Saturday, April 14, 2012
Black Creek News - 1844
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.
Black Creek News - 1843
The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday
11 February 1843
On Saturday morning last, between eight and nine o'clock, two
aboriginals called at an out station of Mr. R. Scott's, of Glendon, about seven
miles from the house, and enquired for the shepherd ; on being told by the
watchman that he was after the sheep on the mountain, they asked the watchman
whether he came to the colony an immigrant, or a prisoner, and when he replied
that he came as a prisoner they said it was well for him, as prisoners were
obliged to come here against their will, but the immigrants came of their own
accord, to rob the black man of his land and gave him no food,
and that they would pay them (the immigrants) off for it.
They then took whatever they could carry off in the hut; and said they
would have the women who were there. Whilst the two black fellows were talking to the watchman the women made
their escape, out of the back of the hut and ran towards the bush to conceal
themselves; each of the women having an infant in her arms. When the blacks missed them they went in
pursuit, and soon overtook one of the women, and were going to spear her, when
she cried out, "There are two horsemen coming after some cattle,” which
just then appeared insight.
The blacks stopped
to look, and the woman fortunately escaped to the mountain. They soon
afterwards came up with the other woman, whose name is Keoghue, and who had a child
with her about three months old, and gave her several blows with a waddy, which
left two deep wounds on her head and one on the neck. She fell senseless to the
ground, and they mangled in a dreadful manner her child and a boy about nine
years old named Cavanagh, who happened to be at the station on a visit for a
few days. Their mangled remains were interred at Black Creek on
the following day.
The poor woman was conveyed to Glendon, where every attention has been
paid her by Dr. Glennie, and she now appears to be in a fair way of recovering
from the murderous attack.
The blacks, after
this deed of blood, examined the mountain in every direction in search of the shepherd,
who heard them cooeying for him not a hundred yards off, and who knew nothing
of what had happened.
One of the murderers is supposed to be the same who killed Mulcahey's
children some time ago. The Glendon tribes are very indignant at the shocking
affair, and are preparing to go in pursuit
of these bloodthirsty savages; and we sincerely
hope that we shall before long hear that the villians have been captured.
Black Creek News - 1841
The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser Friday
9 April 1841
George Edwards was
indicted by the Clerk of Arraigns, for feloniously and by force of arms, against the peace of our Lady the Queen, her
Crown and Dignity, on the 9th March, 1840.
Robert Turner - I
live at Maitland; on the 5th March I was travelling from Black Creek
towards Maitland, when the prisoner suddenly rushed out of the bush,
armed with a musket, which he presented at me, and ordered me to stop; he
then desired me to ride off the road into the bush; I rode in; when I had
ridden about one hundred yards into the bush, he said to get off and give him
my boots.; I said my mare was young and would not stand; he said, tie her to a sapling;
I did so, and pulled off my boots, which he made me throw to him; he then bade me
pull off my coat, which I also threw to him; he then said, go on; I was about
to take the mare, when he said, leave the horse, it is the identical thing I
want ; I then proceeded on. On the night of the 6th March, the mare returned to
her stable. In about a fortnight or three weeks afterwards I saw my coat at the
lock-up.
William Holland--I am
a constable at Patrick’s Plains when I apprehended prisoner he
had one shilling
and three half pence on his person; he called to one of the men who stood near
him to fetch him his hat and coat ; the coat is the same one sworn to by Mr.
Turner. After some unimportant questions, the jury, without retiring,
found the prisoner guilty and he was sentenced to be transported for 15 years.
The
Sydney Herald Saturday 10 April 1841
Michael Ryan was indicted for
stealing five calves, from the property of Alexander Paterson, at Black Creek,
on the 23rd February, and Michael Healy, as an accessory before the fact. As this case rested solely on the evidence of
an approver, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
Black Creek News - 1839
The Sydney Gazette and
New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 5 January 1839
Murder.—A murder is said to have
been committed lately at Harper's Hill, at a place near to Black Creek. The victim was
the keeper of a sly grog-hut in the neighbourhood,
and was found murdered in the bush with her skull broken in. It is supposed
that those in custody murdered her from motives of revenge on account of her refusal to supply them
with liquor when they had no means of paying for it.
The Australian Tuesday 4 June 1839
Property taken from Mr Pringle's
dray, near Black Creek, by the
fellows who robbed Mr Butler, J. P. has been found in the hut of some splitters
in that neighbourhood through the instrumentality of a man named Cutts, which
men are still at large a terror to the neighbourhood.
Poor Cutts was nearly murdered by
them as they entered a hut, in which he was asleep, and after waking him gave
him five minutes to pray whilst one of them stood over him with a pistol. Cutts
knocked the man aside and escaped through the window, in his shirt, after
standing the tire of both, providentially, with slight hurt, except dreadful
lacerations in the feet through running bare- footed through the bush. He is
now in pursuit of them, accompanied by three mounted police and a constable.
The Colonist Saturday 9 November 1839
Thursday, November 7
Before the Chief Justice.
James Davis, Alexander Talfourd, and Archibald Taylor, were indicted for
the wilful murder of James Maher, at Black Creek, on
the 19th July last, by shooting him with a pistol. Deceased was
going up with some other servants in charge of dray belong to Mr. Scott, of
Glenlyon. Shortly after they had encamped for the night, three men came up to
the dray. Deceased got up from under the dray, and asked who they were, and was
immediately shot. The other servants made off. One of them, Hughes swore that
the prisoner Davis was one of the three, but the other witnesses did not
identify any of the prisoners.
From the evidence of Charles Wilson, district constable of the Wollombi,
it appeared that the prisoners were known bushrangers. He received information
that Mr. Wiseman's farm had been robbed by bushrangers and set out in pursuit.
He was accompanied by John and George Bridges, and some blacks, in order to track the robbers.
About five miles beyond Mr. Wiseman's, they discovered the prisoners seated
together on a ledge of rock. Constable Wilson challenged them, and they
presented their arms; he then called out to his associates to fire, and shots
were exchanged. Taylor fell, the other two made off. Wilson and one of the
Bridges followed; when they passed Taylor he was gasping as though he were
dying. On nearing Davis and Talfourd, Wilson again challenged him. Davis
turned, and presented his piece; he pulled the trigger, but it snapped; Wilson
ran up to him, and he then threw down his arms. Talfourd followed his example
and Wilson handcuffed them both. He then took them back to the place where he
had first seen them, and where Taylor fell. When they arrived there Taylor was gone.
There were guns, pistols, and a quantity of property belonging to Mr.
Wiseman. There was a bag and a half of biscuit, some tea, sugar, and flour; 3
canisters of powder, and a bag of balls, and some jewellery belonging to
Mrs.Wiseman. Wilson knew them to be bushrangers; he met them on horseback some
three weeks before; he did not challenge them then because he had some
prisoners with him, but he made enquiries, and found that they were the bushrangers who had been robbing the
neighbourhood. They were dressed in Mr. Wiseman’s clothes when they were taken.
The Jury returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners, who were
immediately sentenced to death.
Black Creek News - 1838
The Australian Friday 18 May 1838
SUPREME CRIMINAL COURT
.
THURSDAY - Before the Chief Justice and a Military Jury.
George MacDowell and John Boyle were indicted for stealing a mare,
valued £20, the property of John Busby, at Black Creek,
on the 20th of August last.
A second count laid the mare as the property of James Dairymple Killlman.
It appeared in evidence, that Mr Killman, who is related to Mr Busby, and had
the care of his stock, missed a mare from his estate at Black Creek, sometime in August. The prisoner MacDowall,
about this time, appeared in the vicinity of Sydney, with two mares and a
filly, which he offered for sale to several persons. He put up a Mr Devine's
public-house, on the Liverpool road, and one day as he was riding into Sydney, he
met a Mr Smith, who also keeps a public-house on the Liverpool road and who is
a dealer in horse flesh; the prisoner offered the mare to him for sale,
and asked £110 for the two mares.
Mr Smith, who was in want of such animals, offered £95, which he
considered to be the full value of the mares; prisoner at first refused the offer
and rode away, but soon returned, and the bargain was struck Mr Smith desired a
reference which the prisoner promised to give, and Smith paid for the mares by
a bill on the Commercial Bank, payable at eight days sight, to give the prisoner
time to satisfy him that the mares were his lawful property; on the day before
the bill was payable, the prisoner having failed to appear to his time, Smith
went to Sydney and stopped payment of the note. On his return home, he met the
prisoner, and they went into Mr Tavener's public-house; the prisoner then told
a plausible tale, that Smith started back to Sydney and got the money, which he
paid to the prisoner, taking his receipt and description of the mares before
Tavener. In further proof of the prisoners having had possession of and
assuming the ownership of the horses, a Dr White of Windsor, deposed that the
prisoner, a few days before, had offered to sell him the filly, at which time
he was riding the mare in question. Information was given of the loss of the
mares to the police, and a reward was offered for their recovery and the
prosecution of the offenders if stolen. The prisoner MacDowall was lodged in the
watch-house on a charge of being drunk in the streets, and from the information
given he was detained. The chief constable and his assistant got on the track
of the mares, which they traced to the possession of Smith, who produced them
at the Police Office, where the one in question was identified by Mr Alexander
Busby as the property of his father. His Honor directed the Jury
that there was no
evidence to affect the prisoner Boyles, who was
acquitted and discharged.
McDowall
Guilty— sentenced to be transported for life.
The Australian December 1838
Death. On Thursday last, the 27th December, at his residence, Black Creek,
after a painful illness, Mr Henry Coulson, aged 28 years.
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