The Bendigo Advertiser newspaper of Thursday 30 May 1872 confirms that Maria Murray was engaged in prostitution with other women described as ‘six notorious prostitutes’.

Sarah Hawkins, Henrietta Byng, Minnie Bently, Mary Brown, Mary O’Shanassy, and Maria Murray were charged the day before with riotous and disorderly behaviour in a public place. On the application of Sergeant Drought, the defendants were remanded for one week.