Jacks and Jokers by Matthew Condon

Matthew Condon, Jacks and Jokers (St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press; Kindle edition, 2014), 466 pages.

Jacks and Jokers is the second book in a three book series about police corruption in Queensland, Australia from the 1960s through the late 1980s. This book covers the mid 1970s through the mid 1980s. It provides exquisitely detailed accounts of various illegal and criminal activities in Queensland during that time and the manner in which some of these activities proceeded without police or State government interference. The numerous stories of illegal and criminal behavior demonstrated various degrees of police (and at time government) complicity, co-operation, approval and involvement. The author goes beyond explaining the scope of the crimes and the level of police corruption to show how elements of the Queensland became a law unto themselves, having changed from being a tool in the administration of justice to being a political arm of government and an organizer or overseer of various protection rackets involving narcotics, prostitution and illegal gaming.

Crime has been around for a long time, since the times of Cain and Abel, or if you prefer, Romulus and Remus. Baring some dramatic shift in human nature, its likely to continue. We shouldn't be surprised then to read of it in its various forms, including murder, bribery, corruption, prostitution, drugs and gambling. THis book covers a lot of these sorts of crimes. What surprises this reader is the scale of these activities the in one region of Australia, and the extent of police involvement and government blindness to the police force's involvement in its operation, control and management. This book does very well in documenting these activities. Some of these crimes have been reported in other book and publications, and others have come to light by involved persons disclosing them to the author following the publication of the author's first book in this series. This second book by Condon shines a light on these troubled time in Queensland, Australia. Its well written, but readers should be cautioned that after a while they may tire of continuos chapters of illegal and criminal activities with no opportunity for catharsis of the emergence of an heroic figure. For this, we will have to wait for the third book in the series to be published.

Three Crooked Kings by Matthew Condon

Matthew Condon, Three Crooked Kings (St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press; 2012), 352 pages.

This book, the first of two by the author on the subject, details the corruption in the Queensland (Australia) Police Force from the post-World War Two era through to the 1970s. The corruption is centered on three ambitious but corrupt policemen: Terry Lewis, Tony Murphy and Glen Hallahan who through intimidation, guile and other various means operated as a protected but corrupt core of officers throughout the police force. Condon writes about their rise from their positions as raw recruits, patrol officers, detectives and (in Lewis's case) management positions including ultimately the office of commissioner. Condon's book accounts for their rise through the force, their role in various illegal activities and protection rackets, the mentoring and protection they received from other corrupt officers, in particular, former Commissioner Francis Bishoff. The book concludes with Lewis's ascendancy to the position of Police Commissioner. The pending second book in the series is expected to cover his time in this office, and his eventual downfall and prosecution.

Many of the facts in this book have been covered in other books, most recently by Steve Bishop in "The Most Dangerous Detective." Many of the facts are repeated, but in less detail than in Bishop's book. The biggest innovation or revelation in this book are the facts revealed by Condon’s access to Lewis's personal diaries. Lewis kept detailed diaries throughout his entire career. Condon's exclusive access to these records enabled him to give a broader accounting of Lewis’s career. For example, Condon details Lewis’s impressive record as an ambitious patrol officer, Lewis's record in securing convictions, and his success as a detective in clearing cases. Condon also writes about Lewis's meeting with other important police and political figures, providing accounts of what was discussed. These facts enable Condon to confirm facts alleged by others, and point to contradictory or differing accounts of various events in the careers of the three principal officers (Lewis, Murphy and Hallahan).

Condon's book is aimed at a wide audience. It covers most of the subject matter in sufficient detail; however, it lacks the depth of Bishop's book. Nonetheless it is an excellent primer into the extent of police and political corruption in Queensland in the post-World War Two era. This book would best be read prior to Bishop's more detailed and scholarly work, and Condon's forthcoming second book in the series.