Murder on the dance floor: Audrey Jacob and Cyril Gidley

In 1925, Audrey Jacob walked through the crowded ballroom of Perth’s Government House, tapped Cyril Gidley on the shoulder and shot him point blank in the chest. But after a sensational trial, she was cleared of murder. So just how was she found not guilty?

Audrey Jacob was just 20 years old when she was out with a friend at the annual St John of God ball in Perth and she saw her fiance, 25-year-old Cyril Gidley, dancing with another woman.

Cyril, a ship’s engineer, was meant to be on his ship in Singapore at the time, so Audrey hadn’t expected to see him at the ball, let alone with someone else. But when she tried to get his attention, he completely blanked her.

So it was that at around 1.30am, she weaved her way through the crowded dance floor, tapped Gidley on the shoulder, raised her right hand which was holding a gun, and shot him in the chest.

He slumped to the floor dead.

But when Audrey faced court on a charge of murder, the jury found her not guilty.

In this episode we look at Audrey and Cyril’s tumultuous relationship, and just how she was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Hosted by Marion Langford. Follow on Instagram or check out the website at ratbagsandroustabouts.com. Do you know a story that the history books forgot? Let us know about it!