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This detailed account of the death of Sgt Parry was printed just a day after the police officer’s death.

17 November 1864

FATAL ENCOUNTER WITH BEN HALL AND HIS GANG. ROBBERY OF THE MAIL, AND DEATH OF SERGEANT PARRY.

In our last issue we remarked that for some time past we had to record each week two mail robberies on the main Southern Road, within sixty or seventy miles of Yass.

This week proves no exception. The mail from Gundagai to Yass was robbed on Tuesday afternoon, and on Wednesday one of the most daring attacks we have yet had to chronicle was perpetrated on the mail, and the mounted escort which accompanied it, on the same line of road, and within a few miles of the scene of the outrage on the preceding day.

When three daring villains such as Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn are permitted to take possession for weeks together of the main road in the colony, and to perpetrate outrages almost innumerable, it proves most unmistakably the shameful way in which the enormous sums expended for police purposes are wasted.

These three ruffians have put all the powers and the means in the possession of the constituted authorities at defiance, and the injury they have occasioned to the community, and the serious loss that has been sustained by the utter absence of confidence in all commercial transactions, are incalculable. We do not attach much importance to the hasty mustering of a few volunteers, whose courage is apt to evaporate after riding a dozen miles or so.

But what is wanted is that a sufficient number of determined men should unite, and by forming a cordon around the well-known haunts of Hall and his gang, gradually to press forward until the scoundrels are captured or shot.

Why Captain Zouch has not so arranged the large mounted force in the several districts under his control in some such matter we are at a loss to conceive. There can be no doubt that Hall and his confederates are playing a desperate game, and will fight most determinedly before they are captured. The following are the particulars of the outrages referred to, from which it will be seen that in the affray on Wednesday, one of the gang shot dead a brave and much respected officer of the police — Sergeant Edmund Parry, of Gundagai.

On Tuesday afternoon, the mail from Gundagai reached the Hill at Deep Creek, about five miles on the Yass side of Jugiong, shortly before five o’clock.

Mr. Sheahan, of Jugiong, the mail contractor, and Mr. Bradbury, of Queanbeyan, were passengers by the coach, and had alighted to walk up the hill. They were some distance in advance of the coach, Mr. Sheahan being a few yards ahead of Mr. Bradbury.

The former was in the act of pointing out the spot where the mail was stuck up a few weeks before, when three horsemen appeared on the top of the hill, and spreading out- one on each side, the third in the centre of the road – they galloped towards the coach.

On coming near it was noticed that each had revolvers tn his hand, and the order was given by Ben Hall to “Bail up.” Mr. Sheahan folded his arms across his breast, and said “All right,” and Mr. Bradbury threw his arms above his head, repeating the words used by Mr. Sheahan. Hall then took Mr. Sheahan in charge, Gilbert look the coachman and mall, while Dunn took Mr. Bradbury.

Hall pointed and told them to “Walk up there; we have got a little township there.” After going up the hill for some distance they were ordered to tum off to the left, and approached a spot where twelve teams were stuck up, as well as a number of horse- men.

The mall was then stopped. Mr. Sheahan was asked if he had any money ; he replied that be had not, and they might search him if they liked. Hall declined to search, remarking that Mr. Sheahan was not a “bad sort of fellow”. Bradbury was then searched; although he handed them a cheque for one pound, stating that that was all he had, yet they examined his pockets, and asked him if he had not a watch.

They got nothing on him but the cheque, and subsequently, on his telling them it was all he had to carry him on the road, the cheque was returned. Hall and his companions then took out the mail-bags, six in number, and cut them all open. Before proceeding to examine the letters they asked Mr. Sheahan and Mr. Bradbury if they would have some wine. They answered “yes”. When Hall called to one of the teamsters to fetch over some port wine. The wine was brought in a quart pot, and a portion of it drunk by those present. The examination of the mall-bags mean- while proceeded, the three bushrangers sitting down on the ground with the bags before them. The letters were speedily ransacked of any bank notes they contained. Mr. Bradbury remarking to them that they sorted the letters much quicker than was generally done in Sydney. Mr. Sheahan asked if he would be allowed to sit down and Hall told him he could do so. Mr. Sheahan availed himself of an empty mail-bag close beside Hall, and noticing a large number of whole and half cheques remarked they were no use to them, and asked permission to gather them up. The bushrangers consented, and Mr. Sheahan was enabled to bring on to the Yass Post0office his coat pocket as full of cheques as it could hold as well as three bank drafts.

A tin box was picked up by Mr. Bradbury in which was found a frosted silver star bracelet with three pendants, and a necklace.

These articles are now in the possession of the Yass police. The coach and passengers were kept an hour before they were permitted to depart, Mr. Sheahan and Mr Bradbury gathering up the remains of the letters and placing them in a mailbag. On the bushrangers completing their work, Gilbert handed half-a-crown to the person he had ordered to hold his horse, and Mr Sheahan, following his example, handed a similar amount to the man who had been told to hold the coach horses. The driver of the coach then pushed on as fast as possible to Yass, and reached here only half an hour behind time.

The matter was instantly reported to sub-Inspector Brennan, who, with a couple of mounted men, took the road within half an hour. It was fully expected in town that the mall on Wednesday would also be robbed, and the spot where it was expected to take place was mentioned to the police before they left Yass. The anticipation was realised, and even the locality surmised as the scene of the outrage proved to be the spot selected. The mail is due in Yass at 11 p.m. and it is generally very punctual to time, and not having arrived at a quarter to twelve, it began to be thought very likely that it has been stopped.

A few minutes before twelve it was heard approaching, and much anxiety was felt to lean what had occurred to cause its detention. It was then ascertained that on the mail leaving Gundagai, constable Roche, of the Yass police, who had gone as guard of the mail the previous day to Gundagai, and Mr. Rose, police magistrate of Gundagai, were its occupants.

‘It was escorted by sub-inspector O’Neill, and sergeant Edmund Parry, of the Gundagai police. On reaching within about four miles of Jugiong, at place known as the Black Springe, Hall and his companions appeared from behind some rocks. The moment they were noticed a signal was made from the coach to the sub-Inspector and sergeant to ride up, which they at once did, and one of the bushrangers re- marking that the “bobbies” were with the coach. Gilbert said, “ there are only two of them; come on, let us rush the —-.”

‘They then darted towards the coach, and on getting near the police called out “come on you —- wretches; we will fight yon like men.” A deadly encounter followed in which poor Parry, who had acted very bravely throughout, was shot through the left shoulder and dropped dead. Before, how- ever, narrating what transpired in the encounter with the police, we may state that Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn took up their position on the road early in the day, and stuck up a large number of teams and two carts, the latter followed by twenty or thirty Chinamen.

Among those detained were a son of Mr. Owen Ryan, of Derrengullen Creek; Mr. Hayes, wife, and a young man, who were in a buggy; and others to the number of forty or fifty. Some considerable time before the coach came up, constable McLaughlin, of the Gundagai police, approached, leading a pack-horse. Gilbert rode up to him and ordered him to surrender, but he replied by a shot from his revolver, which was returned by Gilbert, who then turned his horse and rode off a short distance. Hall then took up his position and fired at the constable, who again discharged his revolver.

Hall’s horse stumbled, and Dunn rode up and fired a shot at McLaughlin. The constable discharged the six barrels of his revolver in the encounter, and then surrendered, some nine or a dozen shots previously fired at him by the bushrangers. Dunn remarked that one of the constable’s shots was a very good one, and they would “have it in for him” on that account.

The constable was added to the mob of captives. The coach subsequently came into sight and the affray commenced as stated above. Constable Roche, who was on the coach with two large pistols, a six barrel revolver and a carbine, is said to have slipped off the coach when the fight began, and have darted into the bush carrying his firearms with him. He did not subsequently appear on the scene.

Gilbert fought with sergeant Parry who refused to surrender, and discharged every barrel of his revolver before he fell; Hall and Dunn attacked sub inspector O’Neill, who first discharged his carbine, and then several shots from a revolver. On Parry falling dead, the inspector surrendered. The bushrangers disarmed and took from him a ring, and his watch-chain, but we believe he was permitted to keep his watch on him insisting it belonged to his father.

The horse O’Neill rode was however, taken, one of the bushrangers remarking it would make “a —– good pack-horse,” Hall and his mates on the termination of the fight ordered Mr. Rose to throw out the bags, which the bushrangers cut open in their usual manner, and appropriated all they desired. The mail was a heavy one, and it is supposed they secured a large amount of money. From constable McLaughlin they took 7.5 pounds; from Mr. Rose a watch and chain.

We have not heard what was taken from Mr. Hayes, but he was searched; the lady who accompanied him they did not molest. Gilbert is said to have turned over poor Parry’s body, and to have remarked – “He’s got it in the cobra (head); I am sorry for him, as he was a game fellow.” The injury to the head however was received when he fell off his horse, and was not the effect of one of the shots fired. On the scoundrels abstracting from the letters all that was valuable, they permitted the fragments to be placed in a bag, which was brought onto Yass, and forwarded to Sydney the same night. Parry’s body was placed upon one of the drays, and taken to Jugiong, where a magisterial investigation was held by Mr. Rose.

The driver of the coach from Jugiong met sub-inspector Brennan and two mounted men about four miles on the Yass side of Jugiong, and informed him of what had occurred. The police rode on to Jugiong, and endeavoured to find the tracks of the bushrangers. Dark- ness however, prevented much being done; and the inspector and his men returned to Yass, where they arrived at nine o’clock on Thursday morning. It may be mentioned that the bushrangers informed the police that they intended to rob the mail next day (Thursday) and told them to send as many policemen as they liked and they would fight them.

On the mail reaching Yass on Wednesday night, sergeant Scully, who was in change of the force in the absence of sub-inspector Brennan, at once dispatched five mounted men, four of whom are connected with the Goulburn force, and had reached Yass the previous day, after eight days unsuccessful search for the whereabouts of the bushrangers. Roche hsi)’n^eío^übeen a vaKbafaared and respected member of the force, and had sari ired. in many arrests where, eouregu–.hu been dispteysd.by the rallos,. wu – present ,’ aeelrHñg aub-niapeo^^ “Brennan ahot from the coach, and that he was ordered Mt again to Are by the police magistrate, who sat alongside of him ; that be wa/titéen?tñtttfy’3ttde*d?vi¿ tab-ia»pe«or O’Neill was overpowered, and that it was only after witnessing three things’ that he Heaped,- taking his firearms

The accounts of the fatal encounter were widely reported in the media. A report from a week later gives additional insight into the events.

24 November 1864

GILBERT, HALL, AND DUNN AT JUGIONG. ENCOUNTER WITH THE POLICE, AND DEATH OF SERGEANT PARRY.

The following details of the cold- blooded murder of the brave Sergeant Parry, of the Gundagai police, by the bushranger Gilbert, as reported by our telegraphic correspondent last week, are taken from the Yass Courier of Saturday:–

On Tuesday afternoon the mail from Gundagai reached the hill at Deep Creek, about four or five miles on the Yass side of Jugiong between four(?) and five o’clock. Mr Sheahan, of Jugiong, the mail contractor, and Mr Bradbury, of Queanbeyan, were passengers by the coach, and had alighted to walk up the hill.

They were some distance in advance of the coach, Mr Sheahan being a few yards ahead of Mr Bradbury, and the former was in the act of pointing out the spot where the mail was stuck-up a few weeks before, when three horse- men appeared on the top of the hill, and spreading out–one on each side, a third in the centre of the road– they galloped towards the coach.

On coming near it was noticed that each had a revolver in his hand, and the order was given by Ben Hall to “bail up.” Mr Sheahan folded his arms across his breast, and said “all right,” and Mr Bradbury threw his arms above his head, repeating the words used by Mr Sheahan.

Hall then took Mr Sheahan in charge, Gilbert took the coachman and mail, while Dunn took Mr Bradbury.

Hall pointed, and told them to walk “up there; we have got a little township there.” After going up the hill for some distance, they were ordered to turn off to the left, and approached a spot where twelve teams were stuck-up, as well as a number of horsemen. Mr Sheahan was asked if he had any money; he replied that he had not, and they might search him if they liked.

Hall declined to search, remarking that Mr Sheahan was not a bad sort of fellow. Bradbury was then searched; although he handed them a cheque for a pound stating that that was all he had, yet they examined his pockets, and asked him if he had not a watch. They got nothing from him but the cheque, and subsequently, on his telling them it was all he had to carry him on the road, the cheque was returned.

Hall and his companion then took out the mail bags, six in number, and cut them all open. Before proceeding to examine the letters they asked Mr Sheahan and Mr Bradbury if they would have some wine.

They answered “yes,” when Hall called to one of the teamsters to fetch over some port wine. The wine was brought in a quart pot, and a portion of it drunk by those present.

The examination of the mail-bags meanwhile proceeded, the bushrangers sitting down on the ground with the bags before them. The letters were speedily ransacked of any bank notes they contained, Mr Bradbury remarking to them that they sorted the letters much quicker than was generally done in Sydney.

Mr. Sheahan asked if he would be allowed to sit down and Hall told him he could do so. Mr Sheahan availed himself of an empty mail-bag close beside Hall, and noticing a large number of whole and half cheques remarked they were of no use to them, and asked per- mission to gather them up.

The bush- rangers consented, and Mr Sheahan was enabled to bring on to the Yass post-office his coat pocket as full of cheques as it would hold, as well as three bank drafts.

A tin box was picked up by Mr Bradbury, in which was found a frosted silver star brace- let with three pendants, and a neck- lace.

We understand these articles are now in the possession of the Yass police, and may be obtained by the own- er on application. The coach and passengers were kept an hour before they were permitted to depart, Mr Shea- han and Mr Bradbury gathering up the remains of the letters and placing them in a mail-bag.

On the bush- rangers completing their work, Gilbert handed half-a-crown to the person he had ordered to hold his horse, and Mr Sheahan following his example handed a similar amount to the man who had been told off to hold the coach horses. The driver of the coach then pushed on as fast as possible to Yass, and reached here only half an hour behind time.

The matter was instantly reported to Sub-inspector Brennan, who with a couple of mounted men took the road within half an hour. It was fully expected in town that the mail on Wednesday would also be robbed, and the spot where it was expected to take place was mentioned to the police before they left Yass.

The anticipation was realised, and even the locality surmised as the scene of the outrage proved to be the spot selected. The mail is due in Yass at eleven p.m., and as it is generally very punctual to time, and not having arrived at a quarter to twelve it began to be thought very likely that it had been stopped.

A few minutes before twelve it was heard approaching, and much anxiety was felt to learn what had occurred to cause its detention.

It was then ascertained that on the mail leaving Gundagai, Constable Roach, of the Yass police who had gone as guard of the mail the previous day to Gundagai, and Mr Rose police magistrate of Gundagai, were its occupants. It was escorted by Sub-Inspector O’Neill and Sergeant Edmund Parry, of the Gundagai police.

On reaching within about four miles of Jugiong, at a place known as the Black Springs, Hall and his companions appeared from behind some rocks.

The moment they were noticed a signal was made from the coach to the sub-inspector and sergeant to ride up, which they at once did, and one of the bush- rangers remarking that the "bobbies"’ were with the coach, Gilbert said “there are only two of them; come on, let us rush the ——–.”

They then darted towards the coach, and on getting near the police called out “come on you —— wretches; we will fight you like men.” A deadly encounter followed in which poor Parry who acted very bravely through- out, was shot through the left breast, and dropped dead. The accounts of the affray vary very much–by one, some of the police are stated to have behaved in a most cowardly manner, by the other they were perfect heroes.

It is impossible at the time we write to ascertain which is the correct ac- count, but the following particulars we believe to be generally accurate. Before, however, narrating what transpired in the encounter with the police, we may state that Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn took up their position early in the day, and stuck up a large number of teams and two carts, the latter fol- lowed by twenty or thirty Chinamen.

Amongst those detained were a son of Mr Owen Ryan’s, of Derringullen Creek; Mr Hayes, lady and a young man, who were in a buggy; and oth- ers to the number of forty or fifty. Some considerable time before the coach came up, Constable M’Laughlin, of the Gundagai police, approach- ed leading a packhorse. Gilbert rode up to him and ordered him to surren- der, but he replied by a shot from his revolver, which was returned by Gilbert, who then turned his horse and rode off a short distance. Hall then took up his position and fired at the constable, who again discharged his revolver.

Hall’s horse stumbled, and Dunn rode up and fired at McLaughlin. The constable discharged the six barrels of his revolver in the encoun- ter, and then surrendered, some nine or a dozen shots having previously been fired at him by the bushrangers, Dunn remarked that one of the con- stable’s shots was a very good one, and they would have it in for him on that account. The constable was added to the mob of captives.

The coach subsequently came in sight, and the affray commenced, as stated above. Constable Roche, who was in the coach, armed with two large pistols, a six-barrelled revolver, and a carbine, is stated to have slipped off the coach when the fight began, and to have darted into the bush, carrying his fire- arms along with him.

He did not subsequently appear on the scene. Gilbert fought with Sergeant Parry, who refused to surrender, and discharged every barrel of his revolver before he fell. Hall and Dunn at- tacked Sub-inspector O’Neill, who first discharged his carbine, and then several shots from a revolver.

On Parry falling dead, the Sub-inspector surrendered. The bushrangers disarmed him, and took from him a ring and his watch-chain; but the watch, we believe, he was permitted to keep, on his informing them that it had be- longed to his father.

The horse Mr O’Neill rode was, however, taken; one of the bushrangers remarking it would make a —— good pack- horse.” It seems singular that the driver of the coach did not take ad- vantage of the proceedings going on, to put his horses to their mettle and save the mail. T

his, however, he did not do, for Hall and his mates, on the termination of the fight, ordered Mr Rose to throw out the bags, which the bushrangers cut open in their usual manner, and appropriated all they de- sired. The mail was a very heavy one, and it is supposed they secured a large amount of money.

From Con- stable McLaughlin they took £7 10s; from Mr Rose, a watch and chain. We have not heard what was taken from Mr Hayes, but he was searched; the lady who accompanied him they did not molest. Gilbert is said to have turned over poor Parry’s body, and to have remarked–“He’s got it in the cobra (head); I am sorry for him as he was a game fellow.”

The injury on the head, however, was received when he fell from off his horse, and was not the effect of one of the shots fired. On the scoundrels abstracting from the letters all that was valuable, they permitted the fragments to be placed in a bag, which was brought on to Yass and forwarded to Sydney the same night. Parry’s body was placed upon one of the drays and taken to Jugiong, where a magisterial investigation was held by Mr Rose. The driver of the coach from Jugiong met Sub-inspector Brennan and two mounted men about four miles on the Yass side of Jugiong, and informed him of what had occurred.

The police rode on to Jugiong, and endeavoured to find the tracks of the bush- rangers. Darkness prevented much being done, and the sub-inspector and his men, most unaccountably to those unacquainted with the secret causes which influence police movements, returned to Yass, where they arrived at nine o’clock on Thursday morning.

We may state that the bushrangers informed the police that they intended to rob the mail next day (Thursday), and told them to send as many police- men as they liked and they would fight them.

n the mail reaching Yass on Wednesday night, Sergeant Scully, who was in charge of the force in the absence of Sub-inspector Brennan, at once despatched five mounted men, four of whom are connected with the Goulburn force, and had reached Yass the previous day after an eight days unsuccessful search for the whereabouts of the bushrangers. The Goulburn Argus has a report of the fatal occurrence supplied by its correspondents at Yass and Gundagai, substantially the same as the foregoing, but adding that up to the date of writing there was no account of the cowardly constable Roche, who ran away, though armed to the teeth.

The same paper further says that Ben Hall saw him when he was bolting, and cried out, “See, hallo, see that cove; if he was in my regiment, I would soon dismiss him.”

As they were ready to go, they said, “Come on now and look for this constable that bolt- ed.” Sub-inspector O’Neill had his coat and shirt torn away on the shoulder by a bullet. Gilbert, speaking of constable M’Laughlan, with whom the bushrangers had previously engaged in battle, said “he fought like a gentleman.”

The following, from the same paper, gives a different version of the story; and while we give publicity to the paragraph, we do so expressing a hope that Sub-inspector O’Neill will contradict the statements it contains, and vindicate himself from the charges it insinuates:–“Mr. Hayes, of Tumut, who with Mrs Hayes and another lady, were present during the encounter with the police, having been bailed up, pas- sed through Goulburn yesterday.

His version of the affair is rather different from that account by either of our correspondents. According to him, as we understand, Sub-inspector O’Neill fired only one shot, and that from his carbine, at a distance of about forty yards, and he was in the act of re- loading when two of the bushrangers rode up to him, a revolver in each hand, and having the reins under their feet, threatening to serve him the same as Parry, who had just been shot. Thereupon O’Neill surrendered, and they took from him two revolvers which he wore, one at the right and the other at the left side.

After having surrendered, and had the revolvers taken from him, none of the barrels of which had been discharged, Hall searched him, and finding a third revolver concealed, took it, called O’Neill a cowardly cur for concealing it, with- out giving it up, and threatened to shoot him, but was induced to desist. Mr Hayes makes no mention of O’Neill knocking Hall down with his carbine; and although we believe the official report states that such was the case, it seems highly improbable. If such a thing did take place Mr Hayes must have seen it.