Lieutenant-Colonel George Hodges Knox C.M.G. (and later Sir) was an interesting gentleman. He was born in Prahan, educated at Scotch College, had a distinguished military career, served in both the first and second world wars and became a politician later in life. It was he, who’s name was given to the city of Knox. In the early 1900’s he owned the beautiful Yuulong property in Salisbury road, Upper Beaconsfield as well as a house in Lansell drive, Toorak. Unfortunately, he was involved in a rather messy divorce where his first wife gave all the details of his indiscretions. Shortly after his divorce he married his second wife and went on to farm and engage in politics in Ferntree Gully.
On the cold winters morning of June 17th, 1912, Mr. Knox was driving between Upper Beaconsfield and Toorak. Between Narre Warren and Hallam, Mr. Knox discovered the body of a man lying partially under a hedge beside the road. He stopped the car and upon investigating found the naked body of an elderly man. Lying beside the body were some items of clothing. In the pocket of the clothing was a silver snuff-horn inscribed with the words- “Presented to Samuel Dow by his brother Alex Dow.” There was no money in the clothing or near the body. Further investigations proved that Mr. Dow came from Two Fold Bay (Eden) in East Gippsland and was traveling home when he perished. The autopsy showed that he died of natural causes and gave no indication as to why or how he came to be without his clothing on a cold winters morning.
