Paddy Crick
| Paddy Crick | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for West Macquarie |
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In office 1887–1904 |
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| Preceded by | Fergus Smith |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Blayney |
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In office 1904–1906 |
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| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | John Withington |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Patrick Crick 10 February 1862 Truro, South Australia |
| Died | 23 August 1908 (aged 46) Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
| Resting place | Waverley Cemetery |
William Patrick Crick (10 February 1862 – 23 August 1908) was an Australian politician, solicitor and newspaper proprietor. He was described by author Cyril Pearl as an irresistible demagogue, who "looked like a prize fighter, dressed like a tramp, talked like a bullocky, and to complete the pattern of popular virtues, owned champion horses which he backed heavily and recklessly."
Crick was born at Truro, South Australia and in about 1868 the family moved into western New South Wales, settling at Spicer's Creek near Wellington. He attended St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1886 and developed a successful practice in the criminal courts. In 1890 he married Mary Catherine Kelly, but they separated in 1892.
In 1885 Crick and Edward O'Sullivan founded the Land and Industrial Alliance, a protectionist party aimed at country selectors and city workers, and ran unsuccessfully for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1887. As an independent protectionist he was elected in 1889 as the member for West Macquarie.
He was notable for his verbal aggression in the house, especially when drunk, and in October 1889 he called several parliamentarians "bloody Orange hounds and thieves" and was subsequently found guilty of a contempt. In November 1890, Crick was ordered out of the House, but had to be physically removed. He was then expelled, but won the ensuing by-election.
In August 1890 Crick was involved with William Nicholas Willis in founding the Truth newspaper, which was intended to promote their political and social views, but instead became largely a scandal sheet. He succeeded in having enacted a first offenders' probation bill in 1894. He was charged with conspiracy in 1895 in relation to the George Dean case, but managed to evade conviction. By the mid-1890s he was said to be one of the biggest betters on Sydney horse racing and lived in hotels near Randwick Racecourse.
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