[5] The allegations investigated included: Then there were the numerous allegations of other categories of serious impropriety, including: The report by Justice Nevitt regarding the administration of the Palm Island settlement, found that despite excessive drinking, bickering between Curry and Pattison, and the provision of alcohol to residents, that the management of the settlement was entirely adequate and acceptable.
[4] In releasing the Nevitt Report (after the tragedy), Queensland Premier Moore said that he was informed by his Home Department that the discipline at Palm Island had been good and management effective.
According to the hospital attendant he then intended to return to Palm Island and "clean off" the rest of the whites, then wait for the police boat to "have a bit of fun with them".
[19] Morcom believed that Curry was playing a practical joke, until a dinghy arrived to obtain his help and take him to Great Palm Island.
[15] Curry returned in the afternoon brandishing two firearms, when he was met on the beach by a small party of young Indigenous residents.
[19] Several young Aboriginal men, including Peter Prior, Harold Conway, Clive Beckett, Caeser Anning, Jimmy Harvey and Ellison Obah were provided with arms and sent down to the beach to patrol and await the return of Superintendent Curry from Fantome Island.
'[22] Assistant-Superintendent Hoffman is reported to have told Ellison Obah that 'I will give anyone £1 to get Curry, and I will stand the responsibility.
[24] Prior fired two shells from the shotgun, hitting Curry in the abdomen, chest, head and arms.
Presumably he was referring to Justice Nivett, who was conducting an inquiry into allegations against Curry at that time, and whose report to the Secretary of Home Affairs was due to be handed down on 7 February 1930.
It has been suggested that Curry was fearful that he should lose his position and his livelihood and that he had an unhealthy attachment to the Settlement.
[30] There was an immediate outcry about the situation on Palm Island and within the Home Secretary's Department, with several parties – including the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League,[31] calling for a full, open inquiry into the events.
Speaking soon after the tragedy, Mr Gall, described the situation: "In my opinion, Curry for some years had an obsession that he was to be superseded in his position.
[14] The irony of this situation was described by Dr Joanne Watson, who examined the incident at length in her 1994 doctoral thesis: Despite the seriousness of these charges and the further evidence provided to Nevitt of bitter feuding amongst the administration on Palm, his report argued that 'he found a high state of efficiency, both externally and internally, in the administration of the settlement', and that 'the management reflected the greatest credit on all concerned.'
This must have been one of the grimmest ironies in the history of Queensland, for on the very day that this report reached the Home Office, Curry ran amok, clad in a red bathing suit and armed with dynamite, petrol and revolvers he blew up the reserves' main administrative buildings, set fire to the homes of other officials, shot the doctor and his wife, set fire to the island and murdered his own children.
Despite the volumes of evidence provided and the need to examine 27 witnesses, this inquest was concluded on 28 March 1930, after sitting for only 28 hours all-told.
Assistant-Superintendent Hoffman also denied responsibility for arming the Aboriginal men, including Peter Prior, attempted to deny any knowledge that they were in fact armed, or that they intended to confront Superintendent Curry, that he had told them to do so and even suggested that the Aboriginal men had told him to leave and protect the women and children.
[38] When the remaining matters, namely the murder charge against Peter Prior and the charge of procuring someone to commit murder against Hoffman, reached the Northern Supreme Court, Mr Justice Robert Douglas had the following discussion with the lead prosecutor, Mr Ross: His Honor: The facts outlined by you, Mr. Ross, are this: Curry attempted to kill the doctor and his wife, killed his children, burnt his house down, and burnt Hoffman's house.