[4] As a part of this role, at the time based at the Heavitree Gap Police Station,[5] South formed acquaintances with and was respected by Francis Gillen, Baldwin Spencer and Edward Stirling; all of whom were leaders in their fields.
[3] Willshire was the first police officer in Australia to be charged for murder for the shooting of two Aboriginal men, Roger and Donkey, at Tempe Downs Station in 1891 and South assisted Gillen in his investigation of the deaths.
[5] South also gave evidence in the 1913 Royal Commission on the Aborigines, which was called for by Gillen, which related to these, and similar, murders in this period[6][7] South is also credited for preventing early European settlers to Central Australia from cutting down River red gums along the Todd River for building supplies; for this Stuart Traynor credits him as being "the town's first greenie".
[5] In 1895 South was removed from his position in Alice Springs because of his involvement in the Stuart Arms Hotel and investment in mining shares:[3] there were also accusations of poddy dodging, the theft of unbranded cattle, the charges about which were dismissed by the magistrates court as being unproved.
In this role South sought to provide shelter, food and clothing to 'full descent' Aboriginal people so that they would be "comfortable and happy for the remainder of their lives".