GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS

During cross-examination, Zoë admitted to a prior conviction for keeping a house of ill fame, but denied having run out of the house naked to abuse detectives or ever having dealt cocaine. “Detective Wickham had planted the drugs on me” she said. Hugo Pappas, an undertaker, testified that he had lived with Zoë for nineteen years and had never seen any cocaine in her possession. Zoë was convicted and fined £250. Before passing sentence the magistrate asked Detective Wickham to enlighten the court as to Zoë’s criminal record. “She was associated with all the major Sydney drug dealers.” She sold large quantities of dope and even involved her daughter, who carried the dope about ‘in her body’.

Zoë Carides, 19 February 1925, Central Police Station. 

Grave Undertakings, 2010
Lambda (C-type) photographic print on Fuji Crystal Archive Lustre
Matte black gator board edge unframed
120cm (w) x 60cm (h) x 2cm (d), 2kgs
Limited Edition