Family History Mysteries

Colin Gardner’s children from his first marriage contested his will where he left a bulk of his estate to his second wife and the children from his second marriage in 1922.

James Hardy Vaux claims the rare distinction of being transported to Australia three times, but what really distinguish him is him being the author of the first full length autobiography and first dictionary written in Australia.
His life is extraordinary on many counts. He was intelligentand, by the standards of the time, well-educated. He used the aliases James Lowe, James Young and James Yonge.

When Isabel Lippe nee Horsfall died in 1921 her husband was not included in her will. He contested it and it went all the way to the High Court.
Why did Isabel omit her husband from her will?

Arnold Resch featured in a breach of promise case in September 1925.
Before  the Marriage Act of 1961 in Australia you could enact legal action for "breach of promise to marry",that is, suing for calling off an engagement.
Arnold Resch was 44 when this case was put forward.

Mena Val was a notable Australian circus performer in theearly 1900s, recognized for her skills in slack wire walking, trick cycling and whip cracking. 
*Warning – this episode covers has reference to domesticviolence and suicide.*