Robert Francis Burns


Robert Francis Burns was an Irish Australian convicted murderer who was hanged at HM Prison Ararat in 1883. Burns was found guilty of the murder of Michael Quinlivan near Wickliffe. Burns was believed to have been responsible for seven other murders in colonies of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

Early life

Robert Francis Burns was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1840. In 1862 he was found guilty of stealing and sentenced to ten years and transportation. He arrived in Western Australia in 1862. He later emigrated to the colony of Victoria lured by the gold rush. By the mid-1870s, he was working as a farm labourer before turning to crime.
He would often befriend a fellow worker before convincing them to withdraw their life savings before killing them. Sometimes he would give his intended victim poison or hard liquor to lower their defences. His favourite method of killing was to hit his victim in the head with a hard object, either hammer or tomahawk. The bodies of the victims were often found naked and had their heads hacked off.

Murder

On 1 July 1880, the body of an unknown man was found in the bush near Wickliffe in Victoria Australia, the top of his skull having been smashed in by a blow from a hammer. The remains were buried without being identified, the clothes and an empty purse found alongside the body remaining in the possession of constable McCracken.
When Robert Francis Burns was charged with the murder of Charles Forbes at Deep Lead, McCracken recollected a man answering his description and was later able to identify the murdered man as being Michael Quinlivan, who had been robbed of a sum of £80. Burns and Quinlivan had been working at Reedy Creek, near Wickliffe. Burns had induced Quinlivan to withdraw the money at Dunkeld, and several days later Quinlivan was not to be found.
Burns was acquitted over Forbes's death and immediately re-arrested and charged with the murder of Michael Quinlivan. Burns was convicted and sentenced to death on 23 July 1883.

Confession

Burns while being pinioned for his execution confessed to Upjohn the executioner that he was responsible for eight murders.

Probable victims

Burns victims are believed to be: