Ernest Brougham Docker


Ernest Brougham Docker was an Australian judge, cricketer and photographer.

Biography

Docker was born at Thornwaite, New South Wales. He graduated B.A. in 1863 and M.A. in 1865 from St Paul's College, University of Sydney.
Docker was admitted to the colonial Bar on 28 June 1867. He was crown prosecutor for the northern district, the south-western district, and judge of the District Court and chairman of Quarter Sessions for the north-western district. During 1884-1912 he was in the western district. He retired in 1918.
Docker took interest in photography. He joined the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1876 and was president of the Photographic Society of New South Wales during 1894-1907. He married Clarissa Mary in 1873, they had seven daughters and two sons.
Docker was a cricketer. He played one first-class match for New South Wales in 1871/72.

If Jesus Did Not Die Upon the Cross

Docker authored If Jesus Did Not Die Upon the Cross, an early work to argue for the swoon hypothesis that Jesus survived his crucifixion. He theorized that Jesus was in a state of catalepsy or self-hypnosis which gave the impression of death. Docker also asserted that the spear thrust by the soldier may have not occurred and Jesus was given clothing by the "gardener" mentioned in.
Docker's ideas were rejected by Frederick Zugibe who commented that "there is no valid documentation to support his hypothesis."

Selected publications

*