Sinking Through Time - Future Past

Chapter 10 - Digging Deep Into The Past

Back in 2014, Lucy's dad, Keith, had been doing some digging into Graham Anderson's history, ever since his initial search had produced some interesting results. He'd managed to slip a note into Sidney's pocket to give him the heads up but he couldn't tell him everything he'd wanted to. Since then he'd found out so much more.

Keith was lucky such good records had been maintained from the 1800's, including newspaper articles. The vast majority had also been uploaded to various government and genealogy web sites, making it easier for him to find what he needed. He was surprised to find several newspaper articles about the Anderson's.

Since delving deeper into Graham's family history, Keith had become more and more worried about Lucy, Sidney and John's safety. He now had a better understanding of the potential danger they were in by being with Graham Anderson.

Learning that Graham's great grandfather, Frank Anderson, had been Dunlop, a.k.a Doyle the convict's partner, had set alarm bells ringing for Keith. He had already known that Dunlop was the man who first started building the house that Keith himself now called home, but it wasn't until he'd started digging into Graham Anderson's past that he'd learnt about Dunlop's partner. Keith wasn't surprised to find out that when Dunlop died, the property he had been building had been sold. He was surprised, however, to find out that Frank Anderson had tried to claim ownership. The title deed was only in Dunlop's name though, so his claim was denied. Everything Lucy had told Keith and Sonja about there being two men building their house now fell into place for Keith. He wasn't sure if Graham Anderson knew about Doyle taking on Dunlop's identity but, either way, the house would never have gone to Graham's great grandfather, Frank Anderson.

After his unsuccessful claim on the house, Frank Anderson would have been distraught to have lost all of his money he'd invested in the house. Apparently Mr Anderson had failed to produce any evidence to the court, in the way of receipts, to show his claim was valid. Keith figured Anderson had handed cash over to Dunlop, who had then proceeded to make all of the purchases required for the construction of the property. For all Keith knew, Dunlop could have been planning on robbing Anderson blind. The evidence certainly suggested it. Keith felt sympathy for Frank Anderson, who had obviously thought of Dunlop as a friend and had been used by him.

Upon his claim being denied, according to a newspaper report, it seemed Frank Anderson went on a drinking binge and drank through what little money he had left. He only sobered up after being put into the drunk tank for several days. After that he went home, packed a swag and left his family to fend for themselves. Keith thought it was probably more from shame than anything that Frank left. Anderson's wife later received divorce papers from him.

Divorce back in those days was unheard of. What made it even harder on Frank Anderson's wife was the fact that the only excuse for divorce in 1877 was adultery. He claimed his wife had taken a lover. Keith wasn't sure if the claim of adultery was true or not but, looking at the facts, he thought it was false. As women didn't really have any rights, the husband's claims held up and the divorce was finalized.

The divorce made front page news around the state of New South Wales and Mrs Eliza Anderson lost everything, including her reputation. She was thrown out of her accommodations and outcast by society, along with her children. Keith found a death certificate for her dated 1881. She died from malnutrition aged 27. Her oldest child was ten, her youngest just two.

An article Keith found dated 1883 shed light on what became of Eliza's children. The oldest girl was picked up off the streets by police for prostitution and later died of syphilis. The three younger children were sent to the Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children in Sydney where the youngest child died of pneumonia.

It seemed to Keith that the downfall of the Anderson family started with Dunlop's death. Keith didn't know Graham Anderson well enough to make a call as to whether he was dangerous or not, but all the events of the last couple of days pointed to him having some sort of agenda, and with all the information Keith had found, he came to the conclusion that Graham's agenda could very well include revenge on the Pickett family. If that was the case, Keith had to warn them.

The only way Keith could think of to warn Lucy, Sidney and John, as well as the Pickett family would be to travel through the quicksand himself and tell them. He'd taken photocopies of all the newspaper articles he had found, as well as court documents regarding the claim on Dunlop's house that Anderson had tried to make and the title deeds to the house at the time of Dunlop's death; which clearly stated Dunlop as the sole owner of the property. He also copied the death certificates of Eliza Anderson, her eldest daughter Clara and her son Arthur. He wasn't sure if they would come in handy but he had to make sure he had all the information at his fingertips if he needed it.

His only problem now was locating another Winnie suit. They had obviously been successful in providing protection for their wearers as Lucy, John, Sidney and Graham Anderson were no longer in the quicksand and seemed to have all travelled through it successfully. Keith just had to find a suit; and fast. But first he had to tell his wife, Sonja and John's mum, Sarah, about his concerns. He had a feeling that would be the hardest part.