THE BLACK MURDERERS' CAREER.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 48, 2 February 1842, Page 4

THE BLACK MURDERERS' CAREER.

The following authentic and interesting account of the murders and depredations committed by the two Van Diemen's Land males, known as Bob and Jack, and their three lubras, or wives, and the account of their capture, has been kindly given us by one of tbe mounted police, who assisted in their capture, and, indeed, was the man who had the honor of first seizing one of the villains in his attempt to escape. A party, consisting of Mr. Powlet, six of the border and three of the mounted police, and seven Port Phillip natives, started in pursuit of the black murderers on Saturday week last followed by nine of the soldiers, (under the command of Lieutenant Ralston,) the next day, who joined the party at Mr. Jamieson's station. The blacks had committed a robbery at Mr. Anderson's station the day the military arrived, and were from thence, at once traced to near the Coal Mine, about thirty miles through a scrubby country, the police in pursuit being without food two days and one night. About sundown onFri- ' day last, they got within a mile of the murderers, and encamped, there all night. At day break in the morning, the party succeeded in surrounding the spot where the blacks were lying asleep, and immediately fired a shot over their heads, at the sound of which Jack cried out, " Oh ! murder," ■when the whole five, consisting of Jack, Bob, and the three women, rushed into an adjoining scrub, thinking themselves once more secure, but unfortunately/or them the scrub into which they rushed for shelter, was within the spot surrounded by the military ; several shots having been fired at Jack, they surrendered without resistance, and were forthwith handcuffed and secured by the legs. On searching the spot where they were taken, and several other "plants" afterwards, there were found five single barrelled guns, three double ditto, four pistols, one of them with a spring bayonet, the latter known to be the property of Mr. Mercer. All the fire arms were, loaded, some with stones. The prisoners have told the police of all the depredations committed by them, and admitted that they had murdered the two sailors whose remains, as previously noticed in the papers, were found near the Coal Mine. The blacks took the police to the graves of these unfortunate victims of cold-blooded atrocity, when the grave was opened and the bodies found : the < wretches said that they had murdered the sailors, «■ thinking they were Mr. Watson and his son-in-law, Mr. Jinman, who had shot at them when they robbed their house only a few hours before. Jack told the party that he shot one of the sailors ■ .with St. gun through the breast, who immediately fell dead ; and Bob said that he fired at the second ■with slugs, and wounded him in three places, but notwithstanding the poor tellow was able to run if&bout twenty yards till he came to the body of his , compaaion, when he immediately fell upon his knees,-and begged hard for his life, but one of the .women, named Truckanniny (Bob's wife,) and Jack, came up with two roots of a tree, and beat his brains out! During this horrid scene one of the sticks broke In two, and was pointed out by the murderers lying by the grave of the murdered; the sticks are in charge of Mr. Powlet. They have confessed to nine roberies, and to having shot, besides - the two-sailors, four men, viz. Mr. Watson, Mr, Westway, a man from Thomas' station, who is dangerously wounded in the shoulder, and expected in town to-day, and the fourth victim has apiece of his chin shot off. The villains 41 sprung several plants" to the police, when a fow-Jing-pieGe belonging to Mr. Cobb, and a shooting jacket and some bed curtains, the property of Dr. Anderson, were recovered, The prisoners seem to treat the whole affair with great levity, and answer freely and openly every question put to them relative to their brutal and murderous career. A copper bullet mould was taken from them capable of easting fifty balls at a time. The prisoners are fixpected-ia town to-day at twelve o'clock, nine , soldiers having been left behind to escort them into Melbourne. These villains have only been •■■<?. in the bush" six weeks. When first pounced upon, notwithstanding their oft repeated boast •thatthey *' would not betaken alive," the fellows trembled in every joint, and seemed dreadfully ' frightened, but soon, .recovered their presence of mind, and impudence. Among the robberies confessed to as having been perpetrated by these •wretches, we may enumerate those of Mr. Horsefal, of Dandenong, from whom they stole a fowlingpiece; this was their fir&t robbery. They next robbed Mr. Ordon, having previously fired several shots through the roof of the house,, with the intention of setting fire to it; one shot was fired through the door, as they thought they saw a man peeping through the key-hole, but fortunately the inmates, consisting of two men,slipped a slabout at the back of the building, and made their escape into the adjoining scrub; the villains finding itimpossible to obtain adniiss on by the door, crept -down the chimney, and stole 150 lbs. flour, and a bag of ] sugar. Their third exploit was at the station of Mr. Munday, from whom they took some firearms when the men were absent at their work. They'next paid a visit to Mr. Allen's station, from svhich they stole some more fire-arms, and three

kangaroo dogs. Their fifth robbery was at Mr. Armstrong't station, when they shot Mr. Westway under the following circumstances: Bob's story is, that about half an hour after sundown, Mr. Westway and another man were sitting by a fire under a tree in conversation, when Bob deliberately shot at him with a musket loaded with ball, and hit Mr. W. in the shoulder; they then decamped and returned shortly afterwards and fired at Mr. Westway's companion and wounded him slightly; the white men, however, succeeded in getting away by hiding, themselves behind the trees, and the blacks then robbed the tent of some fire arms, clothes, and a valuable cloak of Mr. Westway's, and about £22 in notes, which, Bob says Jack afterwards burned. They afterwards committed several depredations of less note, and wound up their career of crime on the day before they were captured, by robbing the Messsrs Anderson in the following manner :—The fellows (blacks) arrived at Anderson's station about 3 p.m., and having watched the men leave the house after the their dinner, they entered and found inside only Mrs. Bailey, and the superintendent's wife, another woman, and a child. They first turned the two women out of the house, and Jack stood sentry over them; Bob then robbed the premises of three fowling-pieces, three bags shot, and a quantity of flour and sugar. One of the women began to cry for the child which was left inside, and begged that it might be given to her. Jack said he would not hurt the child, but desired her to be off, presenting, at the same time his piece at her; the woman then ran off to call the men, but before they came up, the blacks, with their booty, managed to effect their retreat. These villains, it is expected will be tried at the present sittings of the Criminal Court, which opens to day.— Port Phillip Paper.