30 October 1863

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH THE BUSHRANGERS.

On Saturday evening, between six and seven o’clock, Gilbert, O’Meally, Ken Hall, Vine, and Burke made their appearance at the house of Mt Keightley, 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 esppcting a visit I from the gang. and had. provided himself }’ viith 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 Rockley, 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.

23 November 1863

TEE BUSHRANGERS. ATTACK ON GOIMBLA STATION.

DIABOLICAL INCENDIARISM. DEATH OF O’MEALLY AND INQUEST ON THE BODY.

HEROISM OF MR. AND MRS. CAMPBELL.

Sunday, 10 p m. ON the nigut of Thursday the 19th instant, the station of Mr Davitt Henry Campbell, , was attacked by the three bushrangers, Gilbert, O’Meally, and Ben Hall, at a quarter to nine o clock, who, from the two hours’ career they pursued in that memorable, and for one of them – fatal night, were evidently as much actuated by 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

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

13 May 1865

THE DEATH OF BEN HALL.

On Saturday, the 5th May, at about 4 o’clock in tho morn mg, a body of pohco, un der tho direction of sub mapoctor James Henry Davidson, armed in 1 orbes with the corpse of Ben Hall, tho bushranger Ho had bom killed tho night before near the north Billibong, about twolvo milos from Forbes, and the body was pierced with eight or nine» bullots Either one of four of the wounds must hav o proved fatal

It is said (hat the spot where he was killed is not far norn Mr Pierco Strickland’s station It is also said that Hall had been in and about the town of I orbes two or throo days grevioufl to boing shot Gilbert and Dunn wore not with un and it is rumoured that thoy were off after somo horses, while Hall visited Forbes and neighbourhoed, and that it was while Hall was on his way to join Gilbert und Dunn that he waa killed Prom 10 o clock in tho morning of Friday, tie room whero the body lay was filled with persons curious to have a look at tho corpse of the man who has contributed so much to bring New South Wales into disrepute by his wanton outrages

I suppose that four or fivo hundred porsons visited tho barracks, and I saw several females among tho dowd After tho enquiry several parties availed themselves ot on opportunity to got a lock of the bushrangei s hair His body was lying upon a stretcher in the south east corner room of tho building appropriated to the foot police lhere was nothing forbidding in the countenanco of Ben Hall, as ho lay there still in death In fact,

I heard the re- mark made several times, during the moment I was in the room, “ What a handsome face ‘ Ho appeared to be a voung man about twenty-eight, finely wade, excellent features, lofty forehead, and fine brown hair His whiskers nnd moustncho were cut quite close and of a much lighter colour than the hair on his head I heard many make the remark,

“ I have? often seen that face somewhere, but cannot tell where “ I have myself seen tho face, but have no idea when or where Iho most remarkable feature in tho coun- tenanco was a peculiar cuil m tho right eldo of tho upper bp, indicating ordinanly a feeling of contemptuous scorn, produced by the action of tho mind upon tho muscles

In this caso I am told that it is a constitutional feature, and may therefore indicate nothing Bon Hall s career is too well known to require notice, and tho opinion is now almost universally entertained in Torbes that the Lachlan district will soon be na of the bushranging desperadoes Tho magisterial enquiry was held at noon, in the large dining hall of tho police barracks, before Mr William 1 an-and, P M

It was filled b} the most respectable gontle men in I orbes All appeared to feel a hv ely interest in the proceedings James Henry Davidson, sworn I am a sub inspoctor ot police, stationed at Forbes, I started from Toibes on Satur- day, tho 29th April, in pursuit of tho bushrangers, Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn , my party consisted of my seit, sergeant Condell, four constables, and two black trackors On Ihursday evening, the 4th of May. at about 10 o’clock, wo carno upon two horses hobbled in tho scrub, noar the Little Billibong on the Currajong side, and about twelvo miles from Torbes Wo were watching tho horses about hall an hour when a man carne out and caught them, he paused very close to where we were standing, and led tho horses about ono hundred yards,

I did not recognise him as Ben Hall at that time , ho then hobbled the hoi ses again, and returned to a thick scrub , Billy Dargan, tho tracker, said he thought he heard BOHÍO ono scratching in tho scrub, as though preparing a place to sleep , I placed five men where w o w ero standing , and myself, sergeant Condell, and Billy Dargan, went below with tho intention of attacking lum in his camp , at this time we only thought it to bo Ben Hall M o could not get within one hundred yards of his sleeping place, on account of tho snorting of tho horses , wo waited there until mornuig ,

at about half past 6am I saw a man at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yaids, vv ith o bridle in his hand, walking tow aids the horses, when ho got about half wav between the scrub and the horses – ni} self, scigeant Condell, and Bill} Dargan, started to run tow aids lum, he was not aware of oui presence until wo ron about fiitv yards wo now knew it to bo Hall, upon seeing us ho mn towards the sciub and m the direction of where the four constables and Charley the trucker were stationed, I then called sov eral times, ana ordered him to stand To the Police Magistrate

At this tin o I was not aware thnt he had been outlawed, having left Torbes before that occurrence, aftci iiinning about ono hundred yards I was within about forty yards ot him when I levelled a doublo-barrellcd gun and hied one shot, I be- lieve I hit him, for he halted and looked back, sergeant Cou dell and Billy then fired,

I think thov both hit him, we hied pretty close together, Condell and Billy were running a little» in my rear, about fifteen yards to my left , Hall ran about sixty yards to a few saphngs, and caught hold of one , I think he was (then mortally wounded, the four constables and tracker then came across , I think Hall saw thom coming, for ho changed his course , they hred , I was then within thirty yards, when Hipkiss fired his revolving rifle , I noticed Hall s revolver belt tall to tho ground , Hall, still holding to the sapling, gradually fell back , nltogethor, thirty shots w ero fired , sov oral wera fired after Hipkiss tired , I fancy ho was shot m the head after that , ho spoke afterwards , no said, “Im wounded, shoot mo dead I then went up and noticed that the bullet shot by Hipkiss had passed thiough his sido, he died almost lmmediatel} ,

I searched him and found teven ty four pounds m notes, in two .hatnois leather bugs, one in his breast coat, and tho other m his trousers pocket , three gold chams and a gold watch , a portrait ot a woman, thrto revolvers, somo bullots, and articles of wearing apparel, his poncho and blankets were with his saddle, there was a çoltt keeper on his finger, I knew Hall personally, his clothes were perforated with bullets, through and through AVe then caught his two horses and packed his body upon the saddle, and in this manner took it to our camping ground, and from thence into Forbes James Condell, sworn I am a sergeant of police sta- tioned at Foibes, on Saturdav, tho 29th of April, m com- pany with sub-inspector Davidhon, four constables, and two black trackers,

I started from I orbes in pursuit of tho bushrangers, Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn, on tho Tuesday night following I observed two horses hobbled, and watched them about half an hour, when wo saw a man emerging from tho scrub and walking towards vvheie the horses were feeding, he took tho hobbles off and led them about one hundred and fifty yards, and then hobbled them again, and let thera go, we heard him walk away through the bush into a low scrub, Billy Dargan said after- wards that he heard him scratching among tho leaves as though making a place to sleep,, sub inspectai Davidson and myself posted five men m a lialf circle where wo then ?were, «and then passed to the opposite side, wo crept through the bush for some time in search of hm sleeping place,

but were unablo to find it, wo then resolved to wuit until morning and watch the horses m tho meantime, at about 6 o’clock in the morning I saw a man emerge from the scrub and walk towards the two horses , when he had got about mid way between his camp and tho horses wo started in pursuit, wo ran about fifty yards before he obscrv ed us , be then looked up, and seeing us, ran, inspector Davidson called upon him to stand-ho looked lound but kept on running, inspector Davidson then hred upon him, I saw Hall jump, put he kept on running, I then covered him full} in the back with my nflo and hred, I then saw it was Ben Hall, I behovo my first shot took effect between his shoulders, ho kopt lunning, hut appeared weak, Bill} thon fired with a doublo barrelled gun, and I think he hit him too, we then called to tho men on tho opposite side and they came up , when Hall saw the men emerge from the scrub ho turned and ran in another direction, tho mon then all fired,

I behovo ovcry one hit him, Hall inn to a cluster of timber nnd laid hold of a sapling, and said, “I’m wounded, I’m dying ‘ Tho men then fired again, and he rolled over, he mado two oi tlueo con- vulsive movements with his feet and said, “I m dying I m dying ‘ We all approached to tho spot, and he was dead, his death v> as almost instantaneous , mspectoi Davidson then searched and lound upon lum £74 in notes , gold watch and three gold chains , a gold keeper on Ins ringer, three revolvers, capped and loaded , a bag of bullets , three boxes caps, flask of powder nnd w earing apparel, where ho was camped wo found n saddle, poncho, and two Bingle blankets , wo then packed bia body on a saddle and took it to our camp, and afterwards brought it into Torbes, I havo known Hall four years, about three years ago I conveyed lum as a pti soner to Orange, and saw him frequently afterwards ,

I identify the body of tho deceased as that of Ben Hall William Jones sworn I am a storekeeper and reside in Torbes, I havo seen the body of deceased now lying in the adjoining room, and identify it as that of Ben Hall I havo known him seventeen years, and have Boen him frtauently I during that penod, except tho post three years, I have not the slightest doubt about its being the body of Bon Hall John Newell sworn I am a publican residing m Toibes, I have known Ben Hall nine y ears, and havo seen him frequently untu the last two and a-half years, the body now lying m the adjoining room is that of Ben Hall CharlcB Ashenheim sworn I am a qualified medical man, I have examined the body of tho deceased, and find it pcrfoiated by several bullets, the shot between the shoulders the two shots through the brain, and tho ono through the body were severally sufficient to causo death