Above: Headline from the Melbourne Sun newspaper regarding the murder of James Joseph Sheridan in February 1967. Cousin "Jim" was the illegitimate child of Bridget Sheridan, sister of my grandfather Patrick 'Bob' Sheridan. He was raised by his grandparents, Bridget and Paddy Sheridan, in Ascot Vale, and became a notorious criminal in both NSW and Victoria. His life ended when he was gunned down by a rival criminal mob in Sydney, and his body dumped in a Sydney lane way. As far as I know, no one was ever arrested for his murder.

Above: James Sheridan as a young man, standing outside his home at 268 Ascot Vale Road, Ascot Vale.

Above: James Sheridan with his grandmother, Bridget Sheridan, and an unknown girl.

Above: James 'Jim' Sheridan.


Above: James Sheridan with his mother Bridget Alice Sheridan.

Above: Jim Sheridan with his billycart.

Above: My grandmother, Mafra Sheridan, identified this photo as being of James Sheridan. I can't really see the resemblance, but Nan knew James all of his life, and I don't doubt her identification. She told me that Bridget spoilt her grandson dreadfully during his upbringing, and blamed this for Jim running into trouble with the law from an early age. She also told me that her mother-in-law Bridget Sheridan had asked Maf and Bob to raise Jim as a child of their own so no one would know the real circumstances of his birth, but this never eventuated.