Albert Whitford (politician)

Albert Edward Victor Whitford (1877 – 29 January 1924) was a tailor and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1] He was shot dead in Brisbane in 1924.[1]

Albert Whitford
Delegates to the Queensland Police Union third annual conference. Whitford is in the front row, second on the left.
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Burrum
In office 16 Mar 1918 – 9 Oct 1920
Preceded by	Colin Rankin
Succeeded by	William Brand
Personal details
Born	Albert Edward Victor Whitford 1877 Woolwich, England
Died	29 January 1924 (aged 46 or 47) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	English Australian
Political party	Labor
Spouse(s)	Ethel Maud Scott (m.1897)
Occupation	Tailor

Early days

Whitford was born in Woolwich, England, to parents Charles Whitford and his wife Dora (née Kelly).[1] He was a tailor in Inverell in 1906 before heading to Childers in 1910 to continue his trade.[1]

Political career

Whitford, representing the Labor Party, first stood for the seat of Burrum in the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1912 state election[2] only to be beaten by the sitting member, Colin Rankin. He was once again beaten by Rankin at the 1915 state election[3] but finally won the seat in 1918.[4] He held the seat until 1920.[5]

Personal life

In 1897, Whitford married Ethel Maud Scott and together had two sons and two daughters.[1]

Albert Whitford's Grave at Toowong Cemetery

Death

Whitford was shot dead on the corner of Market Square and Adelaide Street in Brisbane in 1924. The gunman shot Whitford once in the neck and once in the forehead, and when Whitford fell to the ground, stood over him and fired three more shots killing him instantly. The gunman was then heard to say "That will fix you, you ----".[6]

The gunman, later identified as James William Laydon, then coolly walked away. Police soon caught him and charged him with murder.[6] Whitford was buried the next day in the Toowong Cemetery.[7]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
2. "SUMMARY OF THE VOTING". The Brisbane Courier. 29 April 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "SUMMARY OF THE VOTING". The Brisbane Courier. 24 May 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 15 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "BURRUM". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 18 March 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 15 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "BURRUM ELECTORATE". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. Qld. 11 October 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "EX-M.L.A. SHOT DEAD". The Brisbane Courier. 30 January 1924. p. 7. Retrieved 21 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier. 30 January 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 21 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Colin Rankin	Member for Burrum 1918–1920	Succeeded by William Brand