Tag: Bothwell

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Spotlight: The Bothwell Police (1841)

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On the Saturday about dusk, two of them arrived, entered the house, called for a pot of porter, and sat down quietly to drink it, with their fire-arms between their knees, ready for use if required. The three official gentlemen shortly after entered the room, presented their guns, and demanded a surrender, under the pain of immediate destruction. The bushrangers did not like the terms, started to their feet, and threw up the muzzles of the official muskets, one of which flashed in the pan, one went off but missed its object, and the third either refused fire, being ill prepared, or was not loaded. In the midst of the confusion, the enemy coolly extinguished the light, and deliberately walked off! Could anything be more disgraceful? When will such another opportunity offer? Continue reading Spotlight: The Bothwell Police (1841)

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Spotlight: Reward notice for Birrell, Fisher and Beard (1841)

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This is to give notice that I am authorised by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to offer a Reward of Fifty Sovereigns for the discovery and apprehension of the said Murderers (provided such discovery and apprehension be not affected by a principal in the said Murder) and should such service be performed by a Prisoner of the Crown, then, in addition to such Reward, he will be recommended to the Secretary of State for a Free Pardon.

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Spotlight: SHOWING HOW BRADY SERVED MR. FLEXMORE ON BOXING DAY by Mr. J. E. Calder

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“Good morning, Mr. Flexmore.”

“Good morning,” replied the other a little stiffly.

” Do you know who I am, Sir?” said the spokesman of the party, not quite relishing the curtness of Flexmore’s reply.

“No, I don’t,” said the other rather gruffly, for he had a little of John Blunt about him at times,

” Then I take leave to inform you that I am Brady, the bushranger, who you have heard of before, for I’ve robbed above half the settlers of the country already, and mean to rob the other half before I’ve done with them; and now, Sir, I’ll trouble you for your money.”

Continue reading Spotlight: SHOWING HOW BRADY SERVED MR. FLEXMORE ON BOXING DAY by Mr. J. E. Calder

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Spotlight: Bothwell (1840)

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We have received some additional information respecting the Bushranging, robbery, and murder affair in the district of Bothwell, and the consequences of the absence of that Police Magistrate. At half-past 11 ‘o’clock on Sunday the 29th ultimo, one of the neighbouring magistrates was roused out of bed by the arrival of a messenger from Bothwell, with a letter from the district constable, stating that a woman, who had been ill-used in the settlement, lay in such a dangerous state, that her life was despaired of, and that it would be necessary to take her evidence immediately, at the same time informing him that the Assistant Police Magistrate was not home.

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Spotlight: Bushranging! Robbery! Murder! (1840)

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Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 – 1857), Tuesday 15 December 1840, page 6 Bushranging! Robbery ! Murder ! Three desperate Bushrangers, Fisher, Beard, and another, have been prowling about during the last month in the district of Bothwell. A sort of languid search was made after them by two constables, who returned home unsuccessful about the 25th Nov. On the 28th the villains robbed the station of Mr. Geo. Nicholas, at Weasel Plains, and after ordering his servant to make tea for them, they took what they thought useful, and compelled him to accompany them to the house of … Continue reading Spotlight: Bushranging! Robbery! Murder! (1840)

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Spotlight: TASMANIAN HISTORY – A SKETCH OF OLD TIMES; EMBODYING THE BUSH CAREER OF MATTHEW BRADY by J. E. Calder (Pt. 6)

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Calder’s account of Brady’s career continues, detailing his brief dabbling in piracy at Swanport, his infamous robbery of Francis Flexmore at Green Ponds, a gunfight with the authorities near Bothwell, and an ill-fated visit to the Lake River district. Continue reading Spotlight: TASMANIAN HISTORY – A SKETCH OF OLD TIMES; EMBODYING THE BUSH CAREER OF MATTHEW BRADY by J. E. Calder (Pt. 6)

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Spotlight: TASMANIAN HISTORY – A SKETCH OF OLD TIMES; EMBODYING THE BUSH CAREER OF MATTHEW BRADY by J. E. Calder (Pt. 3)

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Calder continues the narrative of Brady’s career with the robbery of George Meredith’s property and the subsequent murder at Grindstone Bay that leads to McCabe quitting the gang. Continue reading Spotlight: TASMANIAN HISTORY – A SKETCH OF OLD TIMES; EMBODYING THE BUSH CAREER OF MATTHEW BRADY by J. E. Calder (Pt. 3)

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Spotlight: TASMANIAN HISTORY – A SKETCH OF OLD TIMES; EMBODYING THE BUSH CAREER OF MATTHEW BRADY by J. E. Calder (Pt. 2)

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Calder continues his account of the life and career of Matthew Brady, discussing the comings and goings of Brady’s associates, his capture and escape at the hut of Thomas Kenton, and Brady’s increasing mobility and prodigious criminality. Continue reading Spotlight: TASMANIAN HISTORY – A SKETCH OF OLD TIMES; EMBODYING THE BUSH CAREER OF MATTHEW BRADY by J. E. Calder (Pt. 2)

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Spotlight: Fisher and Beard rob Edward Bisdee

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The establishment of Mr. Edward Bisdee, at Kewstoke, Murderers Plains, adjacent to the Eastern Marshes, was robbed of provisions and clothing on Wednesday night, by the bushrangers Beard and Fisher. The tactics pursued by these land-rovers is something new in the arduous avocation pursued by them.

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