Who Killed Dot Everett?

On the morning of Sunday 28 November 1937, the body of “Dot” Everett was found in the grounds of the Broughton Church of England Boys’ School in Newcastle. She had worked at the school as a kitchen maid for only seven weeks before her death.¹

Dorothy May Everett was born in Newcastle in 1910.² The family later settled in Taree, where her father was employed as a “loco driver”. As a young woman Dot was for some time employed by Mrs Haddan in Taree, before seeking work further afield – in Sydney and Newcastle.³

The inquest into her death revealed that she was a quiet young woman, of good character, and had a boyfriend named Thomas Michael Donegan whom she had met in Taree some three years earlier.⁴ She was reported to have been afraid of someone in Taree and a rumour spread regarding an arrest.⁵ In reality the police investigation was stalling and a reward of £200 was offered for information.⁶

The cause of death was strangulation but one unusual aspect of the murder was the presence of human bite marks on her breasts.⁷

Leonard William Roberts, employed at the school as a gardener/handyman, was arrested and tried for the crime but with circumstantial evidence only, he was acquitted.⁸ So, who did kill Dot?

Author: Penny Teerman