Other names "The Texan" Conviction(s) MurderManslaughter | Occupation Criminal Name Billy Texan" | |
Born 1926 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Died 28 March 2014(2014-03-28)Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||
Billy "The Texan" Longley (1926 – 27 March 2014) was an underworld figure best known as a standover man on the Melbourne waterfront during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1971 he nominated for President of the Victorian branch of the Painters and Dockers Union but lost the election to Arthur Morris in controversial circumstances.
In 1973, Longley was charged and convicted of the murder of Pat Shannon, then Secretary of the Painters and Dockers Union, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975. He served 13 years in prison for this, maintaining his innocence. While in prison, he made a number of allegations regarding union corruption that led to the establishment of the Costigan Royal Commission.
Longley died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital on the morning of 27 March 2014.
Nickname
Longley was given the moniker "The Texan" from a television western about a man named Bill Longley with a similar liking for Colt .45 pistols.