Ballow Chambers Murders

Good times and Great Classic Hits! 4KQ 693. All the latest from Laurel, Gary & Mark in the morning as well as the drive home with Jono & Dano.

4KQ 693AM

Good Times & Great Classic Hits

Listen to 4KQ 693AM

ON DEMAND

Catch Up with all our shows on demand below.

SITE SEARCH

CONNECT WITH US

Ballow Chambers Murders

Thursday, August 04, 2011

Today John Knox takes a look at one of the crime milestones of Brisbane's history - the Ballow Chambers murder of 2 doctors, and the wounding of two others by German immigrant Karl Kast.

Following an incident where he fell on his back on a pipe, Karl reported to several doctors in Spring Hill complaining of back pain. he refused to work and demanded a pension. However, even the most sympathetic of doctor's could find nothing wrong with the man.

Convinced he was the victim of racism, On Thursday, 1 December 1955, Karl Kast, carrying a home-made bomb shot dead two doctors, Dr Arthur Meehan and Dr Andrew Murray and wounded Dr Michael Gallagher and George Boland. A fourth doctor, Dr John Lahz was severely traumatised due to the incident. Dr Michael Gallahger, Kast's first victim, was shot in his offices in Wickham House. Kast then ignited three bombs in the foyer of the building. George Boland, a patient of one of the doctor's in the building, attempted to stub out the bomb only to have it explode and maim his hand. Kast then went to Ballow Chambers, around hundred metres down Wickham Terrace, where he shot Dr Andrew R Murray and attempted to apprehend Dr John Latz, who escaped.

Following his rampage, Kast locked himself in the office of Dr Lahz, within Ballow Chambers, where he shot himself and ignited another bomb. He later died in hospital.

Kast was buried in an unmarked grave at Toowong Cemetery.