THE CAREER OF "STARLIGHT."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE CAREER OF "STARLIGHT."

Th" career of the "Major" Pelly. in Perth, who has since, been identified as the "Starlight" of the early days, is interesting. It is told by the man Polly, who was an inmate of the same prison as Starlight foi* many years, and whose name Starlight assumed on his liberation.

"The facts of his life, as given to nuby himself," wrote Felly to the West Australian authorities, "as far as my memory now serves to reproduce them, are these: His proper name was Frank Pearson. Ho Avas born in Mexico, of a Spanish mother and Irish father, and received a great part of his education at the Propaganda, koine. He left after the death of his mother, and came to Australia, the precise date I cannot remember. Of his liftin Australia before ISG. I can give no particulars. In that year he joined

A GANG OF BUSHRANGERS, of which lie became the recognised leader, until the sticking up of Keightley's station, when, owing to his opposition to bloodshed, which some of the others demanded, there was a split in the gang-. Henceforth Pearson, or, as he was better known, 'Starlight,' was associated with a young fellow named Rutherford. His life afterwards, up to the time of his arrest, is, I believe, accurately described in Rolf Boldrewood's novel, ' 'Robbery Under Arms,' excep/ing the final catastrophe. I have read the book, and I belieA'e the author had the facts supplied by "Starlight" himself. However, he told me that there w*as a reward of £1000 offered for himself and £SOO for his friend Rutherford, when on a Sunday evening they were surrounded by tho police while drinking or dancing at a public house, and in making their escape 'Starlight' -was shot through the shoulder. Finding that things-were becoming rather hot for them, 'Starlight,' after haA*ing reached his hiding-place, and having bound his wounds, sent Rutherford to "one French Charlie's, who was their banker, and a 'ci-devant' convict, to obtain booty deposited with him, in order that they might decamp from a region rather impleasant. It Avas early in the morning when Rutherford reached the Frenchman's shanty, and he found him dispensing .spirits to customers. Having apprised Charlie of the object of his visit, the Frenchman whispered to him to "STICK UP" THE BAR. He turned round to do so in Flic usual way, when the Frenchman, actuated no doubt by greed, throttled him from behind. In the struggle Rutherford's reA'olver went off, and he was shot througn the- brain. -His confederate, not returning when expected, Pearson or 'Starlight' failing to find bis horse, proceeded to a station close by. where he was in "the act of accepting the hospitality and medical assistance of the female inmates, /when the owner drove up to the door. Seeing Avho was in the house, he handed him a newspaper, and bade him decamp. The newspaper contained an account of Rutherford's death and of the information given by French Charlie to the police. 'Starlight' went to the Frenchman's house during the- night, piled dry brushwood all round it, and stayed in front of the only outlet with a loaded revolver, after having set fire to the place. The Frenchman, however, decamped, and 'Starlight' had much difficulty in saving a woman and two children who had taken refug*. in the house.

" 'Starlight' then went to the station of a man named Smith, Avhich he stuck up. and demanded that a horse should be saddled for him. Until this was done he placed the proprietor and six men in a hut, at the door of which he stood on guard. While things were in this position a sergeant and two mounted police rode up and fired on 'Starlight.' He returned the 'fire, aiid shot one of the policeman dead. In the meantime the men who were in the hut, scared no doubt by the firing, burst the back door out of the hut. while 'Starlight' in the smoke and confusion managed to escape into some scrub, where he Avas subsequently captured with liis thigh-bone-broken and other wounds. Pie was taken to Bathurst and sentenced to death some time afterwards. His sentence, however, was commuted to imprisonment for life. He served 1C years and four months of this sentence in Parramatta and Darlinghurst Gaols, and was released in ISS-I."