CAPTURING AN OUTLAW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

CAPTURING AN OUTLAW.

Some twenty years ago the country known as the Maryborough district of Queensland was held in terror by a famous bushranger named Williams, who, in spite of the numerous attempts made by the police and others, tempted by tho large rewards offered for his capture, dead or alive, to secure him, still remained master of the situation, and robbed Her Majesty's mails, and private parties travelling through tho country. Such a terror had his name bocomo that he hardly ever met with resistance in these depredations. Finally there appeared in the town of G a young, well-dressed man, who, going to the chief of police of tho district, asked him what reward was offered for Williams' capture. "Five thousand pounds," said the chief. " Very well," said Brock, for that was the young man's name, "if I secure him you will hand me over £5000?" "Yes," said the chief, "it is the reward offered by the Government, but I warn you, it is a matter of almost certain death, and I advise you to keep out of it.

"All right," said Brock, "I'll take care of myself," and, leaving tho chief to ruminate upon the follies and conceits of youth, he procured a couple r*,f horses, one of which he used as a pack- orse to carry provisions and cooking utensils, and then proceeded to a friend of his, a doctor, to whom he confided his scheme, and procured from him a strong drug, which ho mixed with some brandy in a large flask, which he carried in his pocket. He then changed his clothes for a rough pair of breeches, flannel shirt, and a much-worn, dirty old hat, and, evading his friends, whom he knew would be sure to want to know whore he was going, and ask a hundre T questions, which ho did not want to answer, for had it become generally known that he was going to capture Williams, there would have been" too much talk, which he wished to avoid. Tho next morning, before daybreak, he started oil' on his dangerous mission, arriving in about two days in the district where Williams reigned supremo. For two or three days he wandered about, not meeting a soul, but on tho evening of the fourth day he camped under a clump of trees, and started a tire to cook his supper, as well as to attract the attention of the robber should he be anywhere in the neighbourhood, when ho was suddenly startled by a man standing by his side, whom ho knew by the description he had of him to be none other than Williams himself.

" By George !" said Brock, " you made me jump ! It's lonely in the bush by onesself at night." "Yes," said Williams, " 1 reckon it is, and it takes some nerve for a man to be travelling about these parts alone, with such men as Williams hanging about." "Oh," said Brock, "such as I have nothing to fear from him. 1 have nothing to be robbed of, and I daresay that, as the devil is generally painted blackei than lie really is, Williams is in reality a pretty good sort of chap, and, by jovo ! he could tell some good stories if he chose. Did you ever see him ?" " Scores of times." said Williams, "and, as you say, he ain't half as bad a chap as they make out." " Hut I was forgetting," said Brock. " I have no; offered you any supper ; won't you have some? I can give you a rasher of bacon and some tea, with a drop of good brands to wash it down " Williams said he reckoned ho would •avo some supper, and in the meantime, if he had it handy, lie would take a pull at the brandy, just to give him a good appetite, whereupon Brock, produc ing his flask, handed ib to him, saving, "Go easy, old man ; you know that stuff is pie cious in these parts." "All right," said Williams, "I'll go easy," and took a few mouthfuls of it, and settled down by the tire, while Brook was cooking supper. When Williams had eaten what he wanted, and drank his tea, he produced a pipe and began smoking and talking about things in general, till he began to get very drowsy, and Brock saw with joy that the drugged brandy was beginning to take effect, when he quietly pulled out his flask again, pretending to take a good gulp. when Williams roused up, and seeing him drinking, said, "Cad! drink fair! You thought I was asleep, but 1 wasn't. Pass the bottle."

"All right, here you are," said Brock. passing him tho flask, and Williams took another pull at the drugged brandy. Iff then tried to rouse himself up a bit, and for a time kept up assort of desultory kind of conversation, but bit by bit. his eyelids began to close in spite of his efforts to keep •awake, and in a very short lime lie was in a deep stupor. This was Brock's chance, and, getting up quietly, he got out of his pack a pair of handcuff's and leg manacles, and in a very few minutes had him secured and disarmed. He then sat down and waited for daylight, and when it came, started oil' post-haste to the nearest station, where he procured a waggon and assistance. On his return to his camp) he found Williams awake, and swearing vengeance on the man who had played such a trick on him, but he was perfectly powerto do any harm, and Brock had the satisfaction of seeing his scheme successfully caried out, and a clay or two later astonished the chief of the police by walking into his oflice with the man that they thought would never bo taken. Brock received, in addition to the Government reward of £5000, numerous other rewards from tho settlers, and was always known thereafter as " tho only man who could take Williams."