This Week in 1953: One Murderous Cop, Two Serial Killers & Roy Cohn Runs Riot Against the 'Reds'

It was a big week for true crime and the Red Scare. In Sydney, Roger Rogerson’s future hero, Detective-Sergeant Ray ‘the Gunner’ Kelly, was in court and explaining how and why he’d shot another criminal dead. In London, the cops caught serial killer John Christie, which meant they’d sent an innocent man to the gallows for two murders. In a weird coincidence, a similar failure of justice was about to play out in Adelaide, where serial monster John Balaban had already been set free by the courts to kill again. Meanwhile, the Red Scare was at fever pitch, with leftist Aussies protesting against the imminent execution in the US of convicted Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Also in the US under McCarthyism, academic freedom was under attack at Columbia University. But this wasn’t nearly as racy as what McCarthy’s attack dog Roy Cohn was doing, with President Trump’s future hero making Australian headlines for his rabid anti-Commie tactics.For a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaCheck out my books:They’ll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.htmlHanging Ned Kelly:https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.htmlAustralia’s Sweetheart:https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.htmlEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.