Spotlight: Death of Gipsy Smith, the Bushranger (13/07/1852)

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 – 1900), Tuesday 13 July 1852, page 2


DEATH OF GIPSY SMITH, THE BUSHRANGER.

The particulars of this occurrence have been communicated to us by Mr. Weymouth, of Kensington, who arrived in Adelaide on Saturday last, overland from the Diggings. Mr. Weymouth left the Loddon on June 21st, and met inspector Alford and his party on the 3rd inst. about five miles beyond the border. The party were proceeding most satisfactorily, and Mr. Weymouth noticed that the horses were in good condition. Inspector Alford was endeavouring to fall in with Gipsy Smith, who with his gang had lately committed several outrages on travellers and persons residing near the overland road, and Mr. Weymouth had the satisfaction of informing him of the death of the Bushranger. It appears that Smith and two of his companions, by name Bailey and Sullivan, had taken possession of a dray, belonging to a man from Adelaide, who with his wife were proceeding to the Diggings. Smith, having previously separated the man from his wife, arrived with his companions at Roston’s Station. It is stated that whilst camped there, and when Smith on one occasion was washing himself, one of several pistols that he always carried in his jacket went off accidentally, and killed him almost instantly. Considerable suspicion, however, attaches to one of his companions, Sullivan, who immediately after the event took Smith’s horse and rode away. This man Mr. Weymouth met on the evening of the occurrence. Sullivan asked two or three questions of Mr. Weymouth’s party, and then proceeded in the direction of the Diggings. The man and his wife who were with the dray taken possession of by Smith, are now residing at Roston’s Station, having taken service there. The number of persons on the road is stated to be still very considerable; so that the death of Gipsy Smith, and it is to be hoped, the consequent dispersion of his gang, will tend very considerably to allay the apprehensions of travellers. Two of the Mounted Police remain at the midway station which has been formed at Scott’s woolshed, about fifteen miles beyond the desert, and eleven miles this side the border line.

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