THE BUSHRANGER GARDINER IN QUEENSLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1194, 9 February 1864, Page 3

THE BUSHRANGER GARDINER IN QUEENSLAND.

The Queensland correspondent of the ' G-eelong Advertiser' writes to that journal as follows Frank Gardiner, the celebrated New South Wales bushranger, has gone north, and doubtless lie is on for a "little game" after the free and easy fashion he adopted in the neighbouring colony Of course, in the face of so many conflicting reports as are circulated in New South W ales and Victoria, in connection with this notorious character, I do not expect that universal credit will be given to the statement here made; nevertheless, I place it against all the reports of Frank Gardiner's death and secret departure to "foreign parts." I rank Gardiner has been in Queensland lor the past ten months at least. He has moved about Brisbane occasionally in the most open manner and with perfect nonchalance. He has been amongst the police, and has not been recognised, though they have one photograph at least of him in their possession. I have seen the photograph 1 ia\o seen the original, so I am in a position to spea i with certainty. I have also read the description of him in the Hue and Cry and lolice Gazette. There is this much to be said in excuse of the police, that Gardiner is bucli an adept at disguising himselt (' making up is the theatrical phrase) that he will intioduce himself to a man at any time and meet him again in an hour afterwards so chall *® as to defy recognition. Ho has appeared like a local preacher, with suit of seedy■ > »<-•> white cravat and spectacles; as a lollick squatter, in loudest modern athre ;, a rough buslimau and stockrider, Ciimean shirt, tights, long boots and dirty cabbage tree. But it is not y j er _ alone that he disguises himself, he undt stands how to change his complexion and h hair moustache and beard. It appears i.i ho is prepared to challenge detect,on by late mates, except, perhaps, <lilbeit with whom he had a difference before } oavir " SZ South Wales, Gilbert is talkative and indiscreet, while Gardiner is close, or, as the hrase «oes, " dark " to his companions. As m instance of the capers Gardmf un to here I may mention that a well known courtesan iilled" Madeline Smith tadl to be the lady of Glasgow notoriety) was before the police court some time ago, and

while in the dock ainan was leaning over the back of it, and suggesting to her what to say to the bench. The attendant constable turned himawayfrointhedocMellinghiinthatnobody must interfere with the accused. He apologised laughingly, and remained iu court; and afterwards (I am assured) became bail for her. That mail was Frank Gardiner. Again he opened an account in one of the city banks. There is a woman here of whom I have before written, a Mrs. Winch, who has been in gaol two or three times, and first for killing her husband with a pair of scissors at Rockhampton. She was for a short time a favored friend of Gardiner. Whether or not they are together now, I do not know. As they lady belongs to the north, they may be. Some time ago there were paragraphs iu the Brisbane papers setting forth that one of the men concerned in the terrible escort robbery in Now South Wales was up here in the service of a member of the Legislature, who is a large squatter. I have been told since that the man referred to was Chartres, the 4 Queen's evidence' at the trial of Bow and others who were convicted at Sydney. I have also heard that another man, in whose house the bushrangers often lived in the vicinity of Burrangong, has honored Queensland with his presence.

A few days ago a Melbourne contemporary stated that the bushranger Gardiner,and a gentleman who formerly filled the office of Inspector of Police at Castlemaine (and after whom a street here is named) was one and the same man. Whether that is true or not we cannot decide, but a document has been handed to us by one of our oldest magistrates, from which we gather the following : ; —About six or seven years ago a man named Harry Smith was tried at the Avoca for robbing his mate of £15, and, being found " guilty," was sentenced to five years' hard labour on the roads. As was then usual, the prisoners rested at Castlemaine, and a recognition took place on the part of Captain Evans (who was then also stationed here) of Harry Smith. The inspector was painfully aware of the discovery made. The prisoner went into the penal establishment, and was afterwards tried as the man who struck Mr. Price, the inspector of penal establishments, the blow with the spade. By a flaw he was acquitted. Harry Smith and the Inspector's brother are one man. Query.—Has he been discharged, aud is lie supposed to be the Gardiner our contemporary stated the former inspector to be ? —Mount Alexander Mail.