The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday
9 March 1844
On Friday, the 1st
instant, as Mr. Wright, of the Rutherford Accommodation Paddock, was walking up
and down his verandah after tea, accompanied by his assistant, he saw two men
walking quietly towards his house, close by the fence, but observed nothing
remarkable about their manner until they came up to where he stood, when they
presented their pieces at him, and ordered him to make no resistance on peril
of his life. One of them touched Mr. W. with his piece and pushed him into the
house, and then into Mrs. Wright's bedroom, the other doing the same office to
his companion ; Mrs. W. being at the time just gone to bed. The larger of the two
men then planted himself at the threshold of the bedroom, with his gun levelled
at the three, threatening instant death to either of them who should make any
resistance, or raise an alarm ; the other meantime being busily occupied in
ransacking the house. The only money they could get hold of was about 10s. in silver
and copper, but they held a short discussion on the propriety of putting Mr.
Wright on the fire, to induce him to tell where his money was ;from this,
however, they were withheld by the fear of an alarm being given to 7 or 8
bullock drivers who were lying down by their teams in the paddock at the rear
of the house, at a short distance from it. The same consideration probably
caused them to abstain from offering any personal violence to any of the three.
After about half an hour's stay, the smaller man having made up his booty into
two large bundles,t hey entered the bedroom, and tied the hands of Mr. and Mrs.
Wright and their man behind their backs, and uttering dreadful threats if they gave
the alarm soon, locked the door on them, and made off, taking the key with
them.
Mr. Wright, as soon
as he could get his hands loose, got out through the window, and gave the alarm
to the bullock drivers (two of whom owned part of the goods taken away), and an
immediate search was commenced for the bushrangers. Mr. W. also sent a man into
Maitland to give the alarm to the police, who were on the spot in a very short
time, and an active pursuit was commenced on all sides, search being made of
drays and huts for many miles round before three o' clock in the morning, but to
no effect. A report was given by a Singleton policeman, who met Mr. Wright,
that in coming towards Maitland, he met two such men as he described with a
bundle each near Black Creek, but though pursuit was
immediately made, the bushrangers were too quick or too clever for them. On
looking down the list of articles the bushrangers took away with them, one
might almost suppose they intended to start a small store, they are so numerous
and varied. Amongst them there was a
silver watch (No.18269, R. Robinson, London), a gun, 3 frockcoats, 10 pairs
trousers, 4 white shirts, 20 regatta shirts, 5 gowns, 4 shawls, 7
handkerchiefs,(Stays, table-cloths, &c., &c. One of the men is described
as a tall stout built man, having the appearance of having been a soldier,
rather fair complexion, broad face, about 5ft. lO in. high; the other as having
an oval face, dark sallow complexion, black or hazel eyes,
about 5ft. 6in.high.-Yesterday, as Mr. Wright was returning from Morpeth, he
saw the two men lying by the side of the road, and entered into conversation with
them. Presently, a dray coming up, Mr.W., as a feint, asked the driver whether
he had brought on his parcel? The man said no, and Mr. Wright, saying then he
must return for it, went back to find the police. Not finding any in Morpeth,
he returned part way, and despatched a man into Maitland to tell the police,
fearing the bushrangers would take the alarm if he passed them. His messenger
on the road met Mr. Day,
who procured a pistol, and having joined Mr. Wright, they went together and secured the men.
The capture is about as cool an affair as the robbery.
The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser
Saturday 20 January 1844
COACH ACCIDENT.-On Sunday
afternoon last a serious accident happened to
the Singleton mail coach, while on its road
from Singleton to Maitland. It had arrived about
two miles from Leeds's, between that place
and Black Creek, when the
leading horse took fright by the bar touching him on the hock
; the horses ran away, and on the driver locking the
rains to check them they broke; the near
horse then began kicking violently, and knocked
the footboard away, and the driver not being
able to hold them in they got off the road,
and the near horse came with full force
against a tree, which killed him on the spot; the
other two horses escaped without damage, the
leader breaking away into the bush. The coach
was upset, and a good deal damaged. There was
only one passenger in it, who was thrown out, and had
two ribs broken; the driver was also thrown several yards,
and was insensible for a short time, but was not much
injured. The driver brought on the mail to Black Creek on horse-back,
where he procured a gig from Mr. Kesterton and reached
Maitland about half past seven in the evening. The
man was perfectly sober, and we understand no blame can be attached to him.
The Maitland Mercury
& Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday
13 July 1844
Hugh Duffy pleaded guilty to a
charge of stealing a silver watch, the
property of John Wilson, at Black Creek, on the 14th April last,
and was sentenced to be worked in irons for one year.
No comments:
Post a Comment