To explore the medico-legal work of Melbourne psychiatrist Reg Ellery.
Conclusion:
Ellery, a radical activist, attacked judges on the grounds that they could not be relied on to produce proper judgements or understand the social and psychiatric basis from which crime arose. Ellery’s views were strongly influenced by his support for communism, and he regarded the Soviet Union as a model society that should be emulated. Ellery paid the penalty of losing his hospital position. However, there is no evidence that this affected his medico-legal work, and he continued to assess forensic cases until the end of his career. Some of Ellery’s more interesting cases are discussed.
KaplanRM. Psychiatric gadfly: In search of Reginald Ellery. Australas Psychiatry2012; 20: 7–13.
2.
ElleryRS. The cow that jumped over the moon – private papers of a psychiatrist. Melbourne: FW Cheshire, 1956.
3.
ElleryRS. Psychiatry in the Soviet Union. Med J Aust1938; 470–476.
4.
ElleryRS. Eyes left!: The Soviet Union and the post-war world. Melbourne: Reed and Harris, 1943.
5.
Dane. Some medical aspects of crime. Med J Aust1941; 2: 313.
6.
The Mail, 20August1932, p.2.
7.
BarryJVCoatesAE. Legal medicine in Victoria. The proceedings of the Medico-Legal Society of Victoria during the years 1931–2 and 1932–3. Br Med J1935; 2: 998.
8.
The Queenslander, 19September1935, p.8.
9.
The Central Queensland Herald, 19September1935, p.52.
10.
Specialised treatment for offender. Williamstown Chronicle, 30April1954, p.4.
11.
HaeseR. Rebels and precursors: revolutionary years of Australian art. Melbourne: Viking, 1982, pp.147–149.
12.
Angry Penguins defended. The Argus, 26October1944, p.6.
