Olive Amelia Moodie was born in 1882 in Omeo, Victoria, fourth of the eleven children of Stephen Robert Moodie and Elizabeth nee Jones.
Stephen Moodie was first a storekeeper, and later an inspector of gold dredges.
About 1905 Moodie became manager of the No 2 Creek Sluicing Company’s claim and the family moved to Avoca. Olive Moodie taught sewing there and conducted classes in the Avoca Presbyterian Sunday School.
On 1 May 1906 Stephen Moodie died of enteric fever and was buried at Avoca Cemetery.
The Elizabeth Moodie and her daughters moved to Melbourne.
In 1907 Olive’s sister Ada married Peter Leyden and returned to Avoca.
On 17 November 1910 Annie Moodie died from what was suspected to have been food poisoning. Two days later her sister Alma died with similar symptoms.
A week later on 23 November 1910 Elizabeth Moodie died. An inquest found that she had died of arsenic poisoning. The bodies of Elizabeth’s daughters were exhumed. They also had died from arsenic poisoning. The body of Olive’s father, who had died suddenly five years before at Avoca, was also exhumed on 27 January 1911. He was found not to have died from poison.
Olive was charged with the murder of her mother and two sisters.
Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.), Wednesday 30 November 1910, page 7
FAMILY AT AVOCA.
ACCUSED A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.
Avoca. 29 November.
Stephen Moodie, with his wife and family of five daughters and two boys, arrived at Avoca some five years ago. The father was manager of the No 2 Creek Sluicing Company's claim for a South Australian Company. He left the position of Government sludge inspector to take up the position. He was of a very active and energetic disposition, and was very popular in sporting circles, being a good cricketer. After residing here for upwards of 12 months he was seized with illness, and died somewhat suddenly. Much sympathy was felt for the family, who after a brief sojourn left to take up their residence in Melbourne. The oldest daughter, Mrs. P. Leyden, was married here, and resides in the district. Olive Moodie, who has been arrested, taught sewing here and conducted classes in the local Presbyterian Sunday School.
The jury could not agree on a verdict in the first trial, so a second trial was held. This time, Olive was found Not Guilty and was acquitted. The evidence against her had been entirely circumstantial.
Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 1 April 1911, page 40
THE MATRICIDE CASE,
OLIVE MOODIE ACQUITTED.
The second trial of Olive Amelia Moodie 24 years of age, who was charged with having at Prahran, on November 23 last, wilfully murdered her mother, Elizabeth Moodie, by administering to her the poison arsenic, was concluded in the Criminal Court on Thursday evening before the Chief Justice and a jury of 12. The prisoner was found not guilty, and was discharged. After the first trial, held in February, the jury had failed to agree.
Mr. Woinarski prosecuted for the Crown and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Detbridge (instructed by Mr. H. Duigan).
After counsel had addressed the jury, The Chief Justice summed up. He said that so far as the girls Annie and Alma were concerned there was no suggestion of suicide, and except for a remark attributed to the mother, that she would do for all of them, there was nothing to account for Mrs. Moodie taking her own life or that of her daughters. It was clear that the administration of arsenic must be looked for inside the circle of the Moodie family. In getting the second parcel of arsenic the prisoner had been perfectly frank and open. The day after the prisoner got the second lot of arsenic her sister Annie died; and Alma became so ill the next day that she had to be removed to the hospital. The circumstances surrounding the finding of within .05 of a whole grain of arsenic in the bottle of medicine taken from the shop to the mother's room by Mrs. Staggot's were impressive. It was brought to the shop, and from the shop had found its way to where the mother lived. It was for the jury to say what was the importance of the prisoner having said to the detectives that she had not any arsenic, when in fact she had. It was asked why did not the prisoner if she had murdered her mother, hasten to make away with what remained of the arsenic, but it was to be remembered that by that, after the death of the mother, the danger was over, the doctors were satisfied that the death was due to ptomaine poisoning, the magistrate at the inquiry had found that death was due to ptomaine poisoning, and thus the reason for fear was gone. As for motive, none could be suggested, except that the prisoner wanted to get rid of the £1/17/6 which she had to pay for her mother's board. It was almost inconceivable that any person could murder another for £1/17/6; but associated with that was the fact that the prisoner was heavily in debt-her liabilities amounted to £168/15/6. The importance of these financial embarrassments was that they showed the prisoner to be a woman not to be trusted; a woman of no credit, who would resort to all sorts of dodges to play off one creditor against another. It had been said that the prisoner was of a kindly and generous disposition, and in such cases character was always of the highest importance.
The Chief Justice concluded:- "If you gentlemen of the jury, can say you are satisfied that this thing, which most assuredly has been done, was brought about by the hand of the prisoner, it is your duty to find her guilty; but if, on the other hand, you are unable to so satisfy yourselves, it will be your duty to acquit her."
The jury retired to consider their verdict at 25 minutes to 6 o'clock, the Chief Justice having announced that he would return to court at 8 o'clock. Before that hour, the body of the court was filled with persons, a large proportion of those present being women. At 20 minutes to 9 the jury announced that they had agreed upon their verdict. Upon the Chief Justice resuming his seat on the bench, in answer to the usual question the foreman of the jury announced the verdict "Not guilty."
Mr. Woinarski.- I have to announce that there were two other charges against the prisoner, but in view of the verdict of the jury the Crown does not now intend to file any further presentment.
The Chief Justice.-The prisoner is discharged.
Olive Moodie, who had listened to the verdict with composure, stepped slowly from the dock, and, after receiving the embrace of her relatives and friends, was escorted from the building.
After the trial Olive Moodie moved to New South Wales where she married Michael William Sullivan, a miner, in Cobar. They had two children, whose births were registered at Nyngan, and then moved to Queensland. There they had four more children.
Olive Sullivan died on 27 January 1935 at Brisbane.
Wikitree: Olive Amelia (Moodie) Sullivan (1882-1935)]
