The old friend of the inhabitants of the Billybong, known as the celebrated Morgan, on Tuesday last, the 12th inst., paid a visit to Wilberforce’s Hotel, Piney Ranges. He said that he called there in consequence of reports that had been circulated about him which were untrue. He was bad enough, but did not want to be made worse than he really was. Continue reading Spotlight: Morgan the Bushranger (30/01/1864)
At about noon he made his apearance, at the camp of Mr. Adams, road contractor, and bailed up all his men, and, as the contrac-tor had no cash in hand, he set fire to the tents thus. ruthlessly destroying at least £15 or £20 worth of property. Continue reading Spotlight: Morgan’s Outrage at Kyamba (16/01/1865)
THIS miscreant, emboldened by the impunity with which he has for months past robbed travellers and levied blackmail from the squatters in the Albury district, occasionally diversifying his exploits by burning down a woolshed or destroying a settler’s account books, has added two murders to his crimes. On the 19th ult., he encountered Sergeant Carroll, of Wagga Wagga, about twenty miles from Albury, and several shots were exchanged without effect. During the afternoon of the same day he visited the Roundhill station, belonging to Messrs. Henty, and, after dismounting, put his horse into the stable. There were a number of men about the huts, whom the ruffian, with a revolver in each hand, ordered to go into the carpenter’s shop, and after asking Mr. Watson, the superintendent, if the men got enough rations, ordered him to go and bring four bottles of grog, which were drank; after carousing for hours, Morgan was about taking his departure, when Mr. Watson incautiously made some remark about stolen stirrup irons.
Continue reading Spotlight: Morgan the Bushranger (16/07/1864)
When and where is it to end? is the remark made by everybody. Are we never to hear the end of Morgan? Apparently not, until in a drunken fit, or by the accidental discharge of his own revolver, the world is rid of the now doubly-dyed miscreant.
Continue reading Spotlight: Morgan. Bushranger and Murderer (07/07/1864)
Young Morgan “turned out” early in life, and while yet a lad, stole a horse belonging to the police magistrate of Campbelltown. The constables went in pursuit of him, but he succeeded in evading their search. It is said that when they were trotting their horses after him he kept at the same pace as they did, and when they galloped he used to put spurs to his horse and outstrip them in speed, he at last managed to double on them, and, returning to the neighbourhood of Campbelltown, succeeded in stealing two more horses, with which he made his way into the interior where be disposed of them.
Continue reading Spotlight: Background on Morgan (05/07/1864)
Thomas Maslen, who appeared, on remand charged with threatening to avenge the death of Morgan, by shooting Wendlan, was again brought before the Court.
Continue reading Spotlight: Shooting at Wendlan (4 May 1865)
Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 – 1929), Friday 26 May 1865, page 3 An appeal is being made to the squatters of Riverina and Victoria towards the fund now being collected for the benefit of John Wendlan, who shot Morgan, the bushranger. Messrs Goldsbrough and Co, Power, Rutherford, and Parker and Ainslie, are interesting themselves in the matter. The owners of the Peechelba Station state that Wendlan has been in their employ for four years, that he had conducted himself to their entire satisfaction, lie is steady, and any fund collected for his benefit would be put to good use. … Continue reading Spotlight: Wendlan Subscription (26 May 1865)
His last exploit in New South Wales was sticking up the Kyamba mail, after which he proceeded by way of Tumberumba, in the Billabong district, to the Murray, crossing that river at Yoe or Thugulong, about 20 or 30 miles from Albury. He was next seen at Mr. J. Wilson’s station, Wallangatta, from which he stole a racing mare and another horse dur[ing] the night, being able to get clear off with his spoil, as Mr. Wilson was from home and the superintendent away to the back country with weaners, taking all the shepherds and dogs with him. There was thus nothing to give the alarm; and Morgan was allowed plenty of leisure to effect his depredations. Continue reading Spotlight: Morgan the Bushranger – Latest Particulars (19 April 1865)
Dark, brooding, melancholy, and alone,
Beast-like, the ruffian plundered, prowled and slew,
Without a rival or compeer to own
His fellowship ; all shuddered in his view.
Like to a tiger whose fierce maw once drew
The life-blood from some shrieking unaware,
And ever after’s thirsty to renew
The baleful draught ; still watching from his lair,
Where fetid bones, half-gnawed, pollute and plague the air.
Thus seemed the human monster ; he had swilled
His godless hands full oft in human gore :
It was a pastime— horrid, grim, but filled
His fiendish longing restlessness for more.
It joyed the tiger’s instinct in his core ;
Or devil’s impulse that delighted in
Such deeds as man bad never done before ;
That sighed to top the summit of all sin
Which man hath scaled, where devildom can but begin. Continue reading Spotlight: Morgan, the Bushranger (Poem; 15 April 1865)
Molong Argus (NSW : 1896 – 1921), Friday 10 March 1899, page 7 An Incident of Morgan the Bushranger. Old Bobby R — was a squatter millionaire in the Riverina district, and as tight-fisted an old screw as ever cumbered the earth. On one of his splendid stations Bobby employed a married couple, the husband being a boundary-rider, the wife looking after the hut and attending to the cooking. One day the man, while riding round on his usual work, was thrown from his horse and killed. The ration cart had been sent out by Bobby, the boss, the day … Continue reading Spotlight: An Incident of Morgan the Bushranger (10 March 1899)