brauer said he had got a few days earlier. His shirt was blood stained. And when taken to the scene of the fire, Brauer walked straight to where his wife’s remains were, without any guidance.

Among those giving evidence for the prosecution was Brauer’s daughter Miss Hilda Brauer.

There was also a Mrs. Therese Smith who testified that she heard footsteps and two dull thuds just prior to the fire.

Brauer was actually tried twice in the Sunday school. The first trial ended with the discharge of the jury because certain evidence was ruled as inadmissible. He was supported every day throughout both trials by his share farmer and companion Mrs Stumer.

The defence asserted that a man might be an adulterer, a wife deserter, or a wife beater, but that did not make him a murderer.

After a retirement of six hours and twenty minutes, the jury found Brauer “not guilty”.

His daughter Hilda began to cry hysterically, and she continued long after the chamber had been cleared.

After six months on remand, Brauer returned to his farm with Mrs Stumer. They were shunned by locals. Residents even openly discussed getting up a petition to have the murder trial reopened.

Three months later, Brauer’s daughter Hilda got married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ipswich. She was not given away by her father, but rather her uncle on her mother’s side.

Mrs Smith, who gave evidence against Brauer, was later charged with setting fire to the station master’s house at Roadvale. Brauer was a chief witness. Mrs Smith was found not guilty, and the finger was pointed firmly at Bauer as being the real arsonist. Mrs Smith later won a defamation case after it was said three times in front of her husband that she was, quote, “Nothing but a big fat [expletive].”

So Roadvale was an exciting place both before and after the murder, but it was Ipswich that in 1937 grabbed the unique honour by hosting the first, and probably only, murder trial in a Sunday school in Australian history.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD ON WEST BREMER RADIO.

Photo credits:
Wedding photo of Wilhelm and Wilhelmine nee Zirbel, 1908 – Find a Grave uploaded by Judy 2025.
Uniting Church Central Memorial Hall, Ipswich – Google Maps 2025.
Hilda Brauer led sobbing from the court – Truth, Brisbane, 11th April 1937, page 1.
Wilhem Frederick Brauer and his companion Mrs Stumer at midnight following the trial – Truth, Brisbane, 11th April 1937, page 1.
St John’s Lutheran Church, 32 Roderick Street, Ipswich, 1959 – Whitehead Studios, Picture Ipswich.