A FORMIDABLE LIST OF CRIMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 18 January 1901, Page 5

A FORMIDABLE LIST OF CRIMES.

The Governors began their desperate career by murdering, on the evening of Saturday, July 21, four persons at Breelonsi', about IT miles from Gilgandra. Miss Kerz, Miss Hilda Mawbey. Percy Mawbey, and Miss Grace Mawbey were killed, and Miss Eisie Clarke and Mrs. Mawbey seriously injured. The latter, in a statement made soon afterwards to the police, attributed the murders to Jimmy and Joe Governor (two half-caste aboriginals), and two black fellows. Efforts were at once put forth by the police to arrest the supposed criminals, who lied towards Mundooran. Two of the fugitives were soon arrested, but Jimmy and Joe Governor eluded all efforts to capture them until fourteen week?; after Ihe lireelong affair. Meanwhile a formidable list of offences had been charged to the runaways. N'irie people had been murdered and four wounded. Pursuers were fired at several times, many dwellings were robbed, one homestead was burnt, horses hail been stolen, and a large area of the colony was terrorised. Commencing from lireelong, the scene of the first outbreak, the blacks tied eastward, with police and civilians in pursuit, and on Sun- | day. July :.':.'. they exchanged shots at Rocky Holes, 50 miles from Hreelong. On Ihe following day two houses were stuck up near Gulgong, the inmates being threatened wilh death. On the same day, according to the story of Mrs. McKay, of Sportsman's Hollow, two miles from Clan, her husband was killed, and she was wounded by Jimmy Governor and another aboriginal.'Next, day (July 24) Mrs O'Brien and her child were killed, aud a nurse, Mrs Rennetf. was wounded at Poggie, 24 miles from McKay's house. Meanwhile, Jacks' Underwood, who was stated to have separated from the Governors at Rocky Hole, was arrested by civilians al Lc-adville. On July 25 the offenders stole a horse from Kearney's, seven miles from Poggie, and rifles and ammunition from Hughes'. Xi miles uearerWollar. At the inquest held on the Hreelong victims, verdicts of wilful murder were returned against Jimmy Governor. Joe Governor, and others. A verdict of wilful murder of -A. McKay was brought in against Jimmy Governor and another. The Government now offered it reward of £200 each for tlie capture of tlie two Governors. On Thursday, July 20, Kerin Fit/.paf rick, aged TO. was murdered near Wollar, and ai tin* subsequent inquest a verdict of wilful murder was returned against persons unknown. A Chinaman's hut. near Mudgee. was robbed on July lit), and on the afternoon of the following 'lay the two Governors were surprised at a meal at Two-mile Flat, near Yamble, and left behind them a coat, pipe, and tea and sugar. By this time ]ar»e parties of police and ctr ilia ns were in pursuit. Foi- nearly a week no definite information of the runaways was obtained, the tracks having- been lost near Goolmah. Other outrages followed, and tin' Government Increased the reward to £1000 each for the capture of the Governors. Then followed the outlawry proceedings. The Governors travelled over 200 D miles in their flight. The Governor blacks committed close upon 80 crimes—nine people brutally murdered, four seriously wounded, and :t young girl outraged; on five different occasions citizens were fired upon, and the police were fired upon four time"?; r»fi huts were stuck up and robbed, one homestead burned, and they committed nine highway robberies under arms.