MORGAN THE BUSHRANGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9188, 18 October 1888, Page 6

MORGAN THE BUSHRANGER.

AN EPISODE IN HIS CAREER. As it was in this part of the colony (says the Jerilderie and Urana Advertiser) that the bloodthirsty bushranger Morgan ran unchecked for some years, the following copy of a letter, sent to a friend in Melbourne by a lady who was an eye-witness of the sticking'up of Round Hill in June, 1564, will be read with interest" Round Hill, June 24, 1864. Messrs. , Melbourne. Dear Sirs,—l regret to say that Morgan has visited us, and shot amongst the men and wounded four; one has expired this morning, named McLean. The unfortunate circumstance took place on Sunday afternoon about two o'clock- Morgan came here in a state of mad franzy. It appears he had just escaped the police- They found Morgan in a shepherd's hut on an adjoining station; the police then had a hot and sharp encounter for four miles, but unfortunately for us Morgan escaped and presented himself to us. Ha first inquired for Mr. Watson, who was in the overseor's hut at the time with the overseer, McNeil, Mr. John Herriot, and the deceased, who had been attending to the store cattle. Morgan presented his revolver to them and ordered them to stand, and asked for cash. As they had none, he then demanded grog, with a revolver at Mr. Watson's head. He came and saw what we had. He made them all drink, and drank himself a little, assuring us he would do us no harm if we left him alone ; neither would he take anything from us. He partook of lunch, and told us of his encounter that morning with the troopers. Morgan told us the only animosity he had towards us waa the accommodation we gave the police. ' Why not charge them for their rations?' he said. He then took all the men outside into the stable-yard, where they were joined by the men who were working at tho woolshed; he then had them to drink with him, be having brandy on his own parson (he had told us previously that he had been drinking hard for a whole week). Morgan then asked the men if they had anything against Mr. Watson, and they all saia they were perfectly satisfied (at this time he had them all in the cart shed). He fired his revolver over their heads. He then ordered his horse, and when he was in the act of mounting his horse shied, and by some accident his own revolver went off. Morgan thought someine had shot at him. He then commenced to fire right and left with a revolver in each hand. Oh, I saw it all! Poor young Herriot was shot the first, the ball passing through his shin bone and bruising another man's foot. The next shot hit Mr. Watson, the ball passing through the fleshy part of his right stair 1 u. ..His other shots missed. He declared, had shoot. Mr. Watson, who, he to understand that it was uhnt we got him and that no one had raised a hanft', a more shot at him. He (Morgan) then assisted to bind the wounded and bring them in. He assured us that ho never intended to harm us, but that the police and drink had made him mad, and he scarcely knew what he had done. But the most fatal part of the affray is this : McLean suggested to Morgan the advisability of medical assistance. He assented, and told him he would accompany him on the road. They went together for two miles towards Walla Walla, when Morgan exclaimed, ' You wretch, you are goiner to give information,' and shot him through the body. Morgan then brought him back, and said he did not understand who could have shot him, as he himself did not, making it out that he had three more ' armed men with him (this he told us at first, saving, ' Don't attempt to rush me ; I have three armed men within call.') Poor M'Lean lived in fearful agony till this morning; he expired at one o'clock, sensible to the last moment, and positive to his being shot by Morgan. Therefore, gentlemen, you may better imagine our position here than I can describe it. Mr. Watson's wound is going on I trust favourably. Poor Herriot is removed to the hospital in Albury, so by the blessing of Almighty God, I trust all will still be well and the unhappy Morgan secured, for he is no longer a bushranger, but a drunken madman. The police were on the spot an hour after his departure, as usual too late ; two parties being campod by, but we did not {enow at the time.-rr-Yours, &c., ■- <<■■■."