Richard Buckley (1863–1953)
Richard Buckley, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Thomas Berriman, was buried quietly in Melbourne yesterday. He died on Tuesday, aged 90, at his home in Port Melbourne.
Buckley was released from gaol in 1946, when, according to medical opinion, he was close to death.
His death severs one of the last remaining links with the toughest, the most aggressive, and the most dramatic underworld Melbourne has known.
His first criminal highlight was his part in the sensational gunfight at the Trades Hall in the early hours of October 1, 1915, in which Constable McGrath was shot dead.
Buckley was gaoled for six years and was released on parole in 1922.
A year later, with Angus Murray, he held up Thomas Berriman, a bank manager, at Glenferrie Station, and snatched from him a case containing £1851.
Buckley shot Berriman fatally in the chest.
Murray was hanged for the murder, but Buckley eluded capture for seven years. Caught at last in a cottage in Ascotvale, he was sentenced to death for murder, but the sentence was commuted.
Original publication
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- is charged with assaulting another inmate at Jika Reformatory, Argus (Melbourne), 30 April 1879, p 7
- is charged with a number of safe robberies, Argus (Melbourne), 2 February 1897, p 5
- report on his trial, Argus (Melbourne), 10 February 1897, p 5
- is sentenced to six years' hard labour, Argus (Melbourne), 27 February 1897, p 13
- report on his trial for wounding Charles Stewart with the intention of murdering him, Argus (Melbourne), 20 March 1897, p 4
- is found guilty, Argus (Melbourne), 23 March 1897, p 7
- an inquiry is held into Buckley's attempted escape from prison, Argus (Melbourne), 15 January 1902, p 6
- Buckley, and three others, are charged with murdering Constable McGrath at the Trades Hall building in Melbourne, Argus (Melbourne), 23 October 1915, p 17
- report on his trial, Argus (Melbourne), 26 November 1915, p 9
- a reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of Buckley, who is sought in connection with the fatal shooting of Mr Berriman during a robbery, Argus (Melbourne), 23 October 1923, p 11
- a ceaseless watch is being kept by detectives on certain houses in the hope of finding Buckley, Argus (Melbourne), 24 October 1923, p 19
- Buckley is still at large, Argus (Melbourne), 27 October 1923, p 31
- police believe that Buckley is hiding out in Melbourne, Argus (Melbourne), 29 October 1923, p 11
- police are still searching for Buckley, Argus (Melbourne), 30 October 1923, p 11
- police are confident Buckley will be arrested within three days, Argus (Melbourne), 31 October 1923, p 19
- police are confident Buckley will be found before long, Argus (Melbourne), 2 November 1923, p 18
- Sydney police believe Buckley is hiding out in their city, Argus (Melbourne), 7 November 1923, p 14
- there are reports that Buckley is hiding in Sydney, Argus (Melbourne), 21 November 1923, p 18
- renewed efforts are being made to find Buckley before the trial of his co-accused begins, Argus (Melbourne), 28 November 1923, p 21
- a 500 pd reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of Buckley, Argus (Melbourne), 22 February 1924, p 9
- police detain a man believing he was Buckley; he wasn't, Argus (Melbourne), 22 November 1924, p 38
- police still receive reported sightings of Buckley, Argus (Melbourne), 8 October 1925, p 15
- Buckley is caught; he had lived mostly in Melbourne during his seven years on the run, Argus (Melbourne), 1 October 1930, p 7
- he had occasionally worn women's clothing during his time on the run, Argus (Melbourne), 2 October 1930, p 8
- 17 witnesses will probably be called at his trial on a charge of murdering Thomas Berriman during a robbery, Argus (Melbourne), 3 October 1930, p 7
- most of the witnesses in the trial of Buckley's co-accused in 1923 will be again called to give evidence, Argus (Melbourne), 9 October 1930, p 7
- Buckley's trial is to begin today, Argus (Melbourne), 25 November 1930, p 7
- report on the trial, Argus (Melbourne), 26 November 1930, p 7
- report on the trial, Argus (Melbourne), 28 November 1930, p 7
- is found guilty and sentenced to death, Argus (Melbourne), 29 November 1930, p 21
- his death sentence will probably be considered by Cabinet on Friday, Argus (Melbourne), 1 December 1930, p 9
- his death sentence is commuted; he is instead sentenced to life imprisonment, Argus (Melbourne), 10 December 1930, p 7
- Buckley is released from gaol, aged 83, Argus (Melbourne), 26 December 1946, p 4
- Judge Book has, among his souvenirs, the heavy beard worn by Buckley as a disguise during his time on the run, Argus (Melbourne), 21 April 1949, p 8
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Murray, Angus (criminal associate)
- Slater, Henry (criminal associate)
- Taylor, Joseph Leslie (criminal associate)
- Cutmore, John Daniel (criminal associate)
- Bannon, Michael Joseph (police investigator)
- Walsh, William Patrick (police investigator)
- Berriman, Thomas Reginald (crime victim)
Citation details
'Buckley, Richard (1863–1953)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/buckley-richard-13650/text24418, accessed 19 April 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
Death
15 September,
1953
(aged ~ 90)
Port Melbourne, Melbourne,
Victoria,
Australia
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.