In 1864 Dan Morgan’s reign of terror was moving into full swing. In January of that year the New South Wales government formally issued a reward for Morgan’s apprehension, which was advertised in many publications in an effort to raise awareness.
Morgan’s reputation had grown exponentially in the span of a year. In August of the previous year, Morgan and German Bill had attempted to rob Henry Baylis, a police magistrate, which resulted in a gunfight in which Baylis was wounded and German Bill received wounds that would kill him within hours. Morgan had soon after raided Thomas Gibson’s station in Burrumbuttock and forced Gibson to write a £30 cheque for each member of the staff. His trip to Mittagong Station saw Morgan torch a woolshed because he believed Isaac Vincent, the station manager, had been supplying information to the police. Naturally, these were bridged by acts of highway robbery in Walla Walla and surrounds. Morgan had developed a reputation as being unpredictable and slightly mad but not bloodthirsty, however the worst was yet to come. By the end of 1865 Dan Morgan would be one of the first targets of the Felons Apprehension Act for robbery and murder.
Source:
New South Wales Government Gazette. 25 January 1864: 193.