Constable Norman Allen and Constable Ernest Andrews were murdered in Bondi Junction and are buried side by side at the Rookwood Cemetery. Constable Allen was shot in the street at Bondi Junction while attempting to detain an armed, deranged man named John Thomas Kennedy, a former crack marksman with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who had earlier had an altercation with a local shopkeeper. The constable had been directing traffic and when informed of the dispute he found and confronted the offender. As he approached Kennedy from behind, the man spun around and shot Constable Allen in the chest at point blank range. He then shot the constable twice more in the heart. At this time Constable Andrews – unarmed, off duty and heading for the beach – passed by in a tram and saw a crowd gathered around the body of Constable Allen. Alighting from the tram he joined in the pursuit of Kennedy who managed to reach his home in nearby Lawson Street.
On arriving and finding the front door locked Constable Andrews went to the rear of the dwelling and burst through the back door. Unfortunately Kennedy was waiting with rifle raised and as Andrews lunged at him he shot him twice in the chest. He then took a knife and stabbed the constable in the throat. Sergeant Seery and Constable Johnson from Waverley Police then arrived and began to smash their way in through the front door. Although fired at by Kennedy, Constable Johnson returned fire, hitting Kennedy in the chest. Seery and Johnson then smashed their way in and found the offender in a bedroom bleeding to death. He died that night.
In the aftermath of the murders, the Brisbane Courier dated 5 January, 1931 published a complete account of the entire incident, and concluded with the following:
COMMISSIONER PRAISES MURDERED POLICE.
Both murdered constables were highly efficient and popular officers. Allen leaves a widow and young child. He lived in New Street, Bondi. Constable Andrews was single, his only relative in Australia being a sister, Mrs Clark. The men will be buried tomorrow with full police honours. The Commissioner of Police Mr. Childs, in an appreciation, said "I wish to pay a tribute to the manner in which both these young men carried out their duty according to the best traditions of the service. They saw their duty before them, and did not hesitate a moment in the execution of it. Although I would not make any distinction between them I cannot help referring to the action of Constable Andrews, who, though unarmed, rushed in to effect the arrest of a man who had already shot Constable Allen. "
Constable Norman Thomas ALLEN was born in 1901, joined the New South Wales Police Force on 14 May, 1926 and shortly thereafter resigned. He rejoined on 26 September, 1928. At the time of his death he was stationed at Waverley.

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DEAD POLICEMEN.
Impressive Scenes at Funeral.
THOUSANDS PAY TRIBUTE.
The State paid homage yesterday to the two policemen, Constable Norman Thomas Allen and Constable Ernest Andrews who met their death at the hands of a madman at Bondi Junction on Saturday. There were mourners from almost every part of New South Wales.
Many thousands lined the route as the funeral cortege moved from Wood Coffill's funeral parlours George-street to the mortuary station; the mortuary platform was thronged when the funeral train moved off to Rookwood and thousands had assembled in the cemetery.
The scene in the vicinity of Wood Coffill's funeral parlours is likely to be remembered by the thousands of people who thronged the streets leading into Railway-square. Early in the morning bearers of wreaths and floral tributes passed through the doors to deposit their tokens of sympathy. At the approach of noon people began to assemble on the footpath and many entered the chapel to view the coffins. The near relatives arrived at 1 o'clock and the chapel was cleared while Constable Allen's widow and her mother approached the silver mounted caskets which rested on trestles side by side. An affecting scene followed. Then the simple Church of England burial service was conducted by the Rev Frederick Riley and the coffins were borne to the waiting hearses.
MUFFLED DRUMS
The scene was unforgettable. A solid mass of people crowded the thoroughfares. Presently the mounted troopers urged their restive horses forward and with the deep roll of muffled drums the cortege moved off. Thousands of hats were removed.
Handel's Dead March in "Saul" was played by the Police Band. Behind the band came a contingent of foot police under the direction of Superintendent Leary. Two hundred men drawn from the various stations, marched behind. Then came the hearses, the wreath-laden carriages, and the chief mourners, Firemen, the sun glinting on brightly-polished helmets, were represented by over 40 uniformed officers and men. At the end of the slow-moving procession came numbers of retired men, friends of the dead officers, and business people from the eastern suburbs.
Along the route to the mortuary thousands stood bareheaded as the cortege passed. At the mortuary gates another huge crowd paid tribute to the dead men.
Among those who marched in addition to the police and firemen, were employees of motor bus companies in the eastern suburbs.
"THEY SAW THEIR DUTY."
A most affecting scene at the graveside in the Church of England section of the Rookwood Cemetery was the playing by the police band of the hymns "Lead Kindly Light" and "Abide With Me." The remains were buried side by side.
"Let men's opinions be what they may," said the Rev. Frederick Riley in an address at the graveside, " we should be doing violence to the most sacred emotions of human life if we were to allow our brethren to depart without a word of farewell. We are met here today to pay honour to the memory of two men who were comrades of yours men whom we all respected and loved. Let us remember that these two men died in the carrying out of their duty. They served their King and country as men and soldiers who fall for their King on the battlefield. They saw their duty and the fear of death could not deter them. They have not created a new tradition for the traditions of the police force of New South Wales are amongst the highest in the world already, but these two men have added a new lustre to the traditions of your past. These two young men Norman Thomas Allen and Ernest Andrews, died in the execution of their duty. There is no higher glory to which a man can aspire. We pray to God that those who have been so suddenly bereaved may share the comfort which we know these two brave men are experiencing in the nearer presence of God."
MAGISTRATE'S TRIBUTE
At the Burwood Police Court yesterday Mr. G. R. Williams, S.M. commented on the bravery of the two constables. They acted nobly and upheld the traditions of the force," he said.
PALL BEARERS AND MOURNERS.
The pall bearers were.- For late Constable Allen: Constables Tomkins, Martin, Moore, Hudson, Steele and White. For late Constable Andrews: Constables Booth, Kimber, Fraser, O'Neill, Morgan, and Wright.
The principal mourners were Relatives of the late Constable Allen: Mrs Allen (widow), Mrs Prankish (mother-in-law), Mr and Mrs N. Frankish (brother In law and sister in law), Mr and Mrs Sutcliffe (uncle and aunt) Mrs Lamb, Mrs Hourigan, and Mrs Cummings (aunts) and Mr Rowland Allen (cousin).
Relatives of the late Constable Andrews: Mr and Mrs Edward Clarke (sister and brother in law).
The Government was represented by Mr Gosling (Chief Secretary) and Mr McKell (Minister for local Government). Police representatives in addition to the non commissioned officers and men who marched were Mr W H Childs (Commissioner) Superintendents Leary, Mackay and Linegar, Inspectors Winter, Weir, Bennetts, McCauley, Woodrow, Lynch, Duffell, Roberts, McMaster, O'Brien, Chaseling, Anderson, White, Long, Roser, Scott, Michaelis, Robson, Allen, Farley and Fowler.
Retired members of the police force who attended were ex-Commissioner James Mitchell, ex-Superintendents Roche, Cook, McIntosh, Sinclair, Thom, Drew and Park, ex Inspectors Fullerton, W J Jones (also representing the Navy and Army Veterans Association) Fraser, Tracey, Bolton, Smith, Fewster, Doran, Mankletow, Stutchbury, Briggs, Ewen, Dunn, O'Dea and Robertson, ex-Sergeants McDonald, T. Dobson, Payne, A. Smith, Taylor, J. Salmon, J. Loomes, R. C. Harper, Bath and Butcher, ex-Constables Swan and Dixon.
The Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales was represented by Mr T J Smith, M.L.C. (president) Mr J McNamara (Commissioner), and Mr H M Webb (secretary and executive officer).
Mr Nance chief officer New South Wales Fire Brigades was present and 38 men marched under Mr Grimmond (deputy chief officer). Inspector Neeve, District Officer McLachlan, and Station Officers Arthur, Neville, Parkes, McCarthy, Rust, Currier and Sclater.
Others who attended were:- Judge Sheridan, Mir George Cann, ex M.L.A., Mr J Herlihy ( Under-Secretary for Lands) representatives of the Prisons Department including Mr Seery (superintendent of the Long Bay Penitentiary) Mr T.W. Irish (Assistant Under Secretary for Lands) Mr H. B. Mathews, (Surveyor General Department of Lands).
Mr N. W. Bond (representing the head office Bank, of New South Wales) representatives of ambulance divisions, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Law, Mr. A. L. Parker (representing Superintendent O. H. Parker, of Goulburn) Mr Foster Doolan (vice president Police Association), Mr B Fortescue (secretary Police Association), Mr C T Thackeray (Police Association staff), Mr F M Jackson (representing Mr F C Hackett of Merriwa), Mr W T Missingham,
M.L.A., Mr A J Pollack, M.L.A., Mr W P Monaghan (Waverley Cemetery bus service), Mr W M Niland Mrs A Shuttleworth, Mr H L Harnett (representing Mr F M Burke, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly), Mr W E Clapin (representing Sir John Peden, President of the Legislative Council), Alderman David Hunter (Mayor of Waverley), Mr T J Thompson (Deputy Town Clerk of Waverley), Mr and Mrs A Williams, Miss Williams, Miss Beryl Williams, Miss Brady, Mr and Mrs McMorland, ex Warder Charles Stone, ex Warder Little and a number of eastern suburbs business people.
The wreaths Included those from the mother and other relatives of the late Constable Allen, relatives of the late Constable Andrews, the New South Wales Police Commissioned Officers Association, comrades of No 2 Division, Redfern Police, New South Wales Police Association, members of the Railway Detective Office, officers, detectives, and staff of the C.I.B., No 3 Police, comrades of No. 10 Division, cyclists and drivers of police headquarters, officers and men of Circular Quay Fire Station, comrades at No. 4 Station, police at No 7 Station, "police pals at Bondi Junction." end eastern suburbs bus drivers and conductors.

- The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 January 1931

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MADMAN BEHEADED POLICEMAN
WITH BOWIE KNIFE
As Told By Ex-CIB Insptr. HARRY MANN
Of a different type is the murder I'm going to discuss this week — the sad case of 'Waverley Bill' (real name John Thomas Kennedy). Although I can't hope to wash from your minds the inevitable disgust that must reach you from reading of this man's actions, I must say that Kennedy was mad. He was not a criminal, but a sick man, who must deserve at least a portion of the pity that was, and still is, felt for his victims.
Jan 3, 1931, is still spoken of with horror in the lunchrooms of some of Sydney's police stations. For on the morning of that day, 2 popular young constables were violently murdered, one in circumstances which have hardly been equalled in Australian crime annals. People of Waverley, NSW, first became aware of John Thomas Kennedy in March, 1930, when he moved into a cottage in Lawson-st. Six feet 2, solidly built. 16 stoner. Kennedy (41) was a printer and a former crack marksman with the Canadian Mounted Police. He was rather surly, and did not mix with his neighbors. But it wasn't long before his 'queerness' was noticed. From his house each week-end came the sound of rifle shots, sometimes 100 a day. Though it was not then known, Kennedy had a miniature range set up in his back yard. Queerest of all was his nightly behavior. Neighbors would be kept awake for hours by a weird form of dance music and the rattle of jazz drums that came from Kennedy's front room. His eccentricity earned him the title of 'Waverly Bill.' Then, towards New Year, Kennedy developed the queerer habit of getting cigarettes at shops and when asked to pay for them, would shout 'I won't pay. I'm a Communist!' If it wasn't, time for the police to be told something about this pitiful pest then it certainly was when on New Year's Day. 1931, he was seen marching down the street with his rifle, shouting drill orders.
But no one did anything. Had they, a sad tragedy might have been averted. Saturday morning, Jan. 3, 1931, was sunny and pleasant and the streets of Waverley were teeming with young people on their way to the beaches, and women returning from shopping tours. From his house about 9 a.m., the giant Kennedy came striding' fiercely, his eyes red - rimmed and sparkling queerly and his grim face black with beard stubble. Under his arm gripped menacingly, was his .22. Five minutes later, Mr. A. Dibley, manager of a chain store in Bondi Junction, looked up from his work at the counter to see the fierce looking Kennedy glowering down at him. 'I want 12/6 worth of tobacco and cigarettes,' Kennedy snapped. Mr. Dibley wrapped them up and placed the parcel in Kennedy's hand, proffering his own for the 12/6. But Kennedy had his usual intention of not paying for them and whirled round to go out the door. 'Hey, wait,' shouted Dibley, 'you haven't paid for them yet.' Kennedy threw the parcel on the counter. 'Oh. haven't I? I put an order in for these last week.' 'Oh, no, you haven't,' Dibley replied, putting the parcel under the counter again. Kennedy's eyes fairly shot sparks. 'All right!' he shouted, his face twisting grotesquely. 'I'll have your shop shut up. You'll die before a firing squad!' With this he whirled round and hurried off. Mr. Dibley decided to report this strange behavior to PC Norman Allen (29) who was on traffic duty outside.
'Alright,' Allen smiled jocularly, 'I'll look him up.' Allen boarded a bus, and a short distance along the street saw his quarry pointing the rifle at a terrified pedestrian. Allen jumped from the bus and ran up to Kennedy smiling good naturedly- 'C'mon. don't act the fool,' he said. 'Why didn't you pay for those cigarettes?' They were the last words the young policeman ever spoke. Kennedy whirled round the minute Allen's hand touched his arm. 'You German!' he screamed, and jabbed the gun into Allen's chest. Two sharp shots rang out, and a stunned crowd saw Allen pitch to the footpath coughing blood. Kennedy shoved his way roughly through those by standers who were too terrified to run away, and made off up the street. Det. McGill, riding past n another bus saw the tragedy and alighted. He needed only a quick glance to see young Allen was dead, and followed after the retreating killer. McGill called to him to stop. 'Why did you shoot that man?' McGill asked angrily. Kennedy's reply was to point the gun at McGlll's head with a sharp command to 'stay where he was.' McGill and a few of the braver bystanders followed the killer up Lawson-st. A few yards from his home, Kennedy broke in a run and dived through his front door, slamming it behind him. By this time. Waverley police station had been informed and a car carrying PC's Johnson and Andrews
sped to the scene of the crime. Car pulled up at the curb just as Kennedy's pursuers were crowding round the front gate. Johnson was in uniform, but young Andrews (22) was in beach clothes and was on his way to Bondi to surf when Johnson picked him up and told him of the murder. When Andrews learned the dead man was his workmate, Norm Allen, he did not hesitate to go in after the murderer. 'I'll get him from the back way,' Andrews called to the crowd at the gate, as he leapt the front fence. The young policeman ran around the side of the house on tip-toe and disappeared around the corner of the washhouse. A minute passed and the silence was broken by 3 shots. Johnson did not hesitate. He leapt up onto the front verandah and smashed the glass in the front door. He was shocked to see Kennedy, peering at him through the cavity, from 6 feet away with a rifle up to his shoulder. Before the killer could take aim, Johnson threw up his revolver and fired twice, hit ting Kennedy in the stomach. The big man yelled, dropped his gun and staggered into a doorway off the passage. Johnson smashed down the door and plunged into the room where Kennedy had staggered. They found the killer writhing on a bed, holding bloody fingers to his stomach. Johnson called Andrews' name, but got no reply. He rushed to find him, fearing the worse even before he saw his colleague's body. On the floor of Kennedy's kitchen lay Andrews in a pool of blood, his chest riddled with bullet holes, and his head completely severed from his body. In the blood alongside lay a wicked looking bowie knife. The madman Kennedy had shot the constable as he tried to enter the house, and then lopped his head off to make sure he 'finished' him. Kennedy, in spite of the crippling wound in his stomach was still incredibly powerful. He had to be strapped down on the bed while waiting for the ambulance to take him to hospital, and screamed and struggled all the way there. On being admitted to hospital he was placed in a padded cell with a stout door. But with one mighty heave, he tore himself from his straitjacket and dived at the door, smashing it from its hinges. But gradually the mad man's strength waned, and late that afternoon he was in a hospital bed, dying. Meanwhile a search was made of his house. It was found to be a real arsenal. Thousands of rounds of ammunition were found in the kitchen, and 20 full boxes were discovered in a trunk under the verandah. In another room police found a full set of jazz drums and weird musical instruments with which Kennedy had played his fantastic dance music. In the back yard his miniature range was examined. The brick wall at the top of the yard was pitted and chipped, and a house brick which he had used as a target, was reduced to half Its size from frequent shooting. A search of his belongings revealed certificates for marksmanship from the Canadian Mounted Police. In the hospital, Kennedy's dying depositions were taken. He told police that his reason for the slayings was that he thought the constables were Germans and that he had done his duty by 'passing sentence of death and executing them.' His last words were to his brother-in-law. 'Have you executed any Germans, Jack?' he rasped hoarsely. 'Go and do your duty like I did.' Then he was dead. Brother-in-law explained that Kennedy's mental deterioration was due to 2 tragedies. First he had received 2 white feathers from a malicious prankster though he was medically unfit to go to World War I, and secondly because of his mother's death. His habit of marching up and down the street with his rifle was his crazy way of justifying his absence from the battlefront. Next day all 3 victims of the tragedy were buried. Allen and Andrews with appropriate honors. Andrews, for his courageous attempt to capture the insane menace to society, received a posthumous police award. John Kennedy was a dual-killer of the worst type, but a mentally sick one. Sometimes the crimes of the insane display an ingenuity that calls for high detective skill to solve. But this was not one of them. It was just the stark 'horror of an unhinged mind.

- Mirror (Perth, WA), Saturday, 10 May 1952, Page 8