Frank Tenison Brennan (1884–1949)
from Morning Bulletin
Mr Justice Frank Tenison Brennan, who for 23 years resided in Rockhampton as Central Judge of the Supreme Court, died in the Brisbane Mater Private Hospital on Saturday afternoon. He had been an inmate of the hospital for several weeks, suffering from heart trouble. He was 64 years of age.
While in Rockhampton Mr Justice Brennan and Mrs Brennan took a prominent part in social welfare and sporting activities.
Mr Justice Brennan was born in Maryborough and educated at the Christian Brothers' College there. He practised as a solicitor at Toowoomba from 1913 to 1918, when he was elected Member of Parliament for Toowoomba.
In 1923, Mr Justice Brennan was appointed Minister in Charge of Health and Local Authorities, and the following year. Education Minister.
The same year he was admitted to the Bar, and in 1925 he was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench on the retirement of Mr Justice Shand, receiving a commission as Central Judge. With his consent he was transferred to Brisbane in September, 1947.
The death of Mr Justice Brennan recalls the famous "bribery case" of 1922, one of the most sensational incidents in Queensland's political history.
On August 14, 1922, two men, Sleeman and Connolly, were arrested for having attempted to bribe Mr Brennan.
It was established at their trial that the object was to induce Mr Brennan to cross the House to bring down the Government. It was stated that he was offered £3500.
The men were trapped at Mr Brennan's house, where holes had been bored in the walls to allow detectives and short-hand writers to obtain a complete record of their conversations.
They were sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and fined £500 each.
Mr Justice Brennan leaves a wife, one son (Gerard, law student), and two daughters. Misses Anne (his associate) and Mary.
Original publication
Other Obituaries for Frank Tenison Brennan
- Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), 10 August 1949, p 7
Additional Resources
- John Sleeman and Edward Connolly are charged with attempting to bribe Brennan, Queenslander, 19 August 1922, p 16
- report on their committal trial, Brisbane Courier, 29 August 1922, p 7
- report on their committal trial, Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 30 August 1922, p 9
- report on their committal trial, Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), 1 September 1922, p 8
- report on their committal trial, Queenslander, 2 September 1922, p 15
- they are committed for trial, Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), 2 September 1922, p 9
- report on their trial, Brisbane Courier, 27 September 1922, p 5
- the accused are found guilty and remanded for sentence, Brisbane Courier, 29 September 1922, p 6
- Sleeman and Connolly are fined 300 pds each and sentenced to three months' gaol, Gippsland Times (Vic), 2 October 1922, p 1
- Sleeman and Connolly are to appeal against their conviction, Cairns Post (Qld), 7 October 1922, p 5
- report of Full Court appeal, Cairns Post (Qld), 11 October 1922, p 5
- the prisoners' fines have been paid and they are to be released from gaol, Brisbane Courier, 24 November 1922, p 6
- Brennan is admitted as a barrister, Cairns Post (Qld), 28 July 1924, p 4
- is appointed a Supreme Court judge, Brisbane Courier, 26 February 1925, p 8
- many lawyers have expressed surprise at Brennan's appointment as a Supreme Crt judge, Argus (Melbourne), 27 February 1925, p 8
- wins the monthly medal competition of the Rockhampton Golf Club, Brisbane Courier, 20 August 1928, p 9
- three criminals in gaol plotted to shoot Brennan, Cairns Post (Qld), 25 August 1932, p 4
- funeral, Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 9 August 1949, p 4
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Brennan, Frank Tenison
- Brennan, Gertrude Teresa (daughter)
- Brennan, Francis Gerard (son)
- Brennan, Patricia (daughter-in-law)
- Brennan, Martin (father)
- Brennan, Patrick (uncle)
- Brennan, Ann (grandmother)
- Englart, Henry (acquaintance)
Citation details
'Brennan, Frank Tenison (1884–1949)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/brennan-frank-tenison-5348/text25106, accessed 5 October 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
6 December,
1884
Maryborough,
Queensland,
Australia
Death
6 August,
1949
(aged 64)
Brisbane,
Queensland,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.