Tag: New South Wales Police

Series, The ClarkesLeave a comment

BUSHRANGING AND OUR POLICE SYSTEM (Part Two)

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Just as the tracker came up I saw Clarke about forty yards off, running up the range. I pursued and called upon him to stand, but he replied that he would b— soon make me stand, and he stood as if he meant mischief. He had a Colt’s revolver in each hand. As soon as he went to raise them I let go mine at him. As soon as I fired my horse began plunging mad; but every time I got a chance I fired. At the fourth shot Clarke fell, and I thought he was shot; so I stood looking at the place for a few moments, thinking about it. I could not see him on account of a low scrub which grows about four or five feet high. Continue reading BUSHRANGING AND OUR POLICE SYSTEM (Part Two)

Article, Daniel Morgan, New South Wales Bushrangers, Spotlight, The Lachlan BushrangersLeave a comment

Spotlight: Country News (14 November 1863)

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Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), Saturday 14 November 1863, page 6 COUNTRY NEWS. ALBURY. (FROM THE FEDERAL STANDARD, NOV. 11.) THE POLICE AND THE BUSHRANGERS.— Superintendent McLerie and seven or eight troopers have returned safe and sound to Albury. The gallant fellows are looking remarkably well, and they do not report having been stuck-up or ill treated by the bushrangers, although we believe some of them “sighted” Gilbert or O’Meally, or what is much the same, Gilbert and O’Meally “took sights” at them. PROCEEDINGS OF A BUSHRANGER.— On Monday morning last, Morgan the bushranger made his appearance at … Continue reading Spotlight: Country News (14 November 1863)

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Thomas Rogan’s death mask and other missing objects

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Could this unassuming photograph of three plaster casts be the vital clue to a long-standing case of mistaken identity?These death masks were photographed in 1975 in the police academy in Redfern. The one on the far right is Andrew George Scott (Captain Moonlite), while the one on the far left is the casting that has been attributed to his accomplice Thomas Rogan. However, not only does the face on the attributed cast not resemble Rogan at all, the middle, unnamed, casting matches the mugshot taken of Rogan after his capture at McGlede’s farm quite closely. Furthermore, the middle death mask … Continue reading Thomas Rogan’s death mask and other missing objects

Feature, Key Events, The Kelly Gang, The Riverina Bushrangers, Victorian Bushrangers4 Comments

Like the Bushrangers of Old: The Kelly Gang in Jerilderie

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Despite their infamy, the Kelly Gang were hardly prolific in any sense as far as bushrangers are concerned, but perhaps it’s a matter of quality over quantity. The second raid they undertook was one of the most audacious in history … Continue reading Like the Bushrangers of Old: The Kelly Gang in Jerilderie

Ben Hall, Feature, Johnny Gilbert, Key Events, New South Wales Bushrangers, The Lachlan Bushrangers6 Comments

The Hall Gang: The First Raid on Canowindra

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Now well into the second half of 1863, Ben Hall’s gang felt as if they had the rule of the roost in the Lachlan. Towards the year’s end they began operating closer to Carcoar, deciding that homesteads were better targets than travellers and coaches. But it wasn’t simply ill-gotten gains the gang were interested in. Continue reading The Hall Gang: The First Raid on Canowindra

Feature, Key Events, New South Wales Bushrangers, The Moonliters, The Riverina Bushrangers, Victorian Bushrangers2 Comments

The Twilight of Moonlite: The Destruction of the  Moonliters

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For years Andrew Scott had been at loggerheads with the authorities in Australia and had even toured the country lecturing on prison reform. Finally tiring of being dragged in on suspicion of every offence under the sun from robbery to assault simply because of his reputation after being convicted of the robbery of the bank at Mount Egerton, Scott decided to become Captain Moonlite once more and give the police cause to rue the way they’d bullied him. Taking his companions Jimmy Nesbitt, Tom Rogan, William Bennett, Gus Wernicke and Thomas Williams on the road, they decided to become bushrangers and make their way North. Continue reading The Twilight of Moonlite: The Destruction of the  Moonliters