Walter Edward Sheens1,2

M, #345, b. 29 May 1910, d. 7 August 1988
FatherArthur Sheens1 b. 21 Nov 1874, d. 26 Jun 1959
MotherElla Etheline Dunstan1 b. 7 Sep 1881, d. 22 Jul 1970
Last Edited28 Jun 2013
Birth*29 May 1910 Penrith, NSW1,2 
Article*25 June 1927 "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW;
GUN ACCIDENT
Youth's Terrible Injury
LEG AMPUTATED
Walter Sheens (17), son of Mr Arthur Sheens, of Emu, is in Nepean District Hospital, as the result of a serious accident that happened to him in a gully near the Great Western Road on Friday.
Sheens was ascending the rocky embankment below the road; just above the Lapstone viaduct, and was carrying a loaded double-barrel gun. He placed the weapon down in an endeavor to get out a rabbit that had escaped among the stones of the embankment.
A rock slipped down, and struck the hammer of the gun, which fired. The calf of Sheens' right leg was terribly injured, the muscles being blown away
Though bleeding frightfully and in great pain, Sheens crawled up the stone embankment, and climbed over the wire fence on to the roadway. This would tax the energies of an uninjured man, and to the suffering youth it was a most distressing ordeal.
The stones and roadway over which the unfortunate young fellow struggled are still deeply dyed with blood.
When he had reached the road he crawled about 85 yards down towards the viaduct. Several cars passed, unheeding his cries for help, though possibly the occupants did not realise his position.
Eventually he was picked up unconscious by a motorist, accompanied by a lady. They used articles of clothing to make a temporary bandage, and took the patient to Nepean District Hospital.
The leg was amputated below the knee by Dr. Higgins.
Sheens is progressing slowly.3 
Article16 July 1927 "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW;
Walter Sheens
On Thursday, Dr. Morton, of Sydney, operated further on Walter Sheens, who lost a leg in a gun accident at Lapstone recently. Emu Gravel Football Club paid half the cost of the operation. A public meeting will be held in the Assembly Hall, Emu, next Tuesday evening to discuss ways and means of raising more money for the unfortunate lad. It is proposed to organise a day's sports. A dance will be held in Dungowan Theatre next Friday, 22nd inst., when Kirkland's orchestra will provide, the music. The entertainment at this theatre last week for the fund realised £16/1/9 A euchre party and dance will be held at Emu next Saturday, 23rd inst. A euchre party, and dance at Emu last Saturday realised £7/5/-. The club thanks Dr. Higgins for a very liberal donation.4 
Article18 April 1931 "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW;
Series of Charges
ALLEGED STEALING AND RECEIVING
On Thursday a robbery at Glenbrook was reported to Constable Eadie, and as the result of inquiries made further investigations were conducted by Constables Eadie, Sturgiss, and Charlton. They were instrumental in tracing a large quantity of property alleged to have been stolen in various robberies in the district within the last six months
At Penrith Police Court this Friday morning, before Mr P. E. Addison, J.P., Walter James Sheens, William James Lough, and Norman Keith Abbott were charged with breaking and entering the dwelling house of John James Weller, Glenbrook, on 16th April, and stealing a quantity of goods valued at £5, 10/. The same three were also charged that, on the same date, they did steal a quantity of goods, the property of Thomas Church and Charles Stocks, of Springwood, valued at £15.
William James Lough and Norman Keith Abbott were charged that between 3rd March and 22nd March they did break and enter the dwelling house of Edward McHugh, of Emu Plains, and steal property valued at £5.
William James Lough was charged William James Lough was charged enter the dwelling house of William Flood, of Glenbrook, and steal goods valued at £4.
William David Lough was charged with receiving stolen property of Weller, Church and Stokes, and William Flood.   
William Edward Sheens was charged with having an unlicensed pistol in his possession.
All were remanded to Penrith Court on Monday next, 20th inst. Walter Edward Sheens, William James Lough, and Norman Keith Abbott were allowed bail of £50. William David Lough's bail was fixed at £100.5 
Article9 May 1931 "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW;
STEALING
Series of Convictions
Several concurrent sentences of imprisonment were passed against Walter James Sheens and Norman Keith Abbott, at Penrith Police Court on Monday for thefts to which they pleaded guilty. Two lads under 18 were dealt with in the Children's Court. Charges of receiving against William David Lough were dismissed.
The Court House had somewhat the appearance of a general store on Monday, a quantity of goods alleged to have been stolen being on hand as exhibits.
Sheens and Abbott (who were represented by Mr A. S. Lamrock) pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a quantity of goods to the value of £5/10/ from John Weller, Glenbrook, and also to stealing petrol, screw wrench, etc., value of £10, the property of Church and Stokes, Springwood. Abbott pleaded guilty to stealing goods to the value of £6 from Edward McHugh, Emu Plains. Sheens and Abbott pleaded guilty to stealing paper bags valued at 5/-, from William Leslie Ellison, and also to stealing property valued at £5 from Mary Hales Smith. Sheens pleaded guilty to stealing £8 worth of benzine from Charles Julius Lemaire, and of "milking'' Minere's car at Glenbrook. He also pleaded guilty to stealing three gallons of petrol from Skarratt's garage.
Sergeant Loomes said that Abbott belonged to a decent family. Nothing was known against Sheens.
Mr Lamrock asked his Worship to give accused the benefit of the First Offenders' Act.
Mr Sutherland, P.M: Can I possibly do that? A month's depredation!
Abbott and Sheens were each sentenced to nine months' hard labor on the charge of stealing from Mary Hales Smith. Similar sentences were passed on them in respect of each of the thefts against Weller, Church and Stokes, and McHugh, the sentences to be concurrent For having an unlicensed pistol in his possession Sheens was fined £5 and the pistol was forfeited.
For the theft from Ellison the sentence was one month in each case. Sheens was also sentenced to one month for the thefts from Lemaire and from Mineffe. Abbott was sentenced to one month for stealing a quantity of goods from L. Dixon.
Mr Lamrock asked his Worship to make on order that accused be sent to Emu Plains Prison Farm.
The P.M.: I can make that suggestion, not order it. If the Comptroller-General can send them there, that will be a suitable place for them.6 
Marriage*1932 Penrith, NSW;Bride=Rose Philomena Keenan7,8 
Birth of Son4 April 1940 Emu Plains, NSW;Principal=Terrence Edward Sheens7 
Death of Father26 June 1959 Nepean District Hospital, Penrith, NSW;
SHEENS, Arthur.-June 26, 1959, at Nepean District Hospital, of Jamison Street, Emu Plains, dearly beloved husband of Ella Sheens and loving father of Hilton, Henry, Pat and Ron, and of Arthur and Roy (both deceased), aged 84 years.;Principal=Arthur Sheens9 
Death of Mother22 July 1970 Penrith, NSW;
SHEENS, Ella Etheline. - July 22, 1970, at hospital, of Jamison Street, Emu Plains. beloved wife of the late Arthur Sheens, and loving mother of Vera, Arthur (deceased), Hilton, Henry deceased), Walter, Clarence (deceased) and Ronald, fond sister of Lillian, aged 88 years.;Principal=Ella Etheline Dunstan10,11 
Death*7 August 1988 NSW;
SHEENS, Walter Edward (Pat). – August 7, 1988, at hospital, late of Emu Plains, dearly beloved husband of Rose Phillimine (Phill), loving father of Delphine (deceased), Maureen, Arthur and Terry, fond father-in-law of Percy, Joan and Judith, loved grandfather and great grandfather of their families.
Aged 78 years.
Loved and always remembered.12 

Family

Rose Philomena Keenan d. 21 Dec 1994
Child
  • Terrence Edward Sheens7

Citations

  1. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 30555/1910 Walter E Sheens.
  2. [S36] Maria Quigley Sheens - Our Family Tree.
  3. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Saturday, June 25, 1927.
  4. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Saturday, July 16, 1927.
  5. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Saturday, April 18, 1931.
  6. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Saturday, May 9, 1931.
  7. [S114] Microfilm Baptism, St Nicholas of Myra Penrith, 1839-1941.
  8. [S12] NSW Marriage Index, 11075/1932 Walter E Sheens & Rose P Keevan.
  9. [S201] The Daily Telegraph, Saturday, June 27, 1959.
  10. [S11] NSW Death Index, 29516/1970 Ella Ethaline Sheens.
  11. [S192] The Sydney Morning Herald, July 23rd, 1970.
  12. [S192] The Sydney Morning Herald, Death notice - Walter Edward Sheens - August 9th, 1988.