Extract from Patrol Report by W MacDougall in 1961

Extract From National Archives of Australia, Reference A6456 R136/008
Report on Patrol 25th September to 17th November by W MacDougall

Giles
Thirty natives were camped approximately half a mile from the Station. These were waiting for a Patrol Officer as they had dingo scalps to trade. They also wanted information re a young lubra, Molly, who had been removed from the Station to Musgrave Parm by Frank Quinn under instruction from the OIC of the camp as advised by wireless from Woomera. (Story Appendix A).

APPENDIX A

History
Molly is an ex Warburton Ranges Mission School girl. She was not satisfied as the second wife of David at the Mission. This dissatisfaction produced behaviour that caused considerable trouble to the community. Because of this her parents arranged for her to be the first wife of Tiger, who was to keep her well away from the Mission until she settled down.

Trouble at Giles
Molly was lazy in her duties. For the sake of discipline in general and because of the lack of firewood in particular, Tiger speared her in the buttock. Molly left the camp in a hurry, presumably to gather more firewood. As she did not return, Tiger and some others followed her tracks which led to the Giles camp where she had taken refuge.
Molly told the OIC that she was in fear for her life and the attitudes of the natives surrounding the camp seemed to support her fears.

Action taken at that time
OIC Giles asked for advice by wireless. For obvious reasons we could not refuse protection. In the absence of the Commissioner of Native Welfare, WA, Mr Anderson, second in charge, approved and authorised the removal of Molly to Musgrave Park. Mr Anderson stated that he would explain the situation to the District Officer Kalgoolie who would arrange for the trouble to be investigated and settled. No Western Australian Officer visited Giles or spoke to any of the natives concerned, and it is therefore presumed they cannot know of this particular upset.

Situation at Musgrave Park
The presence of a young unattached female with no official interest apparent, inevitably caused trouble at Musgrave Park. This was overcome by alloting Molly to another man, Tjipikuta.
On my arrival Molly expressed fear of Tiger and reasonable satisfaction with the new arrangement.

Situation at Giles
I conveyed the news to Tiger at Giles. He was naturally upset and wanted to go to Musgrave Park to recover his wife. This was frowned upon by the District Welfare Officer, Kalgoolie, so on a dingo trading run I took two delegates from Giles to Musgrave Park. At an around-a-tree conference comprised of all those concerned, it was decided that Tjipikuta had an even better claim to Molly than Tiger, and that in view of all the circumstances, this arrangement was the best. Tiger does not agree to this and is perplexed at white man interference which has deprived him of a wife. He accepts the fact that the Giles personnel acted in good faith, but cannot understand why they will not return the woman.
All this could have been avoided if an investigation had been made within a reasonable time of Molly's transfer to Musgrave Park.
Tiger is not likely to take any further action, but he is left with the problem of securing another wife.

Full report here .