A STRANGE STORY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 304, 14 April 1877, Page 4

A STRANGE STORY.

A man named Roderick llaaion (says tlx* Wellington Argu»} t who is now in Wellington, makes tike following statement :

About three yean ago I went on a visit to Mew South Wales t*» see that colony. WMte travelling through the interior, and having reached the west Began No. 6 Cattle Station, in the occupation of a. family named Neill, together with their brother-in-law, Hugh Menohon, I was robbed of what 1 was possessed in money and wearing apparel. This occurred on Wednesday, January 19, 1876, about 9 tun. The names of those who robbed me went John Neill, Robert Neill, Hugh Monohon, and a person who had arrived two days before wieh a baggy. My murder was, doubtless, intended on that night, and a fire lit to receive my remains. However, 1 fortunately escaped to Mr. Richardson's, at Dock Creek, about two and a half miles distant. My four ■mums followed me through the bush. X was promised assistance by a person residing at Mr. Richardson's and protection by the same, in which he failed, and joined my pursuers as an accomplice. On the morning of the 20th my ill-usage again commenced. I was hunted op and down in front of the house. 1 eluded my pursuers by dodging round a box tree, for 1 knew that if I once left the sight of men who were working at a sawmill about 300 yards distant and took to the bash, my death would be certain. The night of the 20th X passed in two outhouses, about 400 yards from the house. None of the men engaged on the sawmill gave me assistance. On the morning of the 21st, Air. Richardson's overseer, by name Rogers, with his. at ©reman, brought two buckets of water and a rope, with an iron ring in it. The overseer took the water from the storeman, and threw it in my face, and then placing the rope about my neck (having beaten me on the head with the iron ring, marks of which remain to the present day), led me into the stable, saying he should hang me. 1 was detained there all the 21st without food or water. During the night a chain was put about my arms, and my pursuer's treachery getting abroad amongst the men employed on the sawmill, a policeman was procured to bring a fictitious charge against me, by which means I should be obliged to quit the place. January 22nd 1 was taken in charge, and brought down a back creek in a spring cart to Caninbar Lock-up. During my journey the Neill's made many attempts to take my life, riding armed on horseback. I was kept in Caninbar Lock'up until January 2i>th. On Saturday, January 29, the same policeman took me to a small township named Warren, tub the gaoler refused to- admit me without a warrant. In the afternoon then 1 was driven on to a public-house on the road to Dttbbo, which place I reached about 9.30 p.m. There 1 was chained by the teg to an iron bedstead, and t*dd by the police man that such treatment was too good for a dug tike me. On the morning ot Sunday, January 30th, we started in a coac t for Dubbo, about & o'clock a.m., reaching Dubbo at mid-jay. The gaoler admitted me, smiled in my face, and entered me on Lis bi oks. Being kept there a prisoner till Saturday, March 4th, I was led out to an adjoining courthouse by the gaoler. He accused me of breaking the peace, and wanted me to find sureties—myself in L2O and two others in L.IO. i told him that 1 had never broken the peace. He gave me no answer, and led me back into the ga<<L For the neat three hours, at interval's, 1 was deprived by the gaoler and a doctor of my senses, under the processes ».f chloroform and mesmerism—at the expiration of which t found myself back in the courthouse with an apple in the right hand and a piece of bread in the other. The doctor affirmed openly that he believed me to> be under the effects of a sunstroke. After asking the reason of my being thus unjustly treated, 1 was told that they were obliged to play some trick to get rid of me. 1 was then ted back to the gaol. On the nest day, Sunday, March sth, between the hour of and 7 p.m., I was taken strapped into the public streets, knocked down, and publicly iltUseil. 1 had presence of mind enough to keep my temper ami not raise- my voice, telling them at the same time that I should bring their injustice to tight at the first favorable opportunity. "Before leaving thee gaol I demanded my clothes and L 3 10S., which) a sister of the NeiK's had brought to the gaoler for my necessities, and out of which he had appropriated Lt My clothes were refused, and out of the L 3 10a. thirty-one shillings only was entrusted to a person who was commissioned to take me to Iron Barks. On the name night I was secured in the lock-up at Iron Barks. After a number of days I was forwarded to Wellington, detained there for some days, until, in the dead of » certain night, a conveyance drove up to the gaol. ( was hurried out of the gaol, beaten with the driver's whip, and finally driven along a fenc? from the right angle of the entrance to tie Mel.. The next afternoon i found myself between two hills, and on inquiry found that my final destination was to be Armadale, m New- England. The gaol was situate at the opposite end of the town to which we entered ; and I must here state that before entering the town they endeavored, without success, to deprive me •jpia of my senses. Armadale is a Sourafting town with broad streets and a thriving trade. 1 was kept in Armadale gaol in a state of insensibility, carried mm thence te» Hill Und, where 1 was placed in the yard ©£ a public-house as a spedtacfe to is. crowd. My boots had been te&en from! me, rendering my feet blistered and my soles peeling off under the heat of the sun ; my body was in a ulthy state from head to foot. 1 declined here accepting food from the person who had

me in choree, being in a state unfit to be seen at tall 2, although I had not tasted decent food for a Jon-/ period- The same day 1 was taken to Orange gaol where I was detained about four days. On the sth I was forwarded to Bathursh At Orange a cell was allotted to myself with three others in size about 12ft. by 6ft., the stench of it and the heat were unbearable. During iny imprisonment at Bathurst I met with a warder who had formerly been a color-sergeant in my own company of the 14th regiment, by name John Doyke, who took an interest in my state, spoke to a chaplain concerning me, and on Tuesday, April 11, a statement was to be taken on my behalf. The Governor of the gaol, however, ordered that I should proceed to Sydney and there obtain redress. Accordingly, on Tuesday, April 11. 18TG, I started in company with a Mr. lieredon and an officer in charge, by rail for Sydney ; nevertheless f was detained at Paramatta and not allowed to proceed. That night I passed in Paramatta lock-tip, and on the nest morning was sent to Gladesville to visit a Dr. Manning. On receiving me he ordered me to No. 2 yard. On April 19th and 20th I applied to Dr. Joseph for a statement of my detention and a release. He replied that I should have to remain, and that there was nothing wrong with me whatever. The reason why I made the application was that I was denied Divine Service on Easter Day. April 16. List of Sundays 011 which I was allowed Divine Service :—April 23, 30, June 4, July 23, August G, September 24, October 8, 15, 27, November f>, 12, 19, 2(5, Dece'iilter 3, 10. 17, 2-1. 31, Christmas Day 23, January 7, I*l, 21, 28, February 4. On all the other Sundays (of which the dates can be given) I was not allowed to attend Divine Service. April 29th 1 met with Kerudoti, who had returned from Sydney : asked whether lie liiad seen the chaplain who was to see to my welfare at Sydney. He replied that the chaplain did not wish to have any commnnicatien with him. On the 10th of February I was shipped on the Hero to Auckland, and put out of the jurisdiction of the New South Wales Government.