Category: Johnny Gilbert

Articles pertaining to Johnny Gilbert and his associates.

Spotlight: The Burning of Mr. Morriss’s Store at Binda (24/02/1865)

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), Friday 24 February 1865, page 5



THE BURNING OF MR. MORRISS’S STORE AT BINDA.

——◆——

AIDING AND ABETTING BEN HALL’S GANG TO COMMIT ARSON.

(From the Goulburn Herald, February 22)

AT the Police Court, on Thursday, the 16th, and, by adjournment, on Monday, the 20th instant, before the Police Magistrate, Christina McKinnon, Ellen Monks, and Margaret Monks were charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of arson, on the 26th December last.

Mr. J. T. Gannon appeared for the prosecution, and asked that the Police Magistrate would request the reporters not to publish the evidence until it was concluded. Mr. Allman said he had no doubt the reporters would comply with the request. After a few prefatory remarks, Mr. Gannon called:

James Andrew Pye, detective constable, who deposed: I know the three prisoners, and apprehended them by virtue of three warrants; I arrested Margaret Monks at Vardy’s, on the Cooksvale Creek; I cautioned her, and she made no reply; I arrested the other two at Laggan; Ellen Monks said “all right,” and the other girl made no reply; I arrested them all on Monday; they said nothing to me in connection with the case; I was not present when Morriss’s place was burnt down, but I know where the place is situated; I know Hall’s public-house at Binda, and where Morriss’s store was; I have measured the distance from Hall’s to Morriss’s; it is 143 yards; that is by track; it is much nearer in a direct line; I picked up some melted glass and wire, all welded together in the room amongst the ashes at Morriss’s; Ellen Monks had a ring on when I arrested her; it has not been claimed by any one.

Edward Morriss stated: I have at present no occupation; I was a storekeeper at Binda on the 26th December last; the store was built of slabs and had a bark roof; there were store goods in it; I knew the three prisoners well before this, for the last eight or nine years; I was formerly in the police stationed at Binda, in the neighbourhood of which place the prisoners reside; one of the prisoners was servant to me for nearly a year, Ellen Monks; there was a ball at Binda at Hall’s public-house on the 26th December; I was taken there; I had not been to the house for some weeks before; about eight o’clock on the evening of the 26th I was walking in my paddock after tea and observed five people riding down the hill towards my place; three did not come to the place; I saw that two were females; the three who were mates branched off towards my fence, and I lost sight of them for a time; two females rode up towards the house; they were riding two bay horses; I observed them go into my house, and I still remained walking about the paddock; my wife was alone in the house; I was some twenty or thirty yards off; I went in and found Ellen Monks and Christian McKinnon; they were purchasing crinolines from my wife; we were laughing about crinolines when a tap came to the door; I went to it and six revolvers were pointed at me by three young men; there was a light in the house; each of the men said “bail up”; the girls heard what was said; I said “all right,” and the three came in; Hall at once said, after putting his revolver on one side, “how do you do, Miss McKinnon; how do you do, Miss Monks; “I said to Hall “I suppose you are Ben Hall?” and he replied, “I am that gentleman;” I knew Gilbert before; they asked me how much money I had in the house, and Hall then went and searched the house; they took nothing away except money, and I cannot tell whether that was taken then or subsequently; they said I and my wife must go with them to the ball; I remonstrated, and Hall said it should be at his expense; Hall said, “let your wife put on a clean dress;” Hall told me to lock up the place, and I did so; we then went down to the ball; the bushrangers marched the four of us— the two girls, my wife, and me — to the next door, Hadfield’s; Joseph Hadfield is his name; Hall asked me who lived there, and I informed him; he then told me to bring him out, and I did so; the whole five of us were then marched to Hall’s public-house; when we got there we found a housefull; the bushrangers drove us into the house, and bailed up every one; I then saw Hall searching a good deal about the house; he then said “gentlemen and ladies, I won’t hurt anyone here — fiddler, proceed;” the doors were all locked and the keys in the bushrangers’ pockets; all went right for some hours; the third prisoner, Margaret Monks, was in the room; Hall told me that he would not have brought me if he had not heard it was dangerous to leave me outside; about two o’clock in the morning I proposed to one or two to rush the bushrangers, as I observed they were drinking; about three o’clock, in consequence of my proposal, Hall and Gilbert came towards me, and said, “stand you ——, I’ll shoot you;” during the evening the girls were very intimate with the bushrangers, two of the girls, McKinnon and Ellen Monks; I saw Hall with his arm round Christina McKinnon, and pulling her clothes about; I saw Gilbert doing the same with Ellen Monks; they were kissing each other; at Hadfield’s door I heard Hall say, speaking of Ellen Monks and Christina McKinnon, “I have had the pleasure of escorting these young ladies to the ball;” when the bushrangers threatened to shoot me I got out of the window, and, although they fired several shots, I escaped; I tried to get the bushrangers’ horses, but could not manage it; I then went and lay down in the scrub about half-way between the public-house and my store; presently I saw the three bushrangers advancing towards my house, accompanied by the three prisoners; this was about five minutes after my escape; the three bushrangers were sitting on their horses; they were eight or nine yards from where I was lying when they passed; the girls were walking close to the bushrangers; I heard Hall say — and the girls could hear it — “I’ll make the ——’s place pay for it; I’ll burn his house to the ground;” one of the girls, Christina McKinnon, made answer, “Do it, Ben, it serves the —— right;” Ellen Monks, at the same time said, “do it, Ben, it serves him right;” the other girl, Margaret Monks, said, at the same time, “save poor Mrs. Morriss’s clothes;” Gilbert answered her and said, “The —— has got lots of money in the bank, let him buy her more;” the whole six then went to my house and broke into it; meantime I gradually shifted closer to the house, through the scrub; I was not more than a dozen yards away then; there were two very heavy logs there; I showed the place to constable Pye; by the time I got to the logs the bushrangers had broken open the house, and five had got into the house, Dunn remaining on his horse outside; the girls had nothing in their hands when they went up to the house with the bushrangers; almost immediately I saw one or two candles lighted in the house; the windows and door were open, and I could occasionally distinguish the girls and bushrangers; I heard laughing and breaking open of boxes, &c.; the girls were skylarking; I saw the three girls coming out of the house just as the place was blazing up; two of the girls had very large bundles; I could smell the kerosene burning at this time; the two girls with bundles were Christina McKinnon and Ellen Monks; they first came out with their saddles, which they had left there, having turned their horses out in my paddock, and they then went back and brought out the bundles; Peggy Monks came to young Dunn, who was sitting on horseback, and stopped with him; the other two bushrangers came out almost immediately after the girls; in consequence of the great light, I began to get away lest I should be seen; the two girls with the bundles went along the fence a short distance and they then went through it and into the scrub; Hall and Gilbert followed them; they remained up in the scrub, away out of my sight, for a quarter of an hour, and then all four came back together to Dunn; they had no bundles with them then; as Hall jumped on his horse he said “that’ll teach the —— not to interfere with us;” the remark was addressed to the other two bushrangers and to the girls; no reply was made; all three bushrangers rode away towards the public-house; two of the girls then lifted up their saddles and their skirts which had been left near the fence, and went the same road; my place was burnt down; I came into Goulburn to report it; when I came into Goulburn I mentioned the girl’s names; I applied to Mr. Oakes, a magistrate, for a warrant, and he told me he hadn’t time.

The three prisoners said, in reply to the Bench, that they had no questions to ask witness.

Joseph Hadfield deposed: I am a labouring man, and live at the Crookwell; I was poundkeeper at Binda in December last; I recollect the bushrangers being there on the 26th, and Morriss’s store being burned down; I lived about a dozen yards from Morriss’s; I recollect seeing Ellen Monks and McKinnon at Morriss’s store when the bushrangers took me there; the bushrangers took us all to Hall’s together; towards morning Ben Hall said something about burning down Morriss’s house; they then left; the prisoners afterwards left, saying they would go for their saddles; no one was allowed to go, the bushrangers saying they would shoot any one who left; I did not take notice of the third prisoner; I spoke to Ellen Monks at Morriss’s about the bushrangers; I asked her if those were her sweethearts; she said “yes,” or “yes to be sure;” I did not see by whom Morriss’s house was burned; I met prisoners coming down from there as I was going up; on Saturday following I found a pair of women’s elastic-side boots forty or fifty yards from where Morriss’s house stood, and close to the fence; I gave them to Mrs. Morriss; no one was present when I handed them to her, nor when I found them.

To the Bench: I was taken to Morriss’s house about nine o’clock, and there first saw the prisoners; I had been in Morriss’s about five minutes, when we all started off for the public-house; Mrs. Morriss was dressing herself, and we waited for her; previous to going to Hall the publican’s, Hall the bushranger did not say in my hearing that he had had the pleasure of escorting the young ladies; the bushrangers said publicly at Hall’s that they were going to burn Morriss’s house.

To Mr. Gannon: It was about half an hour from the time the girls left till I met them coming back; Morriss’ house is about a hundred yards from Hall’s; the girls were carrying something; I cannot say what.

To Mr. Walsh: I cannot swear that either of the girls except Ellen Monks had any bundle when I met them coming back from Morriss’; I cannot say whether it might have been a riding-habit; we were about six or seven hours detained at Morriss’; I saw Ellen Monks dancing; I did not drink nor dance, nor did Morriss; I did not feel at all alarmed; I am an old soldier, and have been in the police with Morriss.

Mary Morriss deposed: I am wife of Edward Morriss, of Binda; I have known prionsers about a couple of years; Ellen Monks once lived with me; my husband’s place was burned down on the morning of the 27th December; on the evening of the 26th I saw McKinnon and Ellen Monks at my place; they came about eight o’clock; they called for some crinolines; in about five minutes three men came in; I afterwards found out that they were Ben Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn; Hall went to where we kept the money, in a quart pot; we were then ordered to the public-house; Dunn went and called Hadfield out of his house, and we all went to the public-house; I cannot recollect whether Hadfield was taken to our house; while I was at the public-house I saw all three prisoners; I saw the bushrangers skylarking with McKinnon and Ellen Monks; Ben Hall was kissing Christina McKinnon, and Gilbert Ellen Monks; I heard Ben Hall say that he would burn down the —— dog’s house, that he was the only dog in Binda who would take them; this was said before everybody, and in the presence of the prisoners; this was said to Morriss; the bushrangers went outside, and I heard shots fired; I begged of Hall not to burn our place down; he said it was all very fine, that he would burn the place down, and that he would blow out my brains, or those of any one else that went outside, except the two girls; Hall and Dunn went outside; I asked Gilbert to spare my clothes; he said he would; the three prisoners left two or three minutes after the bushrangers; I saw the girls talking to the bushrangers; I did not see which way they went; I saw a bit of a twinkling light at my place, and afterwards saw it burning; I left the public-house, and met the girls coming down; I said, “Ellen, did they put out my clothes?” she said, “Yes ;” the girls and the bushrangers left my place together; Hadfield gave me a pair of boots; it was not many days after the fire; they were part of my husband’s goods.

To the Bench: My husband was not in the store when the bushrangers came up first; there was no tap at the door; they walked in; when the girls were coming from my place they had their saddles in their hands; I did not see that they had anything else.

To Mr. Walsh: When the bushrangers ordered us down to the publican’s I changed my skirt; I did not hear the bushrangers say that they thought it a great honour to escort so many young ladies to the ball; I saw no one but the bushrangers kiss anyone; I danced with Dunn; Dunn asked me to dance with him; I refused; he said I must; after I saw prisoners carrying the saddles I never saw them again until they were in the lock-up.

Margaret Monks was then discharged, and the other two prisoners were committed to take their trial at the assizes.

Mr. Walsh applied for bail. Looking at the evidence, it was by no means certain that there would be a conviction. The only evidence bearing on the particular charge was that of the alleged conversation while going from the public-house to Morriss’; and this was after the bushrangers had avowed their intention to burn down the place, so that it could not be said that the prisoners had incited them to the commission of the offence.

The Bench reserved its decision on this question till Wednesday.

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Spotlight: Inquest on Constable Nelson (04/02/1865)

Sydney Mail (NSW : 1860 – 1871), Saturday 4 February 1865, page 6

[From the Herald’s Correspondent.]

INQUEST ON CONSTABLE NELSON

On Friday last Dr. Waugh, coroner, held an inquest at Mr. Kimberley’s Inn, Collector, on the body of Samuel Nelson, who was shot by the bushrangers on the previous evening. The following witnesses were examined:—

Mr. Edwards, who gave similar evidence to that given at the magisterial investigation, and which has been already published.

Maurie Mellan deposed: I am a labouring man, looking for work; yesterday afternoon I was stuck-up by bushrangers and detained till near dark; I remained at the spot all night and this morning, coming towards Collector, when within about a hundred and thirty yards of this house I found two single barrelled fowling-pieces which had apparently been thrown carelessly down beside a tree; I gave them to the police; I believe the bushrangers were Gilbert, Hall, and Dunn.

Constable Bourke deposed that one of those guns was loaded with two balls, the other was not loaded.

Frederick Nelson, aged about eighteen, eldest son of deceased, deposed: I am farming about Collector, and resided with my father, the deceased; my father was named Samuel Nelson, and was lock-up keeper here; he was aged about thirty-eight years, and had been in the police force here about seven years and a half, and had previously been in the police force at Moreton Bay; I had tea with my father yesterday evening, and afterwards went over to Mr. Waddell’s and remained there about half an hour and on leaving I saw my father in constable Bourke’s yard; he left and walked towards home; I did not speak to him as he was a good way off; I had heard that the bushrangers were at Kimberley’s, and went towards there to see if it was true; on my way I met Mr. Edwards, who told me it was true; while I was going towards Kimberley’s my father was also doing so, but from a different direction, and got near the house before I did; when my father got near a fence close by the house, a bushranger sprang from behind the fence and called to my father to stand, and fired immediately afterwards, on which my father staggered into the road and called out “Oh!” the bushranger fired again, and my father fell; I was inside the fence at this time, and about ten yards from my father; the bushranger called on me to stand, but I ran away, on which the bushranger fired at me, but did not hit me; it was light enough for me to see, but not to recognise the man who shot my father; I spread the alarm through the township of what was going on, and after a while my brother came and said that the bushrangers had gone, on which I went up to Kimberley’s and found my father’s body had been taken inside the house; he was quite dead; while this took place my brother was compelled to hold the bushrangers’ horses outside Kimberley’s house, having before this been compelled to march there, a distance of three miles; when my father fell I heard his carbine fall from his hands on to the ground.

Dr. Hanford deposed: I have made a post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased; on examining the body externally, I found a bullet wound midway between the nose and the ear on the left side of the face ; also a wound, two inches long and two and a half inches broad, on the left side of the chest, and twenty shot marks round the wound ; the wound took an oblique direction downwards; the stomach was protruding through the opening; on examining the cavity of the chest, I found the heart lacerated to the extent of one and a half inch at the anterior and lower half towards the left side; the remaining viscera were healthy; on examining the abdomen, I found several shots in the liver, and a portion of a wire cartridge with several shots in it, which I produce; the shots correspond with those I have just taken from a wire cartridge given to me now; the stomach was perforated, but the other viscera were healthy; the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth ribs on the left side were fracture; the brain and membranes were uninjured; the ball most probably, passed into the deep muscles of the neck, as I could not trace its course; death resulted from the wound I have described and no other cause.

Elizabeth Nelson, widow of the deceased, deposed: Yesterday evening I got word that the bushrangers were at Kimberley’s; deceased was out but was speedily found, ran home, put on his belt, took his loaded carbine with the bayonet on it, and left the house saying, “now, I am just going to do my best;” I did not again see him alive.

Thomas Kimberley gave evidence to that already published, and added: The bushrangers brought down from upstairs and took away two single-barrelled fowling-pieces, both loaded with cartridge; the guns now produced are the same; the bushrangers took from me property to the value of about £26, consisting of boots and men’s and boys’ clothing, and a six-barrelled revolver; directly after they went away some of the people who had been brought here or stuck-up by them, went to deceased and found him quite dead; I have examined the place where deceased was found, and ascertained that it is about twenty yards from where the bushranger stood when he fired.

Thomas Mensey, a bootmaker, deposed to having been stuck up by three bushrangers and kept in custody till nearly dark; afterwards returned to Mr. Kimberley’s, when he met the same parties within a hundred and fifty yards of the house; believed them to be Ben Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn; at Kimberley’s was told the bushrangers had just left.

Eliza Mensey, servant at Kimberley’s, deposed: I was here yesterday when the house was stuck-up by bushranger; I went upstairs with one of the bushrangers with the keys to open the drawers; he remained there a few minutes and conversed with me; he told me his name was Hall, and that the man outside on guard was Dunn; I was standing on the step outside the front door when the shot was fired; the man who fired the shot was the man Hall called Dunn.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased was wilfully murdered by John Dunn, and that Benjamin Hall and John Gilbert were aiding and abetting. The jury added a rider strongly recommending the family of the deceased to the favourable consideration of the Government.

Goulburn, January 28th.

—————–

We have been kindly favoured with the following extracts of a letter from Mr. District Judge Meymott to his brother, Dr. Meymott. It bears date, Gunning, January 28th, and the writer says :—

I am thankful to be able to tell you that I have arrived safely at this place, about halfway between Goulburn and Yass. But though my journey from Goulburn has been safe, it has not been without adventure.

I left Goulburn about eleven forenoon, on Thursday, the 26th, escorted by two mounted troopers, one in advance, and the other immediately behind my carriage. I came by way of Collector, partly to visit Mr. Murray and partly in hopes of avoiding the bushrangers who were known or believed to be between this place and Goulburn. However instead of avoiding them, I fell in with them. After having journeyed about eighteen miles, we had to descend rather a long hill winding through thickly wooded country. At the bottom of the hill was open country, and a lagoon called Rose’s Lagoon on the left; on the right, rising hills highly timbered near the base, but increasing in thickness of bush towards the top, where it became dense forest.

When near the lagoon, the trooper in advance gallopped on towards the hill on the right, making signs to the man behind to follow, which he very soon did, and away they went at high speed up this hill. I drove gently on down towards the lake, and, on nearing it, I saw eight or ten people under a tree near the water, about fifty yards off the road, and two drays and a cart, and several horses. I drove up to them and found they had been there, some two or three of them, since six in the morning (it was then past two), having been stuck-up by Ben Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn; the number of persons stuck-up increasing as the day wore on. The spokesman told me that the ruffians had only a short time before lit a fire and ordered him to make tea for them, and they were about to have a meal (other prisoners being found in the cart) when Dunn, who was on the look-out, spied my advance guard through the trees about half a mile off, and called out “Here’s a —— trap!” Gilbert said, “If there’s only one let’s face him.” Directly afterwards, my carriage and the other trooper coming in sight, Ben Hall said, “No, there’s more of them, let us be off.” So saying, they leaped on their horses and galloped away as hard as they could up the hill I have described, and it was on my advance guard seeing them in the distance, that he put spurs to his horse and made towards that hill. A few moments after I had joined the bailed-up party, my troopers returned, having lost sight of the bushrangers in the thickness of the bush. When the police heard who the men were, for they did not and could not know before (especially as they were fully a mile ahead when the trooper first saw them), they were desirous of going in pursuit.

Mr. Voss, a magistrate, came up at that time, and, after a little consultation, it was thought best for us to come on to Collector. So we parted from the captives, who were very glad to be released, and came on to Collector. Mr. Voss, with what force he could collect, intending to go in pursuit of the bushrangers, and myself proceeding onward to Mr. Murray’s, about a mile and a half farther, which I reached in safety shortly after four o’clock.

But the exciting events of the day were not yet over, the worst part remains to be told. About eight o’clock in the evening, Mr. Edwards (Mrs. Murray’s brother), came in with the news that the highwaymen had been in to Collector, and had robbed one or two stores, and that while Hall and Gilbert were in a public-house and store kept by Mr. Kindesley, or some such name, (Dunn watching outside,) a policeman was seen to approach, and Dunn shot him dead on the spot. The gang then made off from the place, and, according to rumour, fell in with Mr. Voss and his party. Some shots were exchanged, and the thieves escaped, minus one horse, saddle, and bridle, which are now in custody of the police at Collector. Mr. Edwards also said he had heard that before leaving Collector, the robbers had been heard to state that they meant to visit Mr. Murray’s.

This news, of course, created some excitement, but I am pleased to say, no weak, foolish fear among the household. All the available men and arms were, as speedily as possible, collected, the entrances secured, and watch was kept by turns all night.

About ten yesterday, the police came to Mr. Murray’s, to escort me onwards; but as the bushrangers were still hovering about in the neighbourhood, I thought it best not to take away two out of the three policemen in the place, and that it was much better for them to stay where they were, in case their services might be needed. So we kept watch, and were all day under arms at Mr. Murray’s, and the police kept a good look-out about the town; but all remained quiet.

This morning I heard of one report, that the gang had come on this way with the determination of attacking me for interfering with them the day before; but another report seemed to be more likely to be correct, viz. that they intended to waylay me and see me safe on the road for some miles with the police, and then to go back and finish robbing the town.

I left Mr. Murray’s about 10.30 a.m. with the two troopers and a civilian who was coming this way, and arrived here in safety. We met two villainous looking fellows on the road, whom the senior constable (Bourke) questioned, but could elicit nothing from them. They were doubtless Ben Hall’s scouts, and I think it very possible these fellows would soon have told Hall that I had passed on and that the gang would return to finish their work at Collector. If they do, they will meet with a warm reception, for special constables have been sworn in, and everybody round is prepared to give them battle.

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Spotlight: Ben Hall’s Gang at Binda (04/01/1865)

Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 – 1918), Wednesday 4 January 1865, page 3

BEN HALL’S GANG AT BINDA.

About eight o’clock on Monday evening, Ben Hall, Gilbert and Dunn came to the Flagstaff Store at Binda, forty miles from Goulburn, and told the proprietor, Mr Morriss, and his wife to accompany them to the Flag Hotel, at which the landlord, Mr John Hall, was that evening giving a ball to his neighbors in celebration of Boxing Day. Mr and Mrs Morriss declined, but the bushrangers insisted on their doing so, and told Mrs Morriss to change her dress. It may be mentioned that Mr Morriss had formerly been in the police force, and had gained the reputation of being a most active and successful officer; and it is supposed that on this account the bushrangers were afraid of his organising means for their capture if they allowed him to remain at home. Mrs Morriss was obliged to change her dress accordingly; and while this was going on the bushrangers were searching about the plac and either then or on their subsequent return to the premises it is supposed they secured about L100 in money which was on the premises. They then proceeded with Mr and Mrs Morriss to the inn, and bailed up the inmates, numbering about a hundred — nearly the whole population of Binda. Their object, however, did not appear to be so much robbery as that, of having a spree; and they insisted on the festivities being proceeded with, and joined in the dancing and other amusements apparently with the greatest zest. At first, and at intervals, they searched about the place for money. They frequently treated the company, and drank gin themselves, but not to excess.

Time wore on, and between two and three in the morning Mr Morriss proposed to one of the company to attempt to rush on the bushrangers, himself agreeing to attack Hall as the biggest man of the three. To this he assented. It was then necessary to get others to join in the plan; and one or two were accordingly spoken to, who also agreed. Whether these were traitors or not it seems hard to determine; but just as the plan was to have been put into execution Gilbert was observed to speak to Ben Hall and both to look at Morriss, and immediately afterwards Gilbert advanced towards him presenting two revolvers. Of course there was no longer a chance of taking them unawares; and Mr Morriss lost not a moment in jumping out of the window, and making for where the bushrangers had their horses. As he fled the bushrangers fired at him. He, however, actually succeeded in getting possession for a moment of their horses; but by this time they had got out of the inn and came furiously after him, firing several shots as they did so. Mr Morriss was therefore compelled to make off, and fortunately succeeded in getting clear of his assailants.

The bushrangers now returned to the inn, where they declared that they would burn down Morriss’s house. They then left to put their threat into execution. Mrs Morriss, in her desperation, actually clung to them, and besought them in the most moving terms not to do so, but in vain They said that Morriss was a dog; and that they would yet come across him and have his life. They went to the store, and, after again searching about, set fire to the building, watching the progress of the flames for a time, and then taking their departure.

The whole building and the stock it contained, together with a number of promissory notes, and the books of account have been destroyed, and all that remains of the store is now a heap of ruins.

Mr Morriss having kept out of the way until he had seen the bushrangers leave, now returned; and, having got a horse, left his wife lying on the ground in front of where their house had but a short time before stood, and came into Goulburn to report the occurrence On his way in, near Dixon’s meadow, about twelve miles only from town, he saw the bushrangers camped, and cleaning their arms.

When Mr Morriss reached the police barracks the superintendent was absent, and two hours after the news had come to hand troopers were seen riding about the town in search of that officer. Whether in the meantime any parties had been despatched in search of the bushrangers or not we have no means of knowing; but it was generally remarked that the foot police could very well have found the superintendent and have apprised him of what had occurred, while the whole available mounted police should have gone in pursuit. It has been noticed on previous occasions that two hours have elapsed between the times of information reaching town and the police taking action, and on the present occasion the same period elapsed before the superintendent was found. There is no doubt that the barracks and head-quarters of the force have no business to be at the Old Township, nearly two miles from the centre of the city. The press has called attention to this before, and it only remains for us to say that if this state of things is to continue we might as well be without the mounted force altogether.

It may be mentioned that Binda is a police-station, having a lock-up keeper and two mounted constables; but on this occasion they were all in Goulburn, having escorted in there prisoners.

Mr Morriss had been some two or three years settled in Binda and was beginning to get comfortably off in the world, estimating himself to be worth L1000. He is now utterly penniless, the clothes he stands in being his sole worldly possessions On the books of account that were destroyed there were about 500 worth of debts.

Mr Morriss last evening applied to be admitted into the police force, and to be sent in pursuit of the bushrangers; but the superintendent said he had not power to appoint him, but could accept him as a volunteer. He was advised to agree to this. It is certain that nothing could be better than to send him at once in charge of a party in pursuit of those who have reduced him from a condition of comfort to one of destitution. — Goulburn Herald 28th Dec.

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Spotlight: The Diverting History of John Gilbert (29/10/1863)

Melbourne Punch (Vic. : 1855 – 1900), Thursday 29 October 1863, page 1

THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILBERT.

JOHN GILBERT was a bushranger
Of terrible renown
For sticking lots of people up,
And shooting others down.

John Gilbert said unto his pals,
“Although they make a bobbery
About our tricks, we’ve never done
A tip-top thing in robbery.

We’ve all of us a fancy for
Experiments in pillage;
But never have we seized a town,
Or even sacked a village.”

John Gilbert stated to his mates,
“Though partners we have been
In all rascality, yet we
No festal day have seen.”

John Gilbert said he thought he saw
No obstacle to hinder a
Piratical descent upon
The town of Canowindra.

So into Canowindra town
Rode Gilbert and his men,
And all the Canowindra folk
Subsided there and then.

The Canowindra populace
Cried, “here’s a lot of strangers,”
But suddenly recovered when
They found they were bushrangers.

John Gilbert with his partizans
Said, “Don’t you be afraid —
We are but old companions whom
Rank convicts you have made.”

So Johnny Gilbert says, says he,
“We’ll never hurt a hair
Of men who bravely recognise
That we are just all there.”

The New South Welshmen said at once,
Not making any fuss,
That Johnny Gilbert, after all,
Was “just but one of us.”

So Johnny Gilbert took the town,
And took the public-houses,
And treated all the cockatoos,
And shouted for their spouses.

And Miss O’Flanagan performed,
In manner quite “gintaaly,”
Upon the grand piano for
The bushranger O’Meally.

And every stranger passing by
They took, and when they’d got him,
They robbed him of his money, and
Occasionally shot him.

And Johnny’s enigmatic freak
Admits of this solution,
Bushranging is in New South Wales
A favored institution.

So Johnny Gilbert ne’er allows
An anxious thought to fetch him,
Because he knows that Government
Don’t really want to catch him.

And if such practices should be
To New South Welshmen dear,
With not the least demurring word
Ought we to interfere.

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Spotlight: Gilbert (08/07/1865)

Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1860 – 1938), Saturday 8 July 1865, page 4

THIS week we are able to give an illustration of the death of the notorious Johnny Gilbert, the bushranger, and accomplice with Hall, Dunn, and O’Meally in many an act of robbery and crime within the last few years. Gilbert was but twenty-five years old at time of his death, but was of a stout build and capable of undergoing great exertion. He was the son of respectable parents, and his father is now living Taradale, in Victoria where he has for some years resided, following the occupation of mining, and is stated to have been much grieved at the lawless habits of his unfortunate son. But little is known of the early life of Gilbert, except that he was engaged as stock rider in some stations about Forbes, and that at the end of the year 1862, he, like several other young men of loose habits, became inflamed with the passion and desire of becoming highwaymen, thinking it no doubt a grand thing and a noble pursuit instead of honestly and quietly working industriously for a livelihood. The violent end of Gilbert, coupled with the similar fate of two of his comrades and of Daniel Morgan, shows the fallacy of such a delusion. Throughout the year 1863, Gilbert, associated with either Ben Hall, O’Meally, and, Dunn, and, sometimes with the whole of them, perpetrated several daring crimes, such as robbing stores, stealing race-horses, stopping the mails and taking therefrom everything of value. Every thing was of late done by them in the most daring manner and in the most open way. They would ride up to places, bail up, as it is called, a whole village, adjourn to a hotel and compel those whom they pleased to join in all kinds of revelry and amusement and treat every one with the liquors, &c. of the landlord, who was forced to submit to this barefaced levy of black-mail. No one attempted to lay a hand on them, or if they did, the intended attempt was signalised to these freebooters and then vengeance was sure to fall upon the head of the person having the courage to endeavor to rid society of those who were making it their prey. The burning of the store of Mr. Morris, at Binda, is an instance in point, and it will be remembered that he nearly lost his life through attempting to secure Gilbert and Dunn. So matters went on every week, the list of crimes and offences swelling in magnitude until the 15th November last, when Gilbert, Hall, and Dunn stopped the mail from Gundagai to Yass at about four miles from Jugiong. The mail was escorted by two of the police, and on that occasion the bushrangers fired at them and Sergeant Edmund Parry was shot dead. Great excitement arose upon this and large parties of police were sent in pursuit and scattered about their haunts, but they were always “five minutes too late.” More robberies were committed, and on the 26th January last another police constable named Samuel Nelsen, was shot at Collector by these ruffians, it being believed that Dunn fired the shot which killed him, but both Gilbert and Hall were with him and were accessories to the murder. A reward of £1,000 was then put by Government on their heads, and the well known Felons’ Apprehension Act was passed into law, leading eventually to the breaking up of these gangs of robbers and murderers. At length in May the police got well on the trail of Gilbert and Dunn, Ben Hall having, been shot by a party of them near Forbes on the 29th April. On the 12th May, information was given that Dunn and Gilbert were in the neighborhood of Binalong, and that night Senior Constable Hales, with Constables Bright, King and others went to the hut of a man named Kelly and watched it all night. Kelly’s son came out in the morning, and, on being asked, denied that any one was inside. Hales, however, doubted him, and went up the door, when the elder Kelly called out, “here are some troopers surrounding the house.” King and Hales rushed inside and saw two men in another room, the door of which was shut to instantly, and a shot was fired at the police, who returned the fire, and called upon all to surrender, threatening to burn down the hut if they did not. Gilbert and Dunn thereupon jumped through a window at the back and commenced running to a paddock where their horses were, turning round and firing at their pursuers as they ran. Gilbert got into a creek, the bed of which was dry and ran along it, when Hales called on him to stand. This was unheeded, when Hales fired; Gilbert looked round and the next moment Bright aIso fired and Gilbert fell. King was close and was fired at by both Gilbert and Dunn and a shot from the latter hit him in the ankle and rendered him unable to give further assistance. Dunn got off in the scrub and was lost by the police, who, on their return, found Gilbert dead. On a post-mortem examination by Dr. Campbell, it was found that the bullet had passed through the left lung and the left ventricle of the heart, causing almost immediate death, and the jury, on the occasion of the inquest at Binalong the next day, immediately returned a verdict of “justifiable homicide.” Our illustration shows Gilbert falling from the wound, and Dunn firing at King. Dunn has not yet met his fate, which is, however, impending; and with him we hope there will be an end to our bushrangers.

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Spotlight: Robbery Under Arms (17 June 1863)

New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 – 1930), Wednesday 17 June 1863 (No.24), page 178

I.

Robbery under Arms.

At 11 p.m. on the 7th instant, the stores of the undermentioned persons at Possum Flat, near Young, were forcibly entered by three armed men, supposed to be Johnny Gilbert, Johnny O’Mealley, and another, and property as under stolen therefrom :— From Joseph McConnell, about £14 sterling, and a double barrel gun; from William Hooley, 4 ozs. 10 dwts. of gold; from Mrs. McCarthy, two gold rings, one engraved “E.F. & M.F., 3 July, 1803”; from William’O’Brien, a cash box, containing £37; from David Henry, a quantity of silver coin, amount not known, some printed calico, tobacco, and a revolver.

At 8 p.m. on the 2nd instant, the house of George Gatewood, Norwood, near Goulburn, was forcibly entered by four armed men (not described), with blackened faces covered with crape, and the following property stolen therefrom, viz., £12 sterling, a watch (not described), gun, canister of “powder, box of caps, three pairs blankets, and several articles of clothing. The robbers afterwards proceeded to the house of William Gatewood, son of the above, and forcibly stole therefrom a quantity of wearing apparel and trinkets.

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Spotlight: Johnny Gilbert’s Late Exploit (10 June 1863)

Yass Courier (NSW : 1857 – 1929), Wednesday 10 June 1863, page 2

JOHNNY GILBERT’S LATE EXPLOIT.

[From our Marengo correspondent.]

June 4. — My hasty communication of yesterday respecting the sticking-up near Young, on the day of the races, was, I afterwards ascertained, too true; in fact, worse than at first reported; for two stores were gutted by Gilbert and his gang, viz., Mr. Chard’s, of Spring Creek, and the Red Shirt Store (Mr. Herbert’s). It seems the robbers were quite convinced that they would receive no interruption from the police, as they (the police) were well known to be all enjoying themselves at the races; consequently they proceeded to work in the most leisurely manner, selecting and packing up carefully all the most valuable part of the stock of the above stores. This party of highwaymen consisted of four well mounted, and armed men, each leading a pack-horse, and headed by Lieutenant Gilbert in person, who was mounted on the stolen Burrowa race-horse, Jacky Morgan. The only resistance they met with was from a person at Chard’s store, when Gilbert, without a moment’s hesitation, drew a revolver and fired point blank at him, the ball passing in such very close proximity to the party’s skull as to cause him to rush away, his retreat being still further increased by another shot from the same desperado. I regret to state that this affair, like nearly all others of the same class, appears to have been a complete success; for neither the robbers nor their plunder have since been seen or heard of. I think the public ought to solicit the authorities to publish a statistical account, of the amount of property lately taken from stores only by those ransacking rascals, Gilbert and Co. Within the last six mouths the gross value of the plunder could not amount to less than a thousand or eleven hundred pounds sterling. Now the major part of this did not consist of “handy availables,” but it was real cumbersome property, such as fifty pairs of bedford cord trousers, a score or so of pilot coats, dozens of vests, bolts of calico, hales of linen, &c., &c. What are our detectives about that none of this properly has ever been traced? Undoubtedly, the whole of it has been, and is now being, disposed of to the public, at low cash prices, through the medium of dishonest storekeepers in league with the robbers. The city of London contains more than six times as many inhabitants as the whole of New South Wales, in fact, more than the whole of the Australian colonies, and Tasmania included; yet there the non-tracing of property, after a large store or shop robbery, is the exception — here it is the rule. Either the home detective system must be very different to ours, or the right men cannot be in the right place; for, taking a retrospective view of the great amount of weighty plunder lately disposed of by Gilbert’s gang, and the minute amount of successful result in the tracing thereof, proves the term detective at the present time to be a great, misnomer; and, as far as this and the two adjoining districts are concerned, it can only continue to be used either in sarcasm or irony.

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Spotlight: Johnny Gilbert at Young (6 June 1863)

Yass Courier (NSW : 1857 – 1929), Saturday 6 June 1863, page 2

JOHNNY GILBERT AT YOUNG.

(From our Marengo correspondent.)

June 3. — I have just received information to the effect that Messrs. Gilbert and Co , yesterday, at Young, took advantage of all the police being engaged at the races, to pay a professional visit at the Redshirt Store, Petticoat Flat (Mr. Herbert’s), and ransacked its contents, carrying off much booty. As Mr. Gilbert seems to possess all the ubiquitous and invisible power of his arch-prototype Gardiner, I suppose it is almost unnecessary to remark that neither he nor the booty has since been seen or heard of. [We have heard that the same party stuck-up Mr. Chard’s store, on the same day. — Ed. Y. C.]

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Spotlight: Johnny Gilbert at Burrowa (27 May 1863)

Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1875), Wednesday 27 May 1863, page 3

JOHNNY GILBERT AT BURROWA.

(From the Yass Courier‘s Marengo correspondent.)

MAY 19.—This morning, about ten o’clock, our little town, our rather village, was thrown into a state of excitement by a horseman galloping into it and reining up his panting steed at the police station. He handed a letter to the officer in command (Swan), the perusal of which caused all to be bustle; for instant boot and saddle was the order, and in a very short time horses were equipped, men armed and mounted, and they and the messenger all rode briskly away in the direction of Burrowa. Upon making the necessary inquiries, and proceeding to the scene of operations, I ascertained that a sticking-up case had occurred, which for coolness and effrontery eclipses all the late affairs of that class. It is well known that Mr. Allen Hancock, of Burrowa, has had for some time in training for the races a horse called “Jacky Morgan,” a provincial celebrity, and a great favourite in the betting circle. About seven o’clock this morning, as jockey in trainer Harry Wilson, was giving the horse his customary diurnal exercise near the Burrowa police barracks, a ponchoed horseman rode up to him, whom Wilson immediately recognised to be no other than the notorious Johnny Gilbert, whom Wilson has known for years. Gilbert instantly told the jockey to dismount, as he wanted the racer, but Wilson refused to do so, when Gilbert drew a revolver, and placing it close to Harry’s skull said, “Off at once, or take the consequences;” Wilson replied, “For God’s sake, Johnny, don’t ruin a poor fellow,” but all to no purpose, for Gilbert took the horse, and along with it a new jockey’s saddle and bridle, Wilson’s private property, which he had purchased only the day before. After Gilbert had cantered away, the unfortunate and almost broken-hearted jock, who by the way was to have raced the horse that very day, made all haste to his employer with the dismal intelligence. I am informed that Mr. Hancock lost no time in vain regrets, but instantly ordered one of his best horses to be saddled, and he in the interim loaded a double-barrelled gun, kissed his wife and family, and rode off, declaring most solemnly that he would never return alive without the stolen horse, and from what I know of his temperament, I’m pretty certain, if he drops across Gilbert, that he’ll keep his word.

Undoubtedly the “bush telegraph” must have been again at work, otherwise how would Gilbert have known the exact time and spot to have seized this racer, and that within rifle shot of the town, and within a stone’s throw of the police barrack itself. The daring sangfroid shown in this affair fully proves the great extent of harborage given to this scoundrel and his myrmidons, for him to dare almost to enter the town of Burrowa itself, where, as at Marengo, two out every three knew him by sight. I almost forgot to mention that this morning, about two hours after the previous robbery, the said Gilbert rode up to two drays, about three miles from Marengo (which were on the turn off road, near the Calabash) and told one of the carriers to stop and lower down a gin case, break it open, and hand him three or four bottles; the carrier hesitated, when Gilbert laughed derisively, threw open his poncho, and showed his belt bristling with revolvers, and also pointing significantly into the bush, thereby intimating that he bad plenty of assistance near at hand, which no doubt, he had, for it is my fixed impression that Gilbert is now at the head of the Wedden and Abercrombie band, and that Gardiner is leading another detachment in the Jingerra Ranges, whose tracks sergeant Brennan was on the other day. At all events, they are now possessed of some splendid horseflesh, three stolen racers, viz., Mr. Skillicorn’s, of Bathurst, Mr. Roberts’, of Currawang, and Mr. A. Hancock’s, of Burrowa.

I regret to state that the murderer, John Kellie, is still at large. Really what with our daily petty larcenies, weekly highway robberies, and bi-annual murders, we constitute a community which, however consistent, is unquestionably the reverse of Utopian.

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Spotlight: Local & General Intelligence, Tumut and Adelong (11 May 1865)

Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 – 1867; 1899 – 1950), Thursday 11 May 1865, page 2

Local & General Intelligence

The Araluen Escort Robbery. — Daniel Ryan, of Murrumburrah, lately arrested at that place, by Mr. Bray’s volunteer party, on a charge of being concerned with Ben Hall’s gang, in the attack on the Araluen escort, and who was remanded to Braidwood for identification, has being identified as being with the party on the Araluen mountain, and also when they stuck up Boyd’s store, at Tarago. — Goulburn Argus.

Expensive Gents. — The Yass Courier calculates that, during four years, it has cost the colony £200,000 to hunt Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn, in which all the efforts of the police have been ineffectual.

Captain Thunderbolt and his Gang. — The Tamworth Examiner says : — After various petty robberies this gang were surprised by the police whilst in possession of Mr. Walford’s inn at Millie. The police had been tracking them for four days, and reached Mr. Walford’s about an hour after the bushrangers had arrived there. The situation of this house is on an open plain, without a tree for miles in any direction. The bushrangers, four in number, were at the house, at the time, one being outside on guard, and on the latter seeing four men galloping across the plain to the house, a whistle was given to those inside, and all four came out to see who it might be. On learning that it was the police, they all mounted their horses, one of them holding up his revolver as a challenge to the police to come on, at the same time retreating from the house to the open plain at the rear. They had all drawn their revolvers, but the police, nothing daunted, gave chase, and came within firing distance a short way from the house. Tunderbolt fired the first shot, to which the police replied, at the same time endeavours were made to cut off the young lad from the rest of the gang, who seemed not to be so well mounted as the others, Firing was continued on both sides with great vigour, when a well directed ball from the revolver of constable Dalton, took effect on the young lad, entered the back and came out near the stomach. He fell from his horse, and Dalton shouted to constable Norris to take charge of him, while he went after the others. On leaving with that intention, he fortunately turned round and saw the young vagabond, while on the ground, presenting his revolver at him. He threw himself on his horse’s neck, and the ball luckily passed over him. Constable Norris came up at this moment, and again fired at the ruffian, the ball taking effect, having entered the jaw and escaped at the back of the neck. During the whole of the time constable Lynch was keeping the other three bushrangers at bay, and succeeded in doing so, notwithstanding that Ward, who was mounted on a fine chesnut horse, several times rode between the police and the youth, constantly discharging his revolver at the same time, in order to give his mate time to escape. He was, however, unsuccessful. About forty shots were fired by the police, and their ammunition was nearly all expended. After securing the youth, they proceeded a short distance after the others, but their horses were completely knocked up, having ridden them fully five hundred miles. The fight is described by eye witnesses as an exceedingly plucky affair, and highly creditable to the police engaged. The encounter lasted altogether about an hour, and the balls from the several revolvers flew about in all directions, one passing through the whiskers of one of the police, but not injuring him. The youth who was shot was at once taken to the inn, and a doctor sent for to Moree; but he is in a very weak state, and it is doubtful if he will recover. The head of the gang, who goes under the name of ‘Thunderbolt,’ is named Ward, and has been engaged in several robberies. He was at one time employed in breaking in horses at the Tareela station. The second is supposed to be a man named McIntosh, and is said to be a brother of McIntosh who was mixed up with Picton in a cattle stealing case some years ago. The bushranger who is shot is named John Thomson, a youth about sixteen years of age, and is described as a very dangerous vagabond. He had frequently expressed a wish to join the bushrangers. The fourth man is known by the name of ‘Bull’ or ‘Bully.’ Thomson and Ward are well acquainted with the part of the country on which they have been recently committing their depredations, and the former with his companions will doubtless make for his old haunts on the head of some of the creeks running into the Barwin, near Walgott. [Thomson has since died.]

Attempt on Wendlan’s Life. — Almost as might have been expected, the life of Wendlan, who shot Morgan, has become endangered through the spirit of revenge on the part of some of the scoundrel’s accomplices. A fellow named Thomas Maslen has been brought before the Bench at Wahgunyah, charged with threatening to avenge Morgan’s death by shooting Wendlan. He was found with arms, powder, balls, caps, and a bottle of strychnine. On Wednesday, Sergeant Hayes stated to the Bench that Maslen could be identified as an accomplice of Morgan, and the prisoner was remanded for a week. — Albury Banner.

A Good Chase and Capture. — The police in this colony have been so unfortunate in their attempts to capture the more notorious bushrangers, that the notion has become general that they are unequal to their duties. But such conclusion is very erroneous, as may be easily seen by reference to the list of captures recently made. The latest successful chase we hear of occurred at Uralla in the North. A man with blackened face robbed a shepherd’s hut, taking from him his only half-crown and everything else of value, and not for three days could information be conveyed to the police. There, however, two troopers started, and after riding 350 miles in five days, succeeded in surprising the robber with his mate in camp, and both of them were lodged safely in limbo. — Pastoral Times.

Morgan’s Legacies. — The Pastoral Times hears that Mr. Commissioner Lockhart is engaged in the district around Albury in trying to clear the country of the wretched villains who aided and abetted the recently slain murderer. Little mercy should be shown to those who, residing on Crown Lands illegally, gave shelter and food to Morgan while he went forth to rob and kill. It is to be hoped that the other Commissioners of Crown Lands in the Wellington districts, and the country where Messrs. Hall, Gilbert, and Co. carry on their avocations, will see that the powers invested in them are used to rid their districts of the aiders and abettors in these crimes.

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