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Are there any "good" criminals? |
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Are there any "bad" policemen? |
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How good is the Australian criminal justice system? |
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How good is the Australian Penal System? |
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Should prisons punish or rehabilitate? |
This book will re-shape your thinking...
If you're aware of the criminal justice system in Australia, you'll know that crime and punishment can be astoundingly inconsistent. This book bares all - the crime, the corruption, the prisons, the attitudes, the fun and the ever-present fear of consequences.
And if you have a record, you better believe that it's there forever...
"So how do you tell your innocent teenage kids that you love them more than words can say... but you've been a criminal all your life? Your greatest fear is that you will lose them when they find out the truth..."
Hey, when you were a kid, did you ever “borrow” a few bucks from your Mum’s purse when she wasn’t looking?
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Alf and Ernie did too... !
"Stealing milk money from the neighbours was a bonus. We found we could spend it! With that realisation, we moved to straight out stealing of whatever was to hand, firstly from yards and garages, then from inside neighbour’s houses. Mum’s purse was a natural target too."
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And did you stop when you got caught?
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Yes? Well, Alf and Ernie didn't... !
So you buckled down and lived by the rules then, eh? Not Alf or Ernie. "Driven by a growing hatred of authority and a desperate need to prove themselves against the odds...", they maintained their chosen lifestyle despite constantly facing the full force of law and order - not once, not twice, but many times, over many years. |
Remember the days of the old “kick in the backside” copper?
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Alf does... !
To listen to some, the good old days included police having the freedom to kick a kid in the arse, give him a good fright and send him on home. Result? A lifetime of productive service to the community from the kid. Yeah.
Alf and Ernie were destined to be separated by this “kick-arse” system. Shattered, Alf was left to go it alone. His hatred now knew no bounds. Society created authority and that authority, he thought, was applied unfairly. Society must pay.
And pay, it did. |
And it's all in this book...
WHAT he did and WHY he did it!
BUY NOW!
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What reader's say about Character's & Capers
Where do I begin to talk about my dad and his life journey?
I'll start on the day he decided to tell me that he in fact wasn't the angel that every daughter believes her father to be…
On a family outing he took me aside and said I've got a story for you.
From my memory he left nothing out, warts and all. I don't believe I said much at the time, just listened. Of course my mind was racing, not really sure if there was going to be a punch line at the end saying it was all a joke. There was no punch line but there was a happy ending. And that happy ending is the fact that there was already so much respect for him for the way he had always treated myself and my brother that what he had done really didn't make any difference at all to how I felt.
Instead it somehow made me respect him all the more. It may sound weird for a daughter to say this about her father, but I'm so proud of him. To come back from where he started and to make an honest life for himself with a very loving family is nothing short of amazing.
So my Poppa, thank you for sharing all of it with us.
I love you, warts and all.
Your Loving Daughter,
Eve.
Hi Alf
I have been meaning to write to you. Guess what? I finished reading your book! When I first started reading, just after you gave it to us, I found it good for the first first few pages, then I was horrified that you found yourself in such awful situations, then it became confronting as I transferred feelings to our own situations, then I disliked you for being a 'naughty boy' and for putting yourself and everyone in the book (including me, the reader!) through such emotions as I read. So I stopped reading it. Then it got buried under our bed.
Well two weeks ago I cleaned out under the bed ( a big task I can tell you - you could have hidden under there for weeks and no -one would have found you! (lol) - but I found your book and I read it.
I knew the first few chapters and sailed through them. I found myself engaged and I did not put the book down, reading several chapters each night, till I finished it. What a read! What a book! It is great Alf. Yes, it highlights aspects of violence, loneliness and brutality. Yes, I was exhausted going through court appearances one after another - always sitting on the edge of my seat championing you to get out of this one, then the next...
This book is brilliant in the telling. It is honest and reads like a movie. The exciting thing is, I know some of the characters - not to say the lead man and lady!
Just want to say thank you Alf for sharing your story. I admire your courage and your goodness. You are a clever and loving and caring man and I love You and Heather.
Thats all, love Mo oxoxo
Hi Alfie,
Since I left school, many years ago, I’ve read about 3 books. I’m not into reading, I'm either too busy or found them boring.
But I remember glancing at the first few pages of your book just to check it out, then a few more.... then finally I found myself in depth reading! It was just to hard to put down. Some times laughing my head off, other times shocked at the criminal world of those times none of us straight and narrow people really knew about!
Other times I found sadness at what life had dealt your way.
But mostly I found reading your book a totally entertaining and an eye opening experience. I consider myself a very fortunate person to have met you and to have such a loyal and caring person in my life who, over the years, has grown to be one of my closest and dearest friends.
I hope your book will grow to be a best seller and I’m sure it will! All any one has to do is start reading and they will see for themselves.I never doubted for a second your book would be anything less than great
Your old buddy,
Bill B.
Hi Alf,
When I heard that you were writing a book about you, I just had to have a copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to end. To go through all the trials and tribulations of your life and be able to laugh with you and cry with you was amazing!
For someone that has been through so much, you have definitely come out the other side a wonderful person to know.
I feel honoured that I have been a part of your life and to have met your wonderful family. Your kids are a real credit to you and Heather, such down to earth individuals. You must be very proud!
Your book is such a good read, that mine was stolen and I haven't seen it since, I just hope that it is still doing the rounds and more people are getting to know your story. As soon as I can afford to, I will definitely be replacing my copy, because it's a KEEPER!!!!
All the best,
Lynn xx
I have known Alfie for more years than I can remember! Alfie told me that he had written a book about his Life: I just love reading real life stuff, so I said: " When it comes into print, I want a copy, Alfie..."! And so I read his book! I cried because I believe Alfie paid more than his dues for any crime he committed. He always said he deserved his punishment and accepted what was dealt to him and (just like himn), that is admirable.
I have come to know Alfie and have found him to be a man of unique wisdom who behaves appropriately in any given situation! He is a person who believes in 'family first'. Alfie is the greatest friend on Earth.
He saved my bacon on a couple of occasions when I was going through some really bad patches in my life! He truly believed in me when no other bastard would come through! Thank you, Alfie for being so compassionate and caring! Just having someone that can kick your bum without crushing your heart is one of the most amazing things that could ever happen to a human being!
Thank you, Alfie, I am eternally grateful to you for believing in me... and thank your lovely wife, Heather. The two of you are "One". Love you forever!
Judy Houlahan
Hi Alfie
Since I met you in 1989 I learned bits and pieces of your past but when I read your book I realized that what I knew was only the tip of the iceberg.
Once I started to read your book I couldn’t put it down till I had finished it. It was really exciting and I could imagine you doing all those things, much more exciting in real life than any book of fiction could ever be. Especially since I was involved in one of your adventures regarding driver’s licenses.
I honestly don’t know how Heather put up with you all these years, but then you were there for me when I really needed a friend just as many others have found.
Thanks for a wonderful book, now what about a sequel?
Love
Sandra
Having known Alf (“Blurt”, affectionately called by my wife) & Heather for more than thirty years and being involved their lives in a small way & seeing Alf is my Brother-In-Law I reckon I know more about him than most others and I’m happy to comment about his book, “Characters & Capers”, and about the man himself.
I feel that the truth is what you see it as, and, I remember a Police Officer once told me:”We don’t lie, we tell the truth the way we see it!” How true.
Over many good Times and Trying times we became pretty close not only as family, but as friends, and even though the miles keep us from seeing more of each other, we keep in contact by the Computer or phone & the occasional visit.
When you first sent me the rough copy on the Computer , I sat for many a night reading a few chapters at a time, your life story was very interesting, and knowing some of the people I asked the question’s and found the answer’s.
So when I read the printed copy everything came together.
As I have said, I have known you and your (our) family for many years and hope to for many more to come.
Love and respect,
Bill & Ness
Hi Alf,
Finished reading your book, "Characters & Capers" & thought I might comment on what I have read!
It's a tapestry of 'Highs & Lows', weaved with 'Good versus Evil" and Evil versus Good!
A rollercoaster of emotions from the people who love you to the force that hates you.
As I read this book I wished that I was like you..... but glad that I'm not!
Your book is a true insight into the Criminal mind: but, which side are the Criminals?
A fantastic book from the adrenalin rush of the Escape from the Courthouse at Darlinghurst - to the eventual rendevous with Murderers, Thugs, & God knows what else in the following years.
I couldn't put the book down! Loved it!
Alfie if you write another book, put me on the list to purchase it.
Love, Lee & Tania.
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If you believe in "...an eye for an eye..." you'll just hate what you're gonna read in this book. Fairness? Justice? Believe me, you'll be asking, "On who's behalf?" If you're a bit bent, you're just gonna laugh your head off a good part of the time while you're reading this!
You see, Alfie was an "old style" crim, one who wouldn't give up anything to the coppers, but who still lost his freedom time after time when the system got its act together. But when the system got a bit bent out of shape, or even when it was pushed a little out of shape, well...
So how come a bloke, famous for not saying a word to anyone about his life, spilled his guts to me, a casual friend he'd known only a few years?
Why me?
Why did Alf want to tell me about his life as a career criminal? After all, I just happened to be a casual friend at the time. Not even a teenage misdemeanour, much less a criminal record to my name. I guess I was as straight a friend as Alf had ever had.
A mutual trust...
I was someone he'd learned to trust and, perhaps a little oddly, given our vastly different backgrounds, I trusted Alf in turn. I can tell you now that he's never given me the slightest reason to doubt his word to me, no matter how bizarre that might sound when you read his story.
His kids didn't really know him...
The fact was, Alf was desperate. He needed help deciding what to do. His kids knew nothing of his real background. But he knew he had to do something, and soon, because, as curious teen-agers now, he knew they were bound to find out something in any number of ways. He didn't want to lose his kids. And he had to tell them the truth, because any lies would come out in an examination of the public record.
So we discussed the problem. Once I understood where he was coming from, I made it clear that he should tell his kids his real story right away. I knew Alf shared a wonderful rapport with his two kids. I'd never seen a shortage of love or respect in his home. I felt the chance of him losing them was non-existent.
It's all too hard...
Alf went away and thought about it. No matter what he did though, he just couldn't get himself to put everything to his kids. It was just too much and just too confronting. He saw his story as a burden to them.
We pondered and talked some more. I finally suggested, "If you can't tell them Alfie, maybe you should just write it all down for them...?"
He gave me a stare then. "Mate" he said, "I never got past 4th grade! How the fuck would I write down something like this?"
I was astounded. I'd never have realised if he hadn't told me. I thought for a moment. "Maybe I could give you a hand...." I said.
The project gets under way...
Part time, it took us longer than we thought - five years, actually. When we finished, we smiled a lot. We both felt our labour was well spent. Alf had his story for his kids. All he had to do was tell them the bare bones, give them the book and hope for the best. I wished him well and started work on new projects.
Now it's today...
But what a story it really was! Maybe not told as Hemingway might have told it, but what a yarn! I can tell you, I laughed and I cried, I feared for Alf and I feared for others. Most of all while writing it, I looked forward to the next installment as told by Alf. Because I knew it was true and the truth was blowing my mind day after day. At times the revelations just took my breath away.
I knew there was no way this story would ever get into the public domain. Alfie named all the names! Corrupt coppers, bent bookies, pickpockets, sadistic prison warders, psychotic prisoners, opportunistic escapees, murder, thievery, double-crossing conmen, cat burglars, drunken playrights, famous kidnappers, infamous murderers... car bombers, prison riots, and much, much more! And then there was a character central to so much of the story - an incorruptible, thoroughly honest copper who saved Alf's bacon a few times over the years...
So we changed a few names. Who wants the trouble? But the stories are just as true nevertheless. And the stories are not just Alfie's stories, they are also a reflection of the times - a social commentary if you like. A slice of Australian history as seen through the eyes of someone who helped make it - from the wrong side of the law.
And we changed these names because I felt the story
was just too damned good for everyone to miss out on!
There's much in this book that law-makers should heed. There's even more that would-be wrong-doers should take note of and act upon.
But most of all, think of Alf's kids, confronted with the information in this book. Read it. Then tell me, what would your kids do if it was you? And how would your family react... if it was YOU?
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This book really IS different!
Read excerpts!
Click to read excerpts
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Downloadable PDF Version
just $USD 9.95
Paperback Version
just $USD 34.95
Includes complementary PDF Version
Perfect Bound Hardcover Version
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includes complementary PDF Version
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Were YOU there?
Ever been a guest at any of the gaols Alfie mentions during the 50's, 60's, or 70's? Ever met Alfie as an arresting copper, as a presiding judge or as a prison warder?
We'd LOVE to hear from you!
You can do so anonymously or you can identify yourself and we'll ensure your anonymity if you wish. Whether you can confirm or dispute the accuracy of any of Alfie's stories, if you have any story about law enforcement, gaol life or capers you might have pulled through this time, then we'll provide the venue for you to tell your story. We'll even help you edit it and present it on this website. It'll be of great interest to readers and members of the Alf Morley Crime and Punishment Fraternity.
If it's good enough, we'll even work with you to publish it in book form!
It's your chance to tell YOUR story!
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