a little black book..

.

The book fits in my hand like a slim paperback. Its black cardboard cover creased in a web of lines like old skin. On the inside cover written in a firm even script is his first entry
                                Geelong Police
                                1926 Phone Number


Just below this is a faded lemon 1 penny stamp and midway down the page is an inscription in my mother's own handwriting .

                Thomas Joseph Bowden a police man from 1915 until 1939.

The first page is in pencil and though the lead has faded I can make out the names of Alfred Edward Bush from Rupanyup and James Ross from Greens Creek who must produce their licences to Police within seven days.
My grandfather keeps a record of Seized Goods from around this time beginning with J R Hutchings on 28/12/28
         1 Buick Car
         1 Heater
         6 Draught Horses

I turn the pages and find longer lists of property items that tell stories of their own:

One race horse (known as Cashil)
one Bay horse 1 Black Pony
one Chestnut  one Grey
Two Draughts one Dray
Three Cows one Single Furrow Plough
40 Head Cattle one Harrows
one Writing Desk
one Lounge suite one Table
1 Carpet Square 1 Gramaphone
1 Apollo Phone
one Book Case one D.R. Table
1 Side Board 1 Tea Waggon
one Carpet square 1 Wash Stand
1 Dressing Table one carpet
1 oak Wardrobe  one dressing table
one Carpet
T Lindsay seized 4/9/29


Good seized at Grassmede on 24/7/29
1 Case of Gordon's Gin 1 Doz
1 Case of Black and White Whisky 2 1/4 Doz
4 Bots of Robinsons Yellow Label whisky
1 Case of Fosters Lager 4 Doz.
2 Cases of S..... Wine 8 Doz
2 Cases of Lawries Whisky 2 Doz
1 Case Snowy        4 Doz
2 Boxes Capstan Cigarettes 100 pkts
1 Box County Life Cigarettes
1 1/2 Doz Flasks Brandy Le Beaumont
210 ozs Doz Flasks Johnnie Walker
8 12 Doz Moonbeam Cocktail
7 Chairs 1 Piano  2 couches
1 Table 1 Wireless set  7 chairs
3 Tables 1 Over Mirror
Carpets   Cocoanut Matting
1 Piano   one Specimen Case
3 Lounge Chairs     5 Chairs
one mirror    one clock
1 Walnut Bed Suit  20 Carpet Squares
1 Wardrobe    5 Chairs
2 Tables    1 Side board
              1 Dressing Table
Mr Thomas Lindsay  
  Woolsthorpe
Seized in connection with County Court Warrant
on 24.7.29
    One Hudson car
  No. 747444
======================

Will fix it as soon as
 possible  possibly on
Saturday
=====================

One report is only 4 lines long

Ian Sharpley
13 years of age on October last
driving Car up Selby St Stawell
on 15.1.29 at 12.20 pm



I hope to put more of my grandfather's notes on this blog.