5 OCTOBER 1863

5 October 1863 The audacious spirit of Gilbert and his mates to Bathurst, on Saturday evening, when considered in connection with their late career, though sudden and unexpected, is by no means calculated to create su-prise, except so far as the manner of it ia concerned

The contempt and ridicule in which they hold the police have been shewn in so many instances through, out all parts of the country comprised within the boundary pegs respectively represented by Forbes, Young, Abercrombie, Caloola, and Carcoar, that we cannot wonder they should project a journey to where the Western department has its seat, and its chief.

The only thing which creates astonish- ment is, that they should nave chosen Saturday even- ing for the raid , and at an hour when the bulk of the Eopulation were out of doors

Yet even this proves ow capable they are of choosing an opportunity to make a “ stroke,” or of seizing an occasion to create a panic. Their object could net have been to plunder on a scale, though they were loth to depart without leaving some evidence of then- craft

They took ad. vantage of every circumstance that could conspire to make their viiit unexpected. Just the hour when the working portion of thb inhabitants turnout, with their earnings of the expiring week, for the purpose of making househeld purchases, and when young people make it usual to walk foi pleasure.

The street chosen in which to commence operations was by many odds the throngest part of the town , ariel thtt section of the street in which is situa- ted the largist number of well-lighted establishments was certainly the spot where everyone would suppose such a band of marauders would be least likely to come , yet come they did, and business they essayed to do, at three immediate adjoining places of business

But all this was exceeded by the cool effrontery and dr^adless impudence with which they turned into Mr De Clouett s ytrd and robbed the inmates of jhe house, at the tety time when the whole town was in a sUte of alarm , and the police galloping in their sup pesed ¡track Bushranging bj this gang is evidently not followed as a mere means of subsistente, this could be obtained in the usual way, with little trouble and less risk, but it is their life

Every new success is a source of pleasure, and they are stimulated to a novelty of action Irom a desire to create a history This his become theu great ambuion , and the spirit of adventure is fed m them by the popularity winch attends almost every incident cf their CBreer Every word they say, and every thing thty do, is recorded and the v a spue to o name Indiudual traveller carry less cash on their persons than once wt s customary , mails are less pro- fitable and better guarded than they were furmerly , and bushranging pioper is partioliv stale It is a cúrele which they have often described, and they would rather fly off at a tangent than walk round and round , and heuce their late darmg and partial plea- sure trips toLoudon’s, Rothery’s, and Robinson’s, and lost to Bathurst.

Since the attempt on the Carcoar Bank, in open dey, we have frequently ex pressed the opinion that they would certainly viBit Bathurst We regarded that exploit as an mdex of tbeir general plans, and the result has transpired very much es we expected. Having procticallv and frequently demonstrated the childishness of the officials employed and paid to capture them , having achieved cucccss with so much ease , having combined the desperado and the gallant each in his own person, the robbers feel on the one hand that they Live built up a superiority (though fa’se it be) which denes the power of Government itself, and on the other, that they have secured, to a very great ex ent, a kind of sym i pauiy m given circles, which, though of little real u=e to them, 13 nevertheless adapted to the miserable vanity in which they in- dulge. None of these things, however, can cover the wretched villany of their proceedings.

Ihoy may urge that ttitir o’ject IB merely to possess a pur.e ; but th9 alum »tue is death to him who refuses it Murder is in their schemes ; and every man ought, therefore, to think of them, and to act towards them and pursue them, as enemita of the human raix. From the tone of last Monday’s meeting, Bathurst is worthy of r ti f, iii the estimation of every man who earea for hi” cinldKii, or who lotes his country; and we trust th^» the movement will issue in means to b^. practically applied for the purpose of cwi ei mg bushrangers and bushranging from thp fn.ee of the land

The meeting mlpHl hat e been felt to be objectionable to some, if it had not been assured of the co-operation of the Government The ?elegra-n received by Dr. Palmer whilst filling the chair bit that matter at rest ; and the inhabitants will therc foie be warranted in any vigorous measures they .my choose, to adopt for the capture of the villains infesting thete diBtriets. Let us strengthen the hands of the Police Magistrate and the gentlemen acting with him, in order to restore conhdence in the people, and carry out the protective measures contemplan! A little sacrifice made now xaa-f Becure many beapfits in the future. It may establish peace. It may prove a blessing to posterity.

30 October 1863

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH THE BUSHRANGERS.

From the Bathurst Times of Wednesday.) On Snturdny evening, between six and seven o’clock, Gilbert, O’Mcally, Ken Hall, Vine, and Burke mane their appearance at the house of MT Ktigbtley, assistant gold commissioner, at Dunns Plains, Rockley.

Mr. Keightley was at the door at the time, outside the house, and, feting llie men advancing, thought at first they «e«e policemen in disguise.

On their coming mi they called out to Lim to “bailup,” but. I without paying any attention to the command, . iie nn into the house-about thirty yards off I v. ii h the intention of arming himself- fuur or : fire sh’t”! being fired at him as he went.

It seems Mr. Keightley had been expecting a visit from the gang and had provided himself with the necessary means of defence; but, Ê owinc to a most “”fortunate circumstance, i they «cíe beyond his reach at the very Î moment he required to use them. ¡

Having occasion shortly before to send a letter to the post, he had dispatched it by a man stnant, who bears the character of being a trustworthy nnd courngeous fellow, and he, it appears, had taken a brace of revolvers with linn for his own protection. Snatching up a I” double barrelled gun (only one barrel of which ‘ was loaded), as also a revolver, Mr. Kcightley, £Ccompanicd by n guest, Dr. Pechey, took his . station at the door, where a shower of bullets K elected his appearance, some of them passing i within a hair’s breadth of their bodies, and » turning with a “ ping “ in the woodwork about ‘ the threshold. .! The plan puisued by the bushrangers was to , keepuneler cover as much as possible, Burke ; from time to time creeping up at the side of the hou«e, and suddenly swinging his arm round, . managed in fhat way to fire at the gentlemen I as thn stood in the doorway. Vane is men H honed a« coming out in full view, and deli Ii berately taking aim Unwilling to risk a shot j at bim, Mr. Keightley waited for the next approach of Burke, who carno up shortly afterwards in the way described, and incau i tioti«ly exposing his body, he was instantly shot ¡in the abdomen, whereupon he was seen to reel ] like a drurken man, and sagger to the side of I the1 hoti-e. Leaning with one hand against the | vull, he cried out, “ I’m done for, but I’ll not j be taken alive ;” and then with the other hand |he pulled out a revolver, and placiog it to his îhead, indeavoured to blow out his brains. The |first shot appears to have merely grazed the *tkin on his forehead, but the next blew away a ‘portion of his skull. He then fell to the ground. Iahe bushrangers, seeing what had happened, rjstill continued to conceal themselves, while thay jkept up a constant fire upon the house. Dr. |Pecliey. at this juncture, made a rush across |the jard towards a kitchen, in the endeavour to icbtain pos session of a gun placed there, belong jing to the servant, William Baldock, whom we shdve mentioned as having bsen dispatched ti IRockley. He was, however, encountered by [Vane, vho, presenting a revolver, ordered him jback, at the same time firing at him. The ¡doctor accordingly retraced his steps. | The two gentlemen unable, by reason of the ttactics pursued, to get a shot at their assailant?, «now resoked to effect a change in their posi- tion, and with this object in view, they walked »’out of the door, and, by means of a ladder, ^’deliberately mounted to a loft above the home, ‘.being exposed the whole time to an incessant ‘fire; but although tho bullets passed around (.”ftcm in a shower-some cutting through Mr, IKeightlej’s beard and hat-miraculous to say, fthey reached their destination unhurt. The Ibushrangers still kept under cover, and fired tbout twenty sho’s at the loft, when Gilbert called out to them to come down, and Ben Hall said if they did not they would burn aie house. Mr. Keightley, fearing tint they |VTould carry their threat into execution, and tarhaps murder his wife and child, who were ijelow, determined to give himself up, and [accordingly called out his intention to surren- der. On reaching the ground, Vane ran up I to Dr. Pechey, and struck him with the butt !«nd of his revolver a violent blow on the fore lead, immediately above the left eyebrow which knocked him down. Mr. Keightley re- monstrated, asking him why he treated him in that manner, when Vane made some answer, fchicb showed that he mistook the doctor for Mr. Keightley, whom they believed to have teen the instigator of the resistance they had “esperienccd. 1 Just at this moment some persons-iti the era plovment of Mr. William Bowman, whose sta- tion is in close proximity, were observed stand- ing on a rise of ground. [In justice to these, it must he mentioned that, through private ineans, we are possessed of information which ^exonerates them from the charge of standing coldlj by while the murderous assault was going ÍCTO, It seems Mr. Keightley has been in the rlabit of firing for practice, accordingly the teportä of the fircjrms created no surprise, and jUas not until the voice of Ben Hall was Ltcard, threatening to bu.n the house do.vn, »hat their attention was aroused, and they came Op the hill to see what was going on.”] Ben Ijpll at once fetched them down in a body to Sphere the others were standing; and sucha |cene was presented as we trust it will never be cur fute to chronicle again. In one corner of we yard lay the boy highwayman, while on por- tón of the well frame sat Mr Keightley, under ;«ni|nce of death,-Vane standing close to him loading the gun with which Burke had been toot. Mrs Keightley turned to the others and ttnplortd them to spare her 1- .band’s life, but «uii.ngiy without avail. Vane said doggedly »hat Burke and he had been brought up as boys together, that they had been mates ever since, «M hat the gun that bad deprived him of life Vn»¡Y* turn takc tho life of thc man who «uied him. The gun being loaded, he threw it li* 4 , «“’ and turninS t0 Mr. Keightley told um to follow him down the paddock. In frantic »gua ion Mrs. Keightley ran up to Ben Hal!, ?yu clutching bimby the coat collar.said “Iknow lPm Jien Hal1- and they say you are the most |»uma,)e respectable, and best of them all ; for gw» toke do not let them murder my husband Efii 1lfe!’’ Sne then turned to Gilbert, ?«a addressing him ia similar terms, begged W» o.interfere (O’Meally, it appear., was away CL”, eí the horaes) ! Gilbert and Hall ISv!« . Jbe.moved» and the latter «Ned out E^ane to desist. HctÄy .ensued’ wlien Gilbert atld Hall ?*Ä i , ?terms uP°n which Mr. Keightley’s ír,íff ¿Vpaíed’ T- tbat as the Govern” Cke’?î’P,Med five hundred P°und8 upon « h.J *’the amount °f tlie reward should E?(°yer.t0 t]*T> and they agreed to Edi ?ami ti?e/tU1 two »’dock the folio» p.«?’ SUr?da5 íor th° production of the Ndittnv« I. iCley then exaTned Burke »dla r f a nhl!,^trails’in a Rightfully tom «ii ?dll0D’ were protruding. He ti id hf:nS,’íh10Ugh unc°Tious, and the aid hc Could d° very little for him with out his instruments. He asked, if one of them would go into Hockley, and ft-tch what he íe quired, but they said it would be of no use, and that it would be better to shoot him at once and so end his misery. The doctor thought some- thing ought to bp done, and at length prevailed upon them to let him go Rnd obtain such things as he wanted, having fitst pledged lus honour that he would not raise an alaim. Betöre he re turred the man was dead. We have ¡-aid O’Meal!) was absent, and Mrs. Ktightlej, fearing lest be might not agree to accejit the ransom, pievaitcd upon one of the pail) to fetch him. Whin he carne, he af first refuhcd to listen to the proposal, and dechred his intention to revenge the death of his com- panion ; but he was, however, eventually pncifudby the others. They then went into the house, and remained there for a consider- able time, awaiting Dr. Peche) ‘s return, and drank some spuds and wine, Mrs. Keightley having first tasted it, in order to assure them the liquor was not drugged Some conveisation passed, in which the bushrangers said that the reason Burke was so daung, arose from the fact that tin y had just previousl) been twitting him with the want of courage, and seemingly he was determined to convince them to the con- trat). In ansvvei to a question from Mr-.. Kcightle), as to what could induce them to pur- sue the course they did, when, by the many robberies the) commuted, they must possess considerable wealth, Gilbert leplied-that, with all their depredations, they Lad not so much as would keep them a week. Arrangements weie net made for the pay- ment of the ransom Mr Keightley was taken to a place called the Dog Rocks, on a hill neal, and Mrs Keightley was warned that if any in foimation was given b) which the police might be brought dow n upon them they would shoot hci husband immediately. She was to go into Bathurst with Dr. Pechey, and fetch the money, and if any treachery was attempted, after shooting Mr Keightley, they said they would come down and fight those who approached for the £500. The position they took upon the hill enabled them to overlook the road, so that they could seo whoever might arrive, and it was stipulated that Dr. Peche) should alone I approach them with the money. Burke being ‘ dead, two of the men, engaged at Mr. Bow- man’s, were hired to take the body in a spring cart to the house of his father, being paid £2 each for the service by the bushrangers. On the return of Dr. Pechey, Mrs. Keightley, under his escort, rode into Bathurst, where she sought, out her father, Mr. Kotton, M.L.A.. That gentleman instantly repaired to the Com- mercial Bank (it being about four o’clock in the morning) and procured the sum lequired, with which, accompanied by Dr. Pechey, he started to Dunn’s Plains, where upon its being handed over to the party by the bravo doctor, Mr. Keightley was [set at liberty, “and soon after arrived in safety at Bathurst. A body of police had, however, some lime previously started in pursuit of the gang. Mr. Keightley speaks most favourably of the manner in which he was treated during his captivity, and it seems he had a long conversa- tion in the night with one or two of them, in which he was told that the gang would never have come into Bathurst, or visited him, had it not been for the taunts received from two in- dividuals who ought to have Known better than to spur them to the enterprise. They denied ever having threatened to use any violence towards him, but being told that he (Keightly) was a splendid shot, and would riddle them through, as he was in the habit of practising nt a target, they imagined he must be possessed of first class weapons, and the desire to possess these, as well as to test his courage, had induced them to make the attack they had. Personally, they did not know him. Once in the night, the galloping of horses was heard, and as for some time the bushrangers had taken it in turns to rest-two sleeping while the others watched Gilbert, who was standing sentry over the pri- soner, went up to the sleepers, and touched them gently with his foot, calling them quietly by name. They jumped up without noise, aid held their weapons in readiness, but as the sound drew nearer, it was dicovered to emanate from a passing mob of bush horses. The day before the occurrence took place which we have just described, Sub-inspector Davidson with some troopers were encamped near to Mr. Kcightley’s house, and the bush- rangers told Mr. Keightley that they had been watching them through the night, and men- tioned several little incidents that had tran- spired, in proof of their assertion. Mr. David- son, it appears, declined to accept the accamma I dation proffered by Mr. Keightley, preferring to sleep out with his men, and Mr. Keightley I was told of what happened during a visit he hail paid the party, and also that they (the bushrangers) had been watching both him and the neighbourhood the whole day through. There are one or two circumstances which we have omitted to mention, but we believe the narrative we have given contains everything connected with the matter which can be reliecl upon. As displaying the courage evinced by Mrs. Keightley, it is perhaps worthy of remark that upon the two gentlemen having lefc the door- way and gained the loft, that lady, undaunted by the firing which was going on, came up into the passage, closed the door, and barred it so as to prevent the entry of the bushrangers. As she did so, we learn, she unconsciously shut out her own little sister, who appears to have been standing in the yard during the whole fray, and it is also said was actually standing by the side of Burke when he received his death-wound. The Bathurst Free Press of the same date adds : – A communication was received in Bathurst on Tuesday, to the effect that ten troopers from Cowra had arrived at Rockley. They said that twelve of them had left Cowra in company, and on their way across the country had met the two men who had charge of the body of Burke in Mr. Keightley’s cart. Two of the troopers then took charge of the corpse and returned with the cart, intending to see it safely delivered to the authorities at Carcoar. We have reason to believe that their mission was safely accomplished.

21 NOVEMBER 1863

ANOTHER BUSHRANGER SHOT.

Three armed bushrangers attacked David Campbell’s place at Goimbla, last night at a quarter eight. Mr. Campbell defended his house and kept the scoundrels at bay for two hours and finally shot either Gilbert or O’Meally. The Magistrate is just starting to hold a magisterial enquiry on the body.

23 November 1863

THE BUSHRANGERS.

ATTACK ON GOIMBLA STATION. DIABOLICAL INCENDIARISM. DEATH OF O’MEALLY AND INQUEST ON THE BODY. HEROISM OF MR. AND MRS. CAMPBELL. (FitoM oun FoMir.s CoiuiEsroNnuNT.)

Sunday, 10 p m. ON the nigut of ‘Ihursdaj, the 19th instant, the station of Mr Davitt Henry Campbell, known as Qoimbh, ind distant about thirt) two miles from 1 othes, was attacked b} the three bush- rangers, Gilbert, O’Meall), and Ben Hall, it a quarter to nine o clock, who, from the two hours’ career the) pursued in that memorable, and io one of them-fatal night, were evidently as much actuated bj a thirst for vengeance as by motives of spoliation It will be recollected bj thoso who have perused jour columns, that Mr Campbell his made no secret ol his abhorrence ol these lawless freebooters, and that, stimulated bj their repe ited outrages in this neighbourhood, he some time ago started out in pursuit of them, accompanied bj a few of his immediate friends lins was a sufficient cause of offence to the “ gentlemen of the road,” and their fiendish lescntment has been on more than one occasion openlj expressed True io their promise, as the) havo gcnerillj proved themselves to be, “ they came, they saw,” but thej did not comiuer Your corre- spondent, however, assumes that a grateful counti) will not peimit the man who bravely imperilled his hfe in defence of Ins famil) and fireside against considerable odds, and who, in the peiformance of a noble act of dut), ridded societ) of as ruthless and reckless a criminal as ever infested the tern torj, – I repeat will not permit Mr Campbell to remain a sufferer in the loss of his propert) He feels assured that if a sum of money was placed upon the Estimates to reimburse Mr Campbell for the serious loss he has sustained in the destruction of his propert), it would be promptl) granted bj the Legislature, and would be accompanied b) such an expression of the sense the House must enteitam of his service and chivalrous daring, as well as that manifested b) his brother and accomplished w lfe, as would prov e far more grateful than any mere pecuniar) compensation As the details of the affair aro given tit extenso m the depositions, an abbreviated copy of which is herewith for- warded, it is unneces8arj in these prefatory remarks to give more than a brief outline of the affair It appears that the first notification Mr Campbell had of the presence of his unwelcome visitors, was the sound of footsteps under the front verandah of the houoe at a quarter before nine p m , and that, suspecting the true cause of the sound, he sprang towards the chimney corner, where two double barrelled fowling pieces weie ranged, read} loaded, and seized one of them, with which he quickly retreated into an adjoining room Mrs Campbell, at the tame moment, rushing into her bedroom, and Mr. Campbell’s brother, Mr. William Campbell, retiring through Hie back door. When Mr. Campbell presented himself at the inside door of the room above referred to, he found himself confronted by one of the bushrangers, who stood at an outer door ef the same room, entering upon the verandah. This fellow at once presented his his piece and fired twice ! one ball entering the wall on the right of where Mr. Campbell stood, and the other, on the left. Mr. Campbell replied b)’ a shot from his piece, but on this occa- sion ineffectually. The villain then hastily retreated round the end of the house to the front of the house, and rejoined his comrades, who, after repeated volleys and demands to surrender, to one of which Mr. Campbell replied that he was ready, and incited the miscreants to come on, they proceeded deliberately to set fire to the barn and stabling, which formed two sides of a quadrangle. As the barn con- tained a large quantity of hay, the whole struc- ture was quickly in flames, which raged so fiercely that tho premises in the immediate vicinity were brilliantly illuminated ; and here occurred an incident which, for heartlessness and revolting cruelty, beggars description. Inside the blazing enclosure was a favourite animal of Mr. Campbell’s, which speedily began to suffer from the heat. As its agonies increased with the increasing flames the suffering brute sent forth piteous and im- ploring cries for release, and galloped furiously to every accustomed outlet in vain. All ex- postulations and entreaties on behalf of the sinless animal were fruitless and he was literally roasted alive beneath the taunts and jeers of his brutal gaolers. The highly courageous conduct of Mrs. Campbell during the most trying ordeal to which woman’s courage could be subjected is W’Oithy of special notice. In the early stage of the drama whose incidents your correspondent is faintly endeavouring to describe, it was indispensable to Mr. Campbell’s chances of a prolongation of the contest that the second fowling-pice which was left in the chimney-corner, together with a powder flask and balls which lay upon the end of the mantel-piece, in con- tiguity with the corner, should be procured. To obtain possession of them involved great per- sonal danger, inasmuch as the window opposite was in possession of the bushrangers. But this, Mrs. Campbell ventured to incur, whilst her husband remained at his post. Rushing into the apartment, which was lit up by the kerosene lamp, she hurriedly snatched up the gun and powder-flask, and as hurriedly retraced her steps. Eut she was not permitted to return unmolested. As if to give the lie to such lauded forbearance and boasted chivalry of this band in all cases in which females have been concerned, the ruffians fired a volley through the window upon her retreating figure, and the evidences of their murderous intentions are written upon the opposite walls in bullet marks, fortunately she escaped unhurt and rejoined her husband, by whose side ex- cept at brief intervals she patiently awaited the issue of the contest which bore promise of a fearful tragedy. The finish at length ap- proached, the flames continued to rage, and firing had been suspended for half an hour, -the house meanwhile remaining in solemn silence; . During this period Mr. and Mrs. Campbell had ensconced themselves between two parallel walls which formed a passage from the house into the kitchen, when becoming anxious as to the whereabouts of the beseigers, Mr. Campbell suggested that Mrs. Campbell fihould proceed stealthily into the front apart- ment and reconnoitre; she did so, and observed the three men standing be- hind a paling fence fronting the bouse, apparently intent in noticing the progress of the conflagration. Seizing the opportunity which the information supplied, Mr. Campbell sped quietly round the end of the house to the opposite angle, which, fortunately, “was cast into the shade by the blazing building at the opposite end. There he saw the three men standing as desctibed by Mrs Campbell, and, steadil) raising his piece to the level of the neck of the uppermost, he pulled the trigger, and, as the sequel showed, ridded the neigh- bourhood and the country of one of the most remorseless and bloodthirsty ruffians the colony ever pioducíd Infoimation of a few of the leading facts aboro narrated having been communicated to Mr W. 1 arrara, police magistrate, on the forenoon of Inda), he proceeded to the spot to hold a magisterial enquir) over the deceased bush- ranger Ile airived about nine o’clock p m , and proceeded with the business of învcliga lion, which terminated about two o’clock on fcaturdaj morning Ihe result is given under- neath As Saturdaj daw ned upon the smoking ruins, the place presented a melancholy spectacle. Lv er) thing combustible inside and around the tottenng walls of the barns and stables have disappeaied, and the ch tried remains of the dead horse, swollen to nearly double its natural si/e, la) inside the enclosure is o vestige of neail) £1100 worth of propert) remains save the crumbling shells of the two buildings Under the verandah of an out building hard b) la) the disfigured corpse of the dead bushranger. Ihe bod), covered b) pirt of a wool- pack and the face b) a towel It was elad m a corduro), buckskin, high boots with spurs, and three crimean shirts, underneath his neck laj a white comfortci Undeineath the ear on the right side of the neck was a gaping wound extending through the vertebre, which was completely shattered b) the ball Decom- position had set in, and the wound was dis churging freely. The hair, which was dark auburn, was saturated with blood, as was also the beard under the chin. The features wore a scowl, and the mouth an expression as if the man had died uttering curses and imprecations. As he had been detestable in life his figure was hideous in death, and his feats will add a fearful chapter in the criminal history of New South Wales. At twenty-two years of agc he died a robber and murderer of the worst type. By the bullet he had chosen to earn his bread, and by the bullet he met his death. His features were small but coarse, and betokened habitual indulgence in the brutal passions. His frame was athletic, his arms muscular, his hands as small and delicate as a lady’s. His lower limbs were light and apparently well knit, and his figure a3 a whole gave the impression of activity and strength combined in more than an ordinary degree.. It was at first intended to remove his remains te Forbes for interment, but tue rapid progress of decomposition, owing to the heat of the weather, rendered this impossible. They were interred at Goimbla on the near bank of the Eugowra Creek. . It is almost needless to state that the con- duct of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell throughout Tuesday night’s tragedy is the theme of univer- sal admiration, and it is in contemplation to convene a public meeting at an early oppor- tunity for the adoption of an atldress, expressing in suitable terms the high appreciation in which it is held by the inhabitants of the Lachlan. This is a movement in the right direction. A document worthy of the occasion would be no unworthy heirloom for transmission to the worthy couple’s successors. That such a I movement will meet with the success it deserves cannot be doubted. The following is an abstract from Mr. Camp- bell’s deposition, at the magisterial enquiry held by Mr. Farrand, P.M. David Henry Campbell on oath states:-I am a squatter and a magistrate of the territory of New South Wales. While seated in my drawing-room last evening (Thursday), I was startled by footsteps on the front verandah. I grasped my double-barrel gun, and first passed through my bedroom to the back door of my dressing-room. I was intercepted by a man who fired two barrels at my face. I retired by firing my gun at him whereupon he retreated. I followed him to the corner of the house, and saw the others at the front door well armed. I rushed to my bedroom for arms and ammunition which were in the drawing-room, which was lighted, and the blinds were raised. My wife ru«neü to secure tliem under i olie5 from the bushrangers She « as unarmed I reloaded, and, together, we rushed along the room to a back outlet and took up m) portion betw een tw o slab walls leading to the kitchen, and thus commanded ever) corner in safeU In about a qu irtei of an hcur several «hots weie fired simultmeously fiom diflerent directions when one of the men c tiled otu ‘ If you don’t surrender, we will burn the phce down” I replied, “ Come on , I ami ead) for j ou “ One replied, “ Oh, that is it “’ In a few moments the fire w is kindled it the barn, and, dm en by the increasing light, the bushrangeis retired into the out paddock and remained behind the fencp, forty yards from the front verandah The lamp had been removed, ina the blinds dropped My wife witched their proceedings and informed mc thit a man with a cabbage tree hat stood watching tue flimes, I rushed lound the house to the front corner, took a calm deliberate aim at the fellow’s throat, I fiicd ind returned to load my gun Just befoie this several shotc were fired it the dnwmg room, and was cilled upon to surren- der 1 did not reply At half past 11 o clock I cautioush approached the spot where the man ifood, ind on the opposite side of the fence found a calbine and cabbage tree hit, which I «ecured At davlight I visited the spot with the constable, and saw two yards from the fence 1 pool of blood We followed a track into the oaks, ind discovered the body of the man, who was wounded in the neck Imme- diately on firing the man disappeared-no sound was uttered lhe deceised’s pockets had been rifled and his ring removed from his right little finger

24 NOVEMBER 1863

BREAKING UP OF THE GANG OF BUSHRANGERS. SURRENDER OF VANE

(From Saturday’s Bathurst Times)

On Thursday morning a rumour went flying round the town that the bushranger Vane had been brought into Bathurst by the Rev. Father McCarthy, who had persuaded him to give himself up, and that the delinquent was lodged in the gaol.

The fact was ultimately ascertained to be true, and the following are such par- ticulars as we have been enabled to glean:-

It appears that Father McCarthy has had several interviews with Vane in the bush near the Abercrombie, having, on the first time, accidentally come upon his camp whilst he (Vane) was cooking his dinner, his horse hobbled, and his gun and revolvers lying on the ground. Vane, upon catching sight of the reverend gentleman, grasped his firearms, when Mr. McCarthy called out that he was a priest, and not a trooper.

Upon this announcement Vane dropped his arms, and invited his visitor to a share of his meal, and whilst partaking of this the conversation turned upon the lawless life the bush rangcr was leading, and at the earnest persuasion and reasonings of Father McCarthy, the unfortunate youth promised seriously to consider the position he was placed in, and agreed, at the end of three days, to give an answer whether he would take the advice proffered to him-to give him- self up, and trust to the merciful consideration of the Crown.

Upon this Father McCarthy went on his way homewards, but had not gone more than three miles when he met a very respect- able looking woman, who, in the course of conversation declared herself to be the mother of Vane.

The reverend gentleman told her of the interview he had just had with her son, when she im- plored him, by his sacred calling, to return with her and en- deavour, by joining his influence with hers, to persuade the mis- guided youth to surrender.

The arguments and prayers of the mother and the priest at length prevailed, and it was arranged that 0n that night he should come to Hallow Grove, Carcoar, the residence of the Rev. Mr. McCarthy.

He seems to be possessed of considerable strength of mind, for, from the moment his reso- lution was taken, he did not hesitate to carry it into effect, but, punctual to the moment, arrived at the place and time appointed. The reverend gentleman at once accompanied him to the residence of Mr Nathaniel Conolly, J.P., to whom he formally surrendered himself, and from whom they obtained such documents as would prevent the interference of the troopers, should any happen to stop them on the road.

They started for Bathurst at midnight, and arrived here about five o’clock in the morning, when they put up at Mrs Walsh’s, Fitzroy Inn, George-street, and after a little rest, Father McCarthy put himself in communication with Mr. Superintendent Morrissett. Shortly after he returned to Vane, and they had breakfast together, and the Rev Dean Grant having joined them, they went down to the Court house about ten o’clock, when, after going through a preliminary examination, the misguided young man, in company with the reverend gentlemen and Dr Palmer, proceeded to the gaol, where he awaits further examination, being remanded to the 26th instant. Vane is a native of the colony, twenty years of age, stands six feet high, and has a ruddy complexion, with black hair, and is said to be a Wesleyan, His parents are respectable and wealthy, and live about eleven miles from Carcoar, at a place called Number One. The reasons he gives as those which induced him to turn bushranger are, that he was implicated in the sticking up of Boyce’s public bouse at the Long Swamp, on the 12th February last, and, knowing the police to be after him, he became fright- ened, and took to the bush, where he fell in with Gilbert and O’Meally. It will be in the recollection of our readers that William and (his brother), James Burke, and George Cheshire were tried for this robbery at the last Quarter Sessions, an ac- complice, named John M’Keller, having turned approver, but, in consequence of his evidence being unsupported, and the other witnesses being unable to identify the prisoners, they were all ac- quitted We are informed that before he was taken to the gaol, and when in company with Father M’Carthy, they came in contact with constable Sutton, who, it will be remembered, was shot in the shoulder at the time of the attack on the Carcoar mail, but when asked if he knew Vane, he said he did not Some time after, in the gaol, he was confronted again with the prisoner in the presence of Dr Palmer, when, upon closely inspecting him, he gave it as his opinion that he was “very like O’Meally “ In allusion to this attack on the coach, Vane said that a bullet fired by Superintendent Morrissett had struck O’Meally in the chest, . but did him no harm, as it came in contact with a watch he had in his pocket, three-quarters of which it shivered to atoms, having nothing but a small section of the case attached to the ring at the end of the guard. It “ knocked the wind out of him “ for a time, and he now wears the remainder as a sort of “charm”