On November 16, 1877, a girl Alice was born to Frederick Menkens and Alice Deerlove. His abode is listed as 'unknown and she was 'lying in hospital' and his occupation is listed as Architect and she was a 'single woman'. [Anglican Diocese of Melbourne Register of Baptisms 1850-1889] In June 1895 Menkens was sued in the
Supreme Court for
slander and £1000 damages by H. Kingsbury, an
electrical contractor, whom he had accused of installing a lightning conductor made of cheaper metal than specified and of trying to deceive his client. Kingsbury was awarded £126 in damages but Menkens refused to pay and was
imprisoned for
debt.· At first in the Maitland lock-up, he was feasted by his friends, who also supplied him with comfortable furniture, his drawing equipment and commissions until he was moved to
Darlinghurst Gaol. In October his estate was sequestrated; apart from what he owed to Kingsbury he admitted moneys marked cash in his cheque book were winnings at the races and items drawn to self were losses; in October 1894 he had borrowed £40 from William Rouse to cover losses on the
Caulfield Cup. His only assets were a block of land at
Auburn and his wearing apparel. On 9 August 1896 his estate was released and he was discharged from prison. In 1907 he returned to
Germany to visit his aging mother. He returned to live in
Sydney in his newly built house in Avoca Street,
Randwick. On 10 March 1910, he died of
cirrhosis aged 55. He was buried in the Anglican section of
Waverly cemetery. He had no children; he briefly married a widow Margaret Downey until the
supreme court dissolved the marriage on 25th 1891. Menkens lived largely a
bachelor life, lodging at the
Great Northern Hotel. == References ==