DARING OUTRAGE AT BALLARAT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 52, 28 October 1863, Page 3

DARING OUTRAGE AT BALLARAT.

About a quarter to nine o'clock on Friday night two bushrangers, with their faces masked, alighted from their horses and tied them to the fence near the toll-gate on the Raglan road, within two miles of Ballarat. One of the men shouted ' gate,' which caused the toll-collector, Mr Harman, to go out, whereupon one of the robbers presented a revolver at him, and demanded his money. Harman refused to comply with the request, and struck the robber heavily on the face with his fist, knocking off the mask with the violence of the blow. Harman was about to retire into the toll-house, when he found his retreat cut off by the second scoundrel. A desperate conflict ensued, during which the robbers beat Harman frightfully about the head. He retreated into the toll-house, where the struggle was continued, amid cries from the thieves of l where is your money.' In the struggle some of Harman's teeth were knocked out and his jaw dislocated. He received several severe cuts about the head and face, and was more or less injured about the body. The rascals having got the gatekeeper down, with a pair of horse hobbles, or as they are described ' leg bolts,' manacled Harman. One of them kept guard over him while the other searched the place, and even Harman's person. From his trousers pocket a sum of £3 in silver was taken. A purse containing some money belonging to the Road Board, and received as toll, escaped their notice, by Harman blowing out the light some time before, and placing a box on top of the purse on the table. Observing two guns in the place, they took possession of them and Harman's watch, which was hanging up on a nail. They then locked Harman in, mounted their horses, and rode into Ballarat. Harman, on hearing some persons going by, gave the alarm, and the police were immediately communicated with, who, on going to the spot discovered the two guns and the masks worn by the robbers on the side of the load leading into Ballarat. Harman was removed to the house of Dr. Nicholson, where he now lies in a sad state, every person being excluded seeing him by his medical attendant. He is a powerful man, and the resistance he offered to the robbers has been the theme of conversation during the last two days. His medical attendant informs us that ofter Harman was locked in, he managed to file asunder the chain connecting the hobbles on his ancles, and then with bare feet and head managed to crawl down Sturt-street to give information to the police and obtain medical attendance. Arrived at about opposite the Theatre Royal, he met a police constable, who went for Dr. Nicholson, to whose house the sufferer was subsequently removed. The injuries he has received are numerous and of severe character. Besides his being greatly contused by kicks and other similar violence, the injuries of the head arc as follows:-—Four injuries on the back ot the head, three of which are to the skull, and one of an aggravated character to the front of the head—the bone being denuded. The jaw is severely injured if not dislocated, and several teeth are knocked

out The small building; in which the fierce struggle took place, presented a frightful scene, nearly every article of furniture in the place being broken, and the wsills being covered with blood. This daring outrage in the midst of a populous district, on a highway and within an easy distance of the town shows the desperate character of the ruffians who planned it, and we only hope the polieo will, before long, be able to give a good account of theiri. Sinco writing the above we learn that the chairman of the Ballarat road board, on hearing of the brutal outrage, summoned as many members of the board as could be conveniently brought together on a short notice, when it was decided to offer a reward of fifty pounds for such information as may lead to the conviction of the offenders, and to request the bench of magistrates at Learmouth to recommend the Chief Secretary to offer a similar sum. The secretary of the board, who had been employed during Saturday taking steps to promote apprehension of the persons implicated and in attending on Mr. Harman, the wounded collector, was requested to return at once to Ballarat to visit Mr. Harmau on behalf of the board, and to make such arrangements for him as were necessary."— Ballarat Star, Sept. 5.