Читать книгу History of Australian Bushranging 2 - Charles White - Страница 5

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For about a fortnight after the raid on Bathurst very little was heard of the gang, and it was thought that they had quietly stolen away back across the Lachlan, near Cowra, knowing that as soon as their exploits in the vicinity of the City of the Plains were officially reported the main body of police would hasten thither, and give them opportunities of prosecuting their calling near their old haunts without much molestation. But they had not left the district. Watching their opportunity, they suddenly attacked the residence of Mr. Keightley, Gold Commissioner, at Dunn's Plains, near Rockley, and about thirty miles from Bathurst. They made no secret of the reason of their visit to this homestead. Mr. Keightley, who was a man of splendid physique and undoubted courage, had openly assisted the police in their search for the bushrangers, and had declared that he would show them no mercy if he should happen to come across them. Like every other word or movement of those who sought to break up the gang, Mr. Keightley's sayings and doings reached their ears; and they determined to put his courage lo the test by sticking up his household. From the beginning of Peisley's career bushranging in New South Wales had proceeded by gradations—from idleness and petty stealing to cattle stealing; from cattle stealing to robbery from the person; then to robbery (under arms) of mails and escorts; followed by the ruin and extermination of honest storekeepers, attacks on the officers of justice, raids on banks, country towns, and private establishments. The time had now arrived for a further advance— to the Neapolitan system of ransom. This made, the question was seriously discussed in certain quarters whether the next successive movements would not be to the formation of camps, stations, regiments, batteries, and open attack upon the united Government forces.

At about sunset on Saturday evening, 24th October, 1863, Mr. Commissioner Keightley stood in the doorway of his house, when he observed five men riding along the fence at some distance from the dwelling. At first he thought they were a party of police who he knew were in the neighbourhood, they having been in his paddock on the previous evening; but as he desired to give his guest. Dr. Pechey, a shock, he called out to him, "Here are the bushrangers!" Mr. Keightley and the doctor watched the men to within twenty-five yards of the house, when they saw them simultaneously leap from their horses and make a sudden rush into the yard, at the same time presenting firearms and calling out, "Stand! if you run into the house we'll shoot you!" Before the last word had sounded, however, Mr. Keightley and his companion had turned and made for the open door, which was {fortunately near at hand. The men fired at them as they ran, but the bullets did not find their mark, and the door having been made secure prompt measures were taken to repel the coming attack. A plan of procedure had been previously arranged, and was now followed. Dr. Pechey hastened in the direction of a room occupied by the man servant (who was at the time absent, having gone to Rockley for the letters), his intention being to secure some firearms and ammunition there stored; but finding that he could not reach the room without exposing himself to the fire of the bushrangers he returned, to find Mr. Keightley armed with a double-barrel gun and a revolver, which he had obtained from his bedroom, after having told Mrs. Keightley that the dreaded gang had made its appearance—a fact of which she had already been made aware by the firing that had taken place. Taking up their station at the door nearest to the yard where the bushrangers had congregated, Keightley and his companion prepared to make a stubborn resistance. But the failure to reach the other arms and ammunition somewhat disconcerted them, although the assailants were not aware that the occupants of the house were so poorly provided with the means of defence. Knowing something of Keightley's determination and skill, the bushrangers kept themselves under cover, posting themselves in the form of a semicircle, so that they could command the doorway from all points. As the two men came to the open door the bushrangers fired; but none of he bullets did any harm. Keightley and his companion took care not to expose themselves, although closely watching the movements of their assailants. What followed is best told in Mr. Keightley's own words. And this is his story:—

As I appeared at the door several shots were fired; the men were in a semicircle around me, at varied distances; at the time I took up my gun I fancied it was loaded in both barrels—one with snipe shot, and the other with buck shot; when I went to the door I noticed a man near me on my left, who was firing very rapidly; he fired several shots; he appeared to draw out from a cask, behind which he was concealed, with the view of firing at the door; the last time he came out I slung up my gun and fired the right barrel, which, I thought had the small shot in it; I could not see the effect of the shot otherwise than the man put his hand on his stomach and fell back; I then said to Dr. Pechey, "Now for the roof!" which I had had barricaded for some time; when on the roof I saw Vane for the first time; he was going across the yard, and when the party saw me on the roof they commenced firing at me again, but I cannot say how many shots; when I had fired I looked for my powder horn but could not find it; I concluded that Dr. Pechey had got the arms and ammunition I had sent him for previously; I left the house open when I went on to the roof and Mrs. Keightley and child were below; when on the roof I asked the doctor for the other gun and loading materials, and he said he had been intercepted and could not get at the arms; I then looked at my own gun and found that the other barrel was discharged; the shooting at this time was very close, one ball went close to my face, I think it was Hall's, and another through my hat; they called upon me to surrender or they would burn the house down; and as I had no arms I thought it best to do so as we had no ammunition; two of the voices called out "If you lay down your arms and come down we'll not touch you;" I said "honour bright?" and they replied "honour bright;" I said "Very well, we will come down", and I came down the ladder into the garden in front of the house; I concluded that the party knew at the time that one of their party was hit; when we came down they made a rush at us; Vane struck Dr. Pechey with a revolver and knocked him down; I said "What did you do that for? he has done nothing;" one of them said "Is not that Keightley?" and I said "No, I'm Keightley;" Vane then said "You b——y wretch, you have shot my mate;" I denied it, saying, "I never killed your mate"; I did not know then the result of my shot; he said I had and that they would shoot me for it; they then brought me to the spot where Burke was lying, and they held a consultation, the result of which was that I was to be shot; I was told to go into the paddock; from their statement I learnt that Burke had, after he was shot, fired at himself and shot himself through the head; I was then told that I should be shot, and to say good-bye to my wife and come up the hill; as I had been ensnared in my position and had no means of defence, I begged them for God's sake not to shoot me and commit murder; it was then arranged that Dr. Pechey should proceed to Rockley for his instruments with the view of affording assistance to Burke, and while he was away Gilbert came to the foot of the hill and called out "Mickey is dead", or words to that effect; one of the party remarked "He (meaning me) had better be shot at once and waste no more time."

Mr. Keightley's position was a very critical one. That the bushrangers fully intended to kill him when they found that Burke was dead was proved by their efforts to shoot him when he appeared on the barricaded roof, and their threat that if he did not come down and surrender they would burn the house down.

Mrs. Keightley and the servant woman, who was also on the premises, saw Dr. Pechey knocked down and witnessed the preparations which the bushrangers were making to shoot Mr. Keightley in cold blood; and it goes without saying that they begged hard for his life. It is said that the servant actually threw herself between her employer and one of the bushrangers who had raised his piece to fire at him. In the end his life was spared. Vane was not the leader, and had to swallow his resentment at the command of Hall and Gilbert, neither of whom was more bloodthirsty than the average run of bushrangers. Keightley was removed into the bush, and the leaders remained at the house, while further parleying took place; eventually the bushrangers agreed with Mrs. Keightley to spare her husband's life on condition that the sum of £500 was paid to them. When Dr. Pechey from Rockley he was made aware of the bargain, and informed that it had been arranged that he should ride into Bathurst and get the money from Mrs. Keightley's father, the late Mr. Henry Rotton, of Blackdown. If the money was not handed to them, said Gilbert, between ten and twelve o'clock on the following (Sunday) morning, Mr. Keightley would assuredly be shot; as he would be if during his visit to Bathurst the messenger gave any information to the police. In reply to a question from Dr. Pechey, Hall said they would have the money in £5 notes, and that they had fixed upon £500 as the ransom because that was the sum which Keightley would get for shooting Burke—there being at that time a reward of £500 upon each of their heads. It was then arranged that Mrs. Keightley should go to Bathurst with Dr. Pechey; the horse was caught and harnessed, and the pair started on their urgent mission. Before leaving, however, Mrs. Keightley was allowed to have a brief interview with her husband, who was brought down to the house for the purpose.

MR. AND MRS KEIGHTLEY.

The journey to Bathurst was accomplished in smart time, the reader may be sure, the horse being kept at top speed; but it was two o'clock on the Sunday morning before Blackdown was reached. There was excitement bordering upon consternation in the household when the anxious daughter made known her errand to her father, and then the question arose—How was the money to be obtained? The large sum required was not in the house, and innumerable difficulties might arise to prevent it being obtained in time. The Blackdown squire was known to be a wealthy man, but even wealthy men cannot always lay their hands upon a large sum of money at a moment's notice. An appeal must be made to the bank in Bathurst, and the time spent in waking the bank manager, making explanations, and counting the money would considerably shorten the few hours of grace allowed for the ransom to be paid. And another difficulty presented itself. The object for which the money was required must be kept secret; yet the bank manager must be told, and he might consider it his duty to inform the police before the messenger had got well away with the price of the ransom. There were difficulties and risks on every side, but they were boldly faced and overcome. Fresh horses soon covered the distance between Blackdown and Bathurst, and very shortly after the visitors had poured their tale into his astonished ears notes to the amount required were counted out by the bank manager, and Mr. Rotton and Dr. Pechey were "making the pace" towards Dunn's Plains.

Meanwhile Mr. Keightley was kept a close prisoner by the bushrangers on a rocky hill (known as the Dog Rocks) about a quarter of a mile from his homestead, the spot being chosen because it commanded a view of the Bathurst Road. Here some members of the gang made themselves comfortable for the night, and the others took turn about as sentries, keeping a close watch upon Keightley, who had voluntarily pledged his honour not to make any attempt to escape. When morning dawned the party had breakfast, and then settled down to await events. Seven, eight, nine o'clock passed, and still no signs of the messengers returning. Ten o'clock found the waiting party painfully impatient; but a little later Mr. Rotten and the Doctor drove up to the house, and learned from the inmates that Keightley was with the bushrangers at the Dog Rocks. Alighting from the vehicle they entered the house and Mr. Rotton proposed to take the money to the bushrangers, but this was deemed inadvisable, as the appearance of a stranger on the scene might lead to trouble. As quickly as possible, therefore, the notes were recounted in the house. Mr. Rotton hastily took their numbers with a view of tracing them should they pass into circulation in the district, and then handed them to Dr. Pechey, who mounted his horse and rode to the bushrangers' camp. As he came forward Gilbert met him and asked "Have you brought the money?" "Yes," replied Dr. Pechey, "will you set Mr. Keightley at liberty?" "Come along," Gilbert responded, "he's all safe;" and he conducted Pechey to where his friend was standing under close guard. As soon as Keightley saw him he anxiously repeated the question, "Have you the notes?" For answer Pechey threw the notes to Gilbert, who counted them, found they were all right, and told Keightley he was at liberty. The ransomed man returned hastily to the house, his captors meanwhile leaving the locality with all speed.

After Burke's death, the remaining members of the gang did not concern themselves very much about his body. They saw, however, before they left Dunn's Plains that arrangements had been made to convey the remains to Carcoar, that task being entrusted to one of Mr. Keightley's servant men and another. Concerning the exact manner of Burke's death, it may be here remarked that some people have doubted whether Mr. Keightley shot him at all, and thought the first wound must have been accidentally inflicted by one of his mates. It is certain that the shot which killed him was fired by himself after finding that he had been wounded. On the way to Carcoar the party conveying the body was met by the police, who had received word at Cowra of the attack upon Keightley's house and were making for that locality. There were twelve policemen in the party, and two of these were told off to accompany the men with the body to Carcoar, the other ten proceeding to Rockley, the nearest station to the scene of the outrage. At Carcoar an inquest was held upon the body, which everyone pressed to see. After the inquest the body was handed over for interment to Burke's friends, some of whom made no secret of the fact that they considered the remains they were committing to the grave were those of a hero and a martyr.

After the return of Mr. Keightley and the disappearance of the bushrangers, Mr. Rotton tried to induce the employees at the homestead to go for the police, but in vain. Then he decided to go himself; a horse was brought up from the paddock, and he rode into Rockley and made known at the police station what had occurred. Returning, he started for Bathurst to give information to the authorities there. But the news had already reached Bathurst, and within three or four miles of the town he met a party of mounted troopers pushing forward at full speed for the scene of the outrage. The news had by some means reached Carcoar shortly after breakfast on the Sunday morning. A magistrate of that town at once procured a horse and enlisted the services of a lad to ride post haste to Bathurst, giving him a sealed letter to the police and a written communication to all whom it might concern, requesting that if the bearer should require a fresh horse on the road he might be immediately supplied. Young Bonnor—that was the lad's name—covered the distance between Carcoar and Blayney in very short time, and finding that his horse was fagged he after some difficulty obtained another, and made a fresh start on the road. Within two hours from leaving Carcoar the lad was in Bathurst and the letter delivered to the police, the distance covered being about thirty-five miles. A party of troopers was at once formed and sent off, some of them half inclined to disbelieve the report which had come to them in such a roundabout way; but the meeting with Mr. Rotton dispelled all doubts, and they pushed along the road at a faster pace, while Mr. Rotton continued his journey to Blackdown to assure Mrs. Keightley of the safety of her husband and the faithfulness of the bushrangers to their pledges.

During the same afternoon Mr. Keightley and Dr. Pechey drove into Bathurst, where they received many congratulations on their escape from death at the hands of the bushrangers, and much praise for their courage and heroism. Mrs. Keightley also received a full share of praise, for none but a stout-hearted woman could have maintained her presence of mind sufficiently to assist even her husband under such trying circumstances. The servant woman subsequently received due approbation for the part which she had sustained in the affair; indeed, there was at one time quite a heated public discussion as to which of the ladies was most to be honoured.

There was already a reward of £500 for each of the gang, and Burke's head money was paid by the Government to Mr. Keightley. Two days later the offered reward was increased by the following proclamation, which appeared in most of the newspapers:—

£4000 REWARD,

For the apprehension of JOHN GILBERT, JOHN VANE, JOHN O'MEALLY, and BENJAMIN HALL.

and

£100 REWARD FOR ACCOMPLICES.

Whereas the abovenamed persons are charged with the commission of numerous and serious offences, and have hitherto eluded the efforts to apprehend them: It is hereby notified that the Government will pay a reward of One Thousand Pounds for such information as will lead to the apprehension of each of the offenders named.

The Government will also pay a reward of One Hundred Pounds for such information as will lead to the conviction of any person or persons for harbouring, assisting, or maintaining either of the abovenamed offenders.

All such information communicated by any person charged with the commission of an offence will entitle his case to favourable consideration by the Crown, and will in all cases be regarded by the police authorities as strictly confidential; and in the event of payment of any of the rewards above offered, the name of the recipient will not be disclosed.

The above rewards are offered in lieu of all others previously payable by Government for the apprehension or conviction of the offenders abovenamed.

WILLIAM FORSTER.

Colonial Secretary's Office, October 26, 1863.

In addition to the pecuniary reward, however, Mr. Keightley's services were recognised by the Government by an appointment in the public service as Police Magistrate. He was well fitted for the post, and faithful and efficient service in that capacity proved that the confidence of the authorities had not been misplaced.

While Mr. and Mrs. Keightley were yet in the Bathurst district, the latter was made the recipient ol a handsome present from the ladies of a distant part of the colony, in recognition of her bravery when Hall and his gang visited Dunn's Plains. The present took the form of a handsome silver tea service, upon the chief piece of which were engraved the following words:—"Presented to Mrs. Keightley, by the ladies of Maitland, through Mrs. Mullen, as an appreciation of her heroic conduct in defence of her husband against bushrangers, at Rockley, on Saturday, October 24th, 1863."

But here it is necessary that I should diverge somewhat from the straight course of the narrative, and show how some of the ransom money was traced after it had left the hands of the bushrangers.

THE NUMBERED NOTES, AND HOW THEY WERE FOUND.

It will be remembered that before Mr. Rotton handed over the notes that were given to Gilbert he hurriedly copied their numbers. It was a wise precaution, and fruitful of results. From this list copies were subsequently made and handed to various tradesmen in Bathurst and the neighbourhood, and it was arranged that immediate information should be given to the police if any of the notes were presented at their establishments.

Within a week after, a young man from a district known to be friendly to the gang entered Bathurst, and purchased at different shops a revolver, several boxes of percussion caps, a quantity of Mack crape, seven gold rings, and some articles of clothing. While he was still in the town it was discovered that some of the notes paid away by him corresponded with those on Mr. Rotton's list, and before he had completed his purchase he was apprehended and safely lodged in the lock-up. There were found upon his person the sum of £11, a piece of paper, the seven gold rings, and five invoices of the goods he had purchased at the stores. In his valise were found the revolver, caps, crape, etc., and it was ascertained that out of £35 which the articles had cost, the prisoner had paid away five of the £5 notes given to the bushrangers. Upon the piece of paper was written a memorandum of what the prisoner was to purchase for six different persons, whose names were left blank. The singular and incriminating document ran thus: "For mother, bottle of medicine; for ——, pair of pistols, box of caps, gold ring; for ——, revolver, box of caps, gold ring", and so on. One other article was found in his possession—a piece of used blotting paper, bearing on it the words "Patrick Burke"—the name of the father of the bushranger who had met his death at Keightley's hands. The arresting constable charged him with receiving the notes, "knowing them to have been stolen", and the prisoner made no reply to the charge. It was afterwards elicited that the young fellow was a cousin of Vane's, and it was publicly stated that the father of the dead bushranger, Burke, was connected in some way with his family.

As may be supposed, the news of his arrest caused great excitement in Bathurst and its immediate neighbourhood, and for a time even the bushrangers and their doings were forgotten. In due course the prisoner was brought up at the police court charged with receiving stolen property, and was committed to stand his trial at the following Bathurst Circuit Court, at which he was found guilty.

The Chief Justice, after making some impressive remarks upon the enormity of the offence, and expressing an earnest hope that the crime of bushranging would now effectually cease, sentenced the prisoner to five years' hard labour on the roads, or other public works of the colony.

There was an appeal to the Full Court in Sydney on some legal technicalities: but their Honours were of opinion that the conviction should be sustained.

The news of the ruling was received with joy in Bathurst, as it tended to intimidate the already too bold friends of the gang, who had their doors ever open to receive the bushrangers and their hands ever open to receive the bushrangers' ill-gotten gains.

THE SURRENDER OF JOHNNY VANE.

After leaving Dunn's Plains, Hall, Gilbert, O'Meally and Vane rode across the bush in the direction of Carcoar, calling in to see some of their friends on the way. They stayed long enough in this locality to quarrel amongst themselves; but the cause of the quarrel has never been made known, although its results were most startling to the public. In a letter from a gentleman at Carcoar which now lies before me, and which is dated 27th October, 1863, I find the following sentences: "I have heard that Vane was seen alone at the back of Mount Macquarie (a prominent district landmark near the town), and again at the foot of Mount Fitzgerald, on both occasions well armed...Gilbert, Hall and O'Meally supposed to have cleared out. Vane still at the back of the Mount—was at Number One school yesterday and had a black eye given him by Gilbert—says he got not a sixpence of Keightley's ransom money."

How the quarrel between Vane and his mates originated was never clearly explained, but whatever the reason, within three weeks from the time of Burke's death, Vane yielded himself up to the authorities.

When riding through the bush in the direction of the Abercrombie Ranges, the Rev. Father McCarthy—one of the pioneer priests of the Bathurst and Carcoar districts, whose genial good nature and zealous labours made him most popular with the residents, particularly those scattered through the isolated parts which seldom or ever saw the face of priest or parson, other than his—happened to fall in with Vane. There was mutual recognition, for the good priest was well acquainted with the bushranger's family—although not of his flock, for they were Presbyterians—and a long conversation ensued. The substance of that conversation never transpired, but the reader can imagine how earnestly Father McCarthy pleaded with Vane to forsake the course which was keeping the community in a state of terror, breaking the heart of his mother, and leading him to certain death. They parted, and before the day closed Father McCarthy told Mrs. Vane that he had met her son. The poor woman wept bitterly, pouring out her troubles in the presence of her sympathetic listener, and bemoaning the dreadful circumstances in which her boy had placed himself and her. Before leaving, Father McCarthy advised the disconsolate mother to seek an interview with her son in the bush and beseech him to surrender, pointing out that by so doing he would be likely to win favour which could not otherwise be extended. Mrs. Vane promised to do this, and without delay she sought her son in his retreat and pleaded with him only as a mother could. Her prayers and tears were effectual, and in sorrowful joy she returned to send a message to Father McCarthy, to the effect that her erring son desired another interview in order to make arrangements for his surrender. Within a few hours the priest and the bushranger were again together, and in the latter's hiding place these arrangements were completed. Vane agreeing to meet his newly-found friend at a certain spot before midnight, and accompany him to the headquarters of the police at Bathurst.

At eleven o'clock that night the bushranger faithfully presented himself at the place appointed, where Father McCarthy was already in waiting. A start was made for Bathurst, forty miles away, through the bush; they reached it before five o'clock next morning, their chief anxiety being to enter the town unobserved. A brief rest at the Fitzroy Arms in George-street; a short consultation between Father McCarthy and his venerable superior. Dean Grant; a message to Dr. Palmer, the Police Magistrate, and another message to Superintendent Morrissett; the formal surrender of Vane to the latter; a quiet walk to the gaol gates—and the Bathurst residents woke up to learn that Vane had voluntarily surrendered and was safely domiciled in the gaol on the central Square.

In due course he was brought before the local bench of magistrates, when three charges of robbery under arms were preferred against him, and two charges of shooting with intent to kill. Evidence in each case was given, and the prisoner, who made no defence, was fully committed on each separate charge to take his trial at the next Bathurst Circuit Court, to be held in April of the following year.

JOHN VANE.

Vane had been five months in gaol—bail had not been sought, and would not have been granted—when the Assize Court to which he had been committed opened. Sir Alfred Stephen, Chief Justice, presided, and as several very important cases besides those against Vane were set down for trial, nearly all the leading members of the bar attended, the circuit work of prominent barristers in those days being quite as heavy and quite as remunerative as that of the Judges. Mr. Edward Butler acted as Crown Prosecutor. Bathurst was full of people and the people were full of excitement, to the no small benefit of the hotel keepers.

When Vane was placed in the dock his personal appearance was made the subject of general remark. He was a good-looking young fellow, and in the slimness of his build was a typical Western "native." Those who expected to see a repulsive-looking desperado of the Bill Sykes type were disappointed—no doubt pleasingly—for there was nothing repulsive-looking about him, and the court visitors could scarcely believe that the youth before them was the daring bushranger who had assisted in keeping the countryside in terror and for so long set the law and its officers at defiance.

Mr. Dalley had been retained for the defence, and it was no doubt under his advice that the prisoner pleaded guilty to being concerned in the raids on Caloola, Grubbenbong, and Canowindra, and the attack on Mr. Keightley. To a fifth charge, concerning the sticking up of the mail coach near Carcoar and the shooting of Constable Sutton, he pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Dalley's defence was able and successful, and the jury acquitted Vane on this charge—the more readily, perhaps, because they knew that for other offences he would receive punishment commensurate with his crimes.

As the hour was late, his Honour ordered the prisoner to be removed and brought up for sentence on the following day; but knowing that many of his relatives were in the court, in order to ease their minds, he announced that the sentence he should pass would not be death.

On the following day the Court was again crowded, and shortly after the Chief Justice had taken his seat Vane was called up to receive sentence. Before judgment was pronounced Mr. Dalley pleaded with the judge for leniency, urging prisoner's youth in extenuation, and referring to the fact that he had borne a good character before abandoning himself to lawless pursuits and that he had given himself up and shown true contrition for his crimes. He also called several prominent public men to bear testimony to the fact that Vane, prior to becoming a bushranger, had been a most exemplary young man.

His Honour, after a long address, passed sentence as follows:—For the outrage at Dunn's Plains, 15 years' hard labour on the roads or other public works of the colony, and for each of the other three offences 10 years' hard labour—the sentences to be concurrent.

It is right that a word or two should be said concerning the subsequent action of the good priest through whose instrumentality the district was freed from the presence of this member of the notorious gang. Father McCarthy was entitled to the reward of £1000 which the Government had offered for the capture of Vane. He did not accept that reward. In his ministerial capacity he had effectively preached repentance to the sinner, and the consciousness of having done his duty was reward sufficient In another case, yet to be recorded, in which a bushranger not connected with Hall's gang was concerned, he was instrumental in recovering for one of the banks some £2000 in notes which had been stolen from one of the Western mails. The bank had offered £100 reward for the recovery of the notes, but Father McCarthy refused to accept that reward also. The act was characteristic of the man, who in his priestly office laboured for something more precious and more enduring than earthly treasure.