AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12650, 30 April 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGING.

"■ By CHAKLES WHITE.

[All Rights Reserved.] THE DUNN'S PLAINS TRAGEDY. For about a fortnight after the raid on Bathurst very little was heard of the gang, and it was thought that they had quietly stolen away back acres the Lachlan, noar Cowra, knowing that as soon as their exploits in the vicinity of the City of the Plains were officially reported the main body of 'police would hasten thither, and give them opportunities of prosecuting their calling near their old haunts without much , molestation.. But they had not left the ■district. Watching their opportunity, they suddenly attacked the residence of Air Keightlof, Gold Commissioner, at Dunn's Plains, near Rockley,' and about 30' miles from Bafchurst. They made no secret of the reason of their visit to this homestead. Mr 'KoighUey, who was a man of splendid physique and undoubted courage, had openly assisted the police in their search for the bushrangers, and bad declared he would show them no mercy if he should happen , to come across them. Like every other word or movement of those who Bought to break up the gang, Mr Keightloy's sayings and doings reached their care, and they determined to put his courage to the test by sticking up his household. From the beginning of Pcisley's career bushranjring in New South Wales had proceeded by gradations—from idleness and petty stealing to cattle-stealing; from cattlestealing to robbery from the person; then to'.robbery'(under arms) of mails and escorts, followed by the ruin and extermination of honest storekeepers, attacks on die officers of justice, raids on banks, couutry towns, and priva-to establishments. The time had now arrived for a further advance, —to the Neapolitan system of ransom. This made, the question was seriously discussed in certain quarters whether the next sucoeseivo movements would not be to the formation of camps, station?, regimeuts, batteries, and open attack upon the united Government forces.

At about sunset on Saturday evening, October 24, 1563, Mr Commissioner Kcightley! stood iivthe doorway of his house, when he" observed five men riding along the fence at eorno distance from the dwelling. At first ]ie, thought they were a party of police who he knew wore in the neighbourhood, they having" been in his paddock on the previous ovening; but as he desired to givehis guest, Dγ Pechoy, a shock, he called out to him, "Here aie the bushrangers!" Mr Keightley and the doctor watched the men to within- 25 yards of the house, when they ■ew them simultaneously leap from their horses and mako a sudden rash into the yard, at the same time presenting firearms and calling out: " Stand! If you run into the- house we'll shoot you!" Before the last word had sounded, however, Mi Koightley and his companion had turned and' made for the open door, which was fortunately near at hand. The men fired at' them a* they ran, but the bullets did not find their mark, and, the- dpor having been made 6ecnro, prompt measures, were taken to repel the coming attack. A plan of "procedure had beeu previously arranged, and was now followed. Dr Peoh'oy hastened in' the direction of a room ocoupied by the manservant (who was at the time absent, having gone to Rockley for the letters),'his intention being to secure some firearms and ammunition there stored; but finding that he could not reach the room without exposing himself to the fire of the bushrangers, he returned, to find Mr Eeightley armed with a double-barrel gun and a revolver, which he had obtained from hi-s bedroom, after having told Mrs Keightley that the dreaded gang had made its appearance—a fact of which she had already been made aware by the firing tliat had taken place. •U'itking up their station at the door nearest to: the yard, where the bushrangers had congregated, Keighlley and his companion prepared to make a stubborn resistance. But the failure to reach the other arms and amfnunition somewhat disconcerted tliom, although the assailants were not aware that the occupants of the house were so poorly provided with the means of defence. Knowing something of Keigbtloy's determination nrid skill, the bushrangers kept themselves under coyer, posting themselves in the form of a semicircle, so tliat they could command tho doorway' from all points. As the two men camo to the open door the bushrangers fired, but none of thebullet? did any harm. Keightley and hi.? companion took care not to expose themselves, although closely watching the movements of their assailants. Wat followed is best told in Mr Keightley's own words. And this is his story:—

!' As I appeared at the door several shots were fired. The men were in a semicircle around me, at varied distances. At Iho time I took up my gun I fancied it was loaded in both barrels—one with snipo Bhot and the other with buckshot When I went to' the dooij I noticed a mm licav me 011 my , left, who was firing; very rapidly. He fired several shots. He appeared to drawout from a cask, behind which lie was concealed, with the view of firing at the door. Tfie last time lie came out I siting: up my gun and fired the right barrel, which I thought had the small shot in it. I could not eee the effect of the shot otherwise than the man put his hand on his stomaoh and fell back. I then said to Dγ Peehey, ' Now for the roof!' wliicli I had barricaded for some time. 'When' on the root I saw Vane for the first time. Ha was going across the yard, and when the party saw me on the roof they commenced firing at me again', bit I cannot say how many shots. When I had fired I looked for my powder-horn, but could not find it. I concluded that Dr Poohey had got the arms and ammunition I'had sent him for previously. I left the house- open when I went on to the roof, and Mrs Keiglitley and the child were below. When on the »roof I aske<l the doctor for the other gnu and loading materials, and ho said he had been intercepted and could not get at the arms. I then looked at my own gun, and found that the ether barrel was discharged. The shooting at this time* was very close. One ball went close to my face—l think it was Hall's—and another through my hat. They called upo'o tno. to surrender, or they would burn the house down, and ap I had no arms I thought it best to do so, as we had no ammunition. Two of the voices called out, 'If you lay down.your axin9 ami come down we'll not touch you.' I said, ' Honour bright?' and they replied, 'Honour bright.' I said, 'Tory well, we will come down,' and I camo down the ladder into the garden, in front of the house. I concluded that the party know at the time that one of their number was hit. When we camo down they made a tusli at us. Vane struck Dr Pecliey with a revolver and knocked him do'wn. I said, ' What did you do that for? Ho has dono nothing.' One of them said,

'Is not that Keiphtley? , and I said, 'No, I'm Koightley.' Vane then eaid, 'You wretch, you liavc shot- my mate.' I denied it, saying, 'I never killed your mate.' I did not know then tho result of my shot. He said I had, and that they would shoot Ime for it. They then brought me to the spot where Burke was lying;, and they held a. .consultation, the remit of which was that I was to be shot, t was told to go into the paddock. From their statement I learnt that Burke had, after he was shot, fired at •himself and shot' himself through the head. I .was then told that- I should be shot, and to say good-bye to my wife and come up the lull. As I had been ensnared in n>y position and had no means of defence, I begged them for God's sake not to shoot me---and commit murder. It was then arranged that Dr Pecliey should proceed to Rcckloy for his instruments with thn view of affording assistance to Burke, and while ho was away Gilbert came to the foot of the hilt and called out, 'Mickey is dead,' or words to that effect. One of the party remarked, 'He (meaning me) had better be Eliot, at oiwc and waste no more time.'" .Mr Keiehtley'e position was a very critical ? n Vii T ! 1 ? ,1 th ? b " s,,ra,l S' lrs fully 'intended to kill him when tiliey found (hat. Burke was dead' wa3 proved by their efforts to shoot him when he appeared on the barricaded roof, and their threat that if he did not come down and surrender they would burn the. house down.

•Mrs Keightley and the servant woman, who was aho on the premises, saw Dr Pechey knocked down, and witnessed the preparations which the buehranjrers were making to shoot Mr Keiditlev in cold blood: arid it goes .without saying that they beßs»d hard for his life. It is said that the servant actually tlvretf tarsplf between, her employer and one of the bushrangers who had raised his piece to fire at him. In the end his life 'was spared. Vane was not the leadi>r, and had to swallow his r«entment at the command of Hall and. Gilbert, neither of

"Brandy and soda" is all very well To drive a bad headache away, But it won't euro a cough, ns many can

■ ■ tell . , „ , Who-have tried the.right, stuff and can The only 'tbinp thev lme fou id any use When colds they have had to endure Is that which soon sends euch ills to the deuce, gone— \ „ 1 ,170008' Gbbat Pepfebuint Cobb. 1; < (

whom were more bloodthirsty than the average run of bushrangers. Koightlcy was removed into the bush, and- the- leaders remained at the house, while further parleying took place; eventually (ho -bushrangers agreed with Mrs Keightley to spare her husband's life on condition that the sum of £500 was paid to them. When Dr ■Poehey returned from Roekley lie was made aware' of the. bargain, and informed that it hud been arranged that he should ride into Batlnvrst and get the money from Mts Keightloy's father, the late Mr Henry Rotten, of Blackdown. If the money was not handed to them, said Gilbert, between 10 and 12 o'clock on the following (Sunday) morning, Mr Keightley would assuredly bo shot; ae he would be if during his..visit to BaHvurst the messenger gave any information to the police. In reply to a, question from Dr Peehcy, Hall said they would have the money in £5 notes, and that they had fixed upon £500 as the ransom, became that was the sum which Keightley would get for shooting Burke, there being at Hint iimo a. reward.of £500 upon each of their heads. It was then arranged that -Mrs Kcightloy should go to Bathurst with Dr Pechoy. The home was caught and harnessed, and the pair started on their urgent mission. Before leaving, however, Mrs Keifihtlcy was allowed to have a brief interview with her husband, who was brought down to thehouse for the purpose. ■ . ' Tho journey to Bathurst was accomplished in smart time, the reader may be sure, tho horse being kept at fop speed; but it was 2 o'clock on the Sunday morning before. Blackdown was reached. There was excitement bordering upon 'consternation in the household when the anxious daughter made, known her errand to her father, and then the question arose: . How was.tho money to be obtained? The large sum required was not in tho house, and innumerable difljcu.ties might ariso to prevent it being obtained in time. Tho Blackdown squire was known to bo a wealthy man, but even wealthy men cannot always lay their hands upon a large sum .of money at a moment's notice. An appeal must be made to. the bank in Bathurst, and the time spent in waking the bank manager, making explanations, and counting tho money would considerably shorten the few hours of grace allowed for the ransom to l:o paid. And another difficulty presented itself. The object for which the money was required must be kept secret; yet the tank manager must bn told, and lie might consider it his duty to inform the police before the messenger had got well away with the price of the ransom. There wore difficulties and risks on every side, but they were .boldly faced and overcome. Fresh horses soon covered the distance between Blackdown and Bathurst, and very shortly after the visitors had poured their tale into his astonished cars notes to the amount required were counted out hy the bank manager, and Mr Rotton and Dr Pechey were "making the-pace" townrls Diinn's Plains. Meanwhile'Mr Keightley was kepta close prisoner by the bushrangers on a- rocky lull (known as'the Dog Rocks) about-a quarter of a. mile from his homestead, the spot boing chosen because it commanded a view of the Bathurst ros>.u. Here some members of the gang made themselves comfortable for the night, and the others took turn about as sentries, keeping a close watch upon Keightley, who had voluntarily pledged his honour not to make'any attempt to escape. When morning dawned the party had breakfast, and then settled down to await events.Seven, eight, and nine o'clock passed, and still there were no (signs' of the messengers rotiirninir. Ten o'clock found the waiting partv painfully impatient; but a little later Mr Rotlon and the doctor drove up to the house, and learned from the inmate* that Keightley was with the at tho Dog Rocks. Alighting from the vehicle, they entered the house, and Mr Rotton proposed to take the money to the bushrangers, but this was deemed inadvisable, as the appearance of a st-rnnger on the scene mieht lead to trouble. As quickly'ae possible, therefore, the notes were recounted in the house. Mr Rotton hastily took their numbers, with a view to tracinc; them should they pass into' circulation in the district, and then handed them to Dr Pechey, who mounted his horse and rode to the bushrangers' camp. As he came forward Gilbert mot him and asked, " Have, you brought th» money?" "Yes," replied Dr Peehey: "will you set Mr Keightley at libwtv?" "Come along," Gilbert responded, "he's all safe;" and lie conducted Pechey to where his friend was standing under close guard. As soon as Keightley f.w him he anxiously repeated the question, "Have you;the notes?" For answer Peehey threw tho notes to Gilbert, who counted" them, found' they were all right, and told Keightley he was at liberty. The ransomed man returned hastily to the 'house, his captors meanwhile leaving the locality with all speed. Alter Burke's death, tho remaining members of tho gang did not concern .themselves very much about his body. They saw, however, before they left Dunn's Plains that arrangements had been made to convey tho remains to Careoar, that task being entrusted to one- of'Mr Keightley's servant men and another. Concerning tho exact rhinner of Burke's death, it may be here remarked that some people have doubted whether Mr Kaightley shot him at all. and thought the first wound, must have 'been 'accidentally inflicted by one :of his mates. It is certain that the shot which killed him was fired by himself after finding that he had been wounded. On the way to Oareoar the party conveying the body was met by the police, who had received word at Cowru of the attack upon Kcijfhtley's house, and wero making for that locality. There were 12 policemen in. the party, and two of these were told off to accompany the men with the body to Carcoar, the other 10 proceeding to Rockley, tho nearest station to the scone of the outrage. At Carcoar an inquest was held upon the body, which everyone pressed to see. After the inquott tho body was handed over for .interment to Burko's friends-, somo of whom made no secret of the fact that they considered the remains they were committing to the grave wero those of a hero and a martyr.

After the return of Mr Kei.?htley and the disappearance of the bushrangers, . Mr Rotton tried to induce tlio employees at the homestead to go for the police, hut in vain. Then ho decided to go himself; a horse was brought up from the paddock, and ho rode into Rcckley and made known at the j police station what.-had occurred. Return- I ing, lie started for Batlnirst to givo information to the authorities there. But the nows had already reached Bsthwrft, and within three or "four miles of the town he mot a. party of mounted troopers pushing forward at full speed for 'the scone of the. outrage. The news had by some means reached Carcoar shortly after breakfast on the Sunday morning. A magistrate of that town at once procured a horso and enlisted the services of a lad to ride post hastoto Datlnmjfc, giving him a 6ealod letter to the police and a written communication to'all. whom it might concern, requesting that if iho bearer should require a fresh-horse on the road ho might bo immediately supplied, Young Bonnor—that was tlio . lad's name—covered the distance between Orcoar and Blayney in very short time, and finding that his horse was fagged ho, after some difficulty, obtained another, and marie a fresh start on the road. Within 'two hours from leaving Carcoar tlto lad was in Bathurst and the letter delivered to the- polios, the, distance covered be'ing about 35 milo.=. i A party of troopers was at once formed onu sent olf, some of them half inclined to disbelieve the report which had come to them in suck a roundabout way; but the meeting with Mr Rotton dispelled all doubts, and they pushed along the road at a faster pace, while Mr Rotton continued his journey <to Blackdown to assure Mrs Keightley of the safety of her husband and the faittifalnees ■ of tlio bushrangers to their pledges. ■ _ During the same afternoon Mr Keigntley and Dr Techey .drove into Batliurst, where they received many congratulations on their escape from death at the hands of the bushrah<ws, and much praiw for their courage, and heroism. Mrs. Keightley. also received a full eharo of praise, for none but a stouthearted woman" could hive maintained her presence of mind sufficiently to assist oven her husband under such trying circumstances. The servant woman subsequently received due approbation ,for the part which she. had sustained in-the affair; indeed, there was at one- time quite a heated public discussion as to which of the ladies was most to be honoured. . • . ' There was already a reward of £500 for each of the gang, and Eurico's hcad-monoy was paid by the Government to Mr Keightley. Two days later the offered reward was increased by the.issue of a proc'amation offering £4000 reward for the apprehension of John Gilbert, John Vane. John O ideally, and Benjamin Hall; and £100 reward for acnomplicee. In addition to the pecuniary reward, howover. Mr Koighlley's- services , were recognised by the Government by an appointment in the- public fen-ice us police magistrate. He was well fitted for tho post, and faithful and efficient Forvieo in that ca-poeitv proved that tin confidence of'the authorities had not been misplaced. . ■ While Mr and Mrs Knightley were yet in the Bathurst district, the latter was made the recipient of a handsome- nrosent from the Mice of a distant part-of the colony, in reeojnition of her bravery when Hall and his gang visited Dunn's Plains. The present took the form of a handsome silver tea service, upon the chief piece-of which were cngrave'd the following words:— " Presented to Mrs Keipfhtley by the.ladies of Maitland, through Mrs.Mullen, .a?...an.appreciation of her heroic' conduct in. .defence.'of her

husband againot bushrangers, at Rockley, on Saturday, October 24, 1863." But hero it is necessary that I rhonld diverge somewhat from tho straight courso of the narrative, and show how some of tho ransom money was traced after it had left the hands of the bushrangers. THE NUMBERED NOTES, AND HOW THEY WERE FOUND. It will be remembered thai before Mr Rotton handed over the note: tent were given to Gilbert ):o hurriedly copied their minibors. It was a wise -precaution, and fruitful of results. From this list copies were subsequently made ami handed to various tradesmen in Sal-hurst and tho neighbourhood, and it was arranged that immediate- information should bo given to tho police if any of tho notes wero presented at their establishments.

• Within a week after, a youug man from a district known to bn friendly to tho gang entered Bathurst, and purchased at different simps a revolver, several boxes of percussion caps, a, quantity of black crap?, seven gold rings, and some articles of clothing. While ho was still in the town it was discovered that some of the notes paid away by him corresponded with those on Mr Rotton's list, snd before he had completed his purchase ho was apprehended antl safely lodged in the lcrk-im. Thc-re were found upon his> person, the siim of £11, piece of paper,-the seven gold rings, mid five invoices of the goods lie had purchased at the 6tores. In his valiso were found the revolver, caps, crape, etc., and it was ascertained that out of £35 which the articles had cost, the prisoner had paid away five of the £5 notes given lo tho bushrangers. Upon the piece of paper was written a memorandum of what tho prisoner was to purchase for six different persons, whose names wc-re left blank. The singular and incriminating document ran thus: "For mother, bottle of medicine; for , pair of pistols, box of caps, gold ring; for , revolver, box of caps, pold ring." and so on. Ono other article was found in his possession—a piece of used blotting paper, bearing on it. the words "Patrick Burke"—the namo of the father of tho bu-'iraiigcr who bad met his death at Koightie-y's hands. The. arresting constable charged him with receiving the notes, " knowing them to have been stolen,'' ;ind the prisoner made no reply to the charge. It was afterwards elicited that the young fellow was a cousin of Vane's, and it was publicly stated that the father of the dead bushranger, Burke, was connected in some way with his family.

As may bo supposed, the news of the arrest caused great excitement in Bat-hurst and its immediate neighbourhood, and for a time even the bushrangers and their doings wore forgotten. In due course the prisoner was brought up at- the Polica Court charged with receiving stolen property, and wan committed to stand his trial at the following Bathurst Circuit Court, at which he was found guilty.

The Chief Justice, after making some impressive remarks uiion tho enormity of the offence, and expressing an earnest hopo that the crime of bnshranging would now effectually cwws, sentenced the prisoner to five years' hard labour on the roads, or otlisr publio works of tho colony. There was an appeal to the Full Court in Sydney on some legal technicalities; but their Honors were of opinion that the conviction should be sustained.

The news of the ruling was received with joy in Bathurst, as it (-ended lo intimidate tho already too bold friends of the gang, who had their doors ever open to receive the bushrangers and their hands eve-r open io receive the bushrangers' iil-gotton gains. THE SURRENDER OF JOHNNY VANE.

After leaving Dunn's Plains, Hall, Gilbert, O'Meally, and Vane rode across the bush in the direction of Careoar, calling iri to seo some of their on the way. They stayed long enough in this locality to quarrel amongst themselves but the cause, of the quarrel has never been mado known, although its results wero most startling to the public. Iri a letter from a gentleman at Carcoar which now lies before me, and which is dated 27th October, 1863, I find the following sentences: "I have heard that Vane was seen alone at the back of Mount Macquario (a prominent district landmark near tho town), and again at tho foot of Mount Fitzgerald, on both occasions well armed. . .' Gilbert, Hall, and O'Meaily eupposed to have cleared out. Vane still at the back of the Mount— \ras at Numbe-r One sc-hool yesterday, and had a black eye given him by Gilbert—says he got not a sixpence of Kcightley's ransom money."

How the quarrel between Yano and his mates originated was never clearly explained, but whatever tho reason, within three weeks from the time of Burke's death Vane yielded himself up to the authorities. When riding through the bush in the direction of ihe Abercrombie Ranger-, tn« Rot. Father M'Carthy— one of the piower, priests of the Batburst and Careoar districts, whoso gonial good nature and zealous labours made him most viopuiar with the residents, particularly "those, scattered through tho isolated parts which seldom or never saw the face of priest or parson, other than his—happened to fall in with Vane. There was mutual recognition, for tho good priest was well acquainted with the bushranger's family—although not of his flock, for they were Presbyterians,— and a long conversation ensued. The substance of that conversation never transpired, but the reader can imagine how earnestly Father M'Carthy pleaded with Vane to forsake the course which was keeping the community in a state of terror, breaking tho heart of his mother, and leading him to certain death. They parted, and before the day closed Father M'Oarthy told Mrs Vano that he had met her son. The poor woman wept bitterly, pouring out her troubles in lhe> presence of her sympathetic listener, and bemoaning the dreadful circumstances in'which her boy had nlneed, himself and her. Before leaving, Father' M'parthy advised tlio disconsolate mother to seek an interview with her son. in the bn?h and beseech him to surrender, pointing out that by se doing he would be likely to ii-iii favour which could not otherwise bo extended. Mrs Vane promised to do this, and without delay she sought her son in his retreat and pleaded with him only as amother could. Her prayer? and tears were effectnal, and in sorrowful joy sho returned to send a message to Father M'Carthy to the effect that her erring son desired another interview in order to make arrangements for his surrender. Within a few hours the priest and the bushranger were again together, and in the latter's hiding place these arrangements were completed. Vane agreeing to meet his newly-found friend at a certain spot before midnight and accompany him to the headquarters of the police at j)athurst.

At 11 o'clock that night tho bushranger faithfully presented himself at the placo appointed, where Father M'Oarthy was already in waiting. A start was made for Batliurst, 40 miles away, through'the bu;h. They readied it lioforo 5 o'clock next morning, their chief anxiety lieing to enter tho town unobserved. A brief rest at tho Fitzroy Arms, in George street; a short consultation between Father M'G'artliy and his venerable superior, Dean (Irani; a message to Dr Palmer, tlio polioe magistrate, and another message- to Superintendent; Morrfe-ctt; the formal surrender of Vnno to the latter; a quiet walk to the gaol j'.tsf—and the 13a(liur.st rosidoiita woke up b> Irani that Vane had voluntarily s-ur-reni'lered, and was snfciy domiciled in the gaol on the Central square.

In <lue course he was bipiiglit before the local bench of magistrate?, when tWee charges of robbery under arms were preferred against Jiim, and two charges of shooting wilii mlent to kill. Evidence in each case was given, and the prisoner, who made no defence, was fully committed on each separate charge to take liis trial at tho next Batlwrst Circuit Coirrtj to be held in April of the following year.

Vane had been five months in gaol—bail had not boen 6Ottjht, and would not have been granted—when tho As=iz9 Court to which he had been committed opened. Sir Alfred Stephen, Chief Justice, presided, and as several very important cases besides those against Vane were sot down for tria) nearlj' all the leading members of the bar attended, tho circuit work of prominent barristers in those days being quite, as heavy and quite as remunorative as that of the judges. Mr Edward Butler act-eel as Grown Prosecutor. Eathurst was full of people and the people were full of excitement, to the no small benefit of the liotelkeepers. When Vane was placed in the dock his persona! appearance was made the. subject of general remark. He was a good-looking young fellow, and in the slimuess of his build was 9 typical Western " native.'" Those who expoctel to see a repubivelookin;: desperado of tho. Bill Sykcs type* wero disappointed—no doubt "pleasingly,— ifor thwc wns nothing repulsive-looking about him. and the court visitors could scarcely believe that tho youth before them was the darins; bushranger who had assisted in keening the countryside in terror and for so long set tho law and its officers at defiance.

Mr Dalley had been retained for the defence, and it was no doubt under his odvice that the prisoner pleaded guilty to being concerned in the raids on Caloola, Gmbbenbong. and Canowindra, and the attack on Mr Kcightley. To a fifth charge, eoncernini; the sticking-up of the mail coacli near Carcoar and the shooting of Constable Sutton, he pleaded not guilty. Mr Dalley's defence was able and successful, and the jury acquitted Vane on this charge—the more readily, perhapsj because

they knew that for other offences lie would receive punishment commensurate with his crimes. As the hour was late, his Honor ordered the prisoner to be removed and brought up for HMitcnco on the following day; but, knowing that many of his relatives were in tlm court, in order to oasn their minds ho announced that Iho sentence he should pass would not be death. On tho following day the court was again crowded, and shortly.after the Chief Justice lmd taken his sent Vane was called up to rccsivo sentence. Before judgment'was pronounced Mt Dallisy pleaded with tho"judj;e for leniency, urging prisoner's..-youth in extenuation, and referring to tlio fact that , lio had borne a good character before abandoning himself to lawless pursuits, and that ho had given himself up and shown true. contrition for his crimes. He also called several prominent pubiio men to bear testimony to the fact that Tans, prior to becoming a bushranger, had boon a most exemplary young man. His Honor, after a long address, passed sentence as .follows:—For the. outrage at Dunn's Plains, 15 years' hard labour on tie road , ? or other public works of the colony; and for each of the other three offences, 1C years' hard labour— llio sentences io be concurrent.

]>, is right that a word or two should be paid concerning the action of tho (rood priest through _ whose dmlnimentality the district was freed from tho presence of tin's member of the notorious gang. Father M'Oarthy was entitled to the reward of £1000 which the Government had offered for the o&plure of Vane. He did not accept llwfc reward. 11l his ministerial capacity ho had effectively preached.' repentance to the pinner, and tho -coiipciousnofs of having , clow his duty was reward sufficient. In another cafe, yet to be recorded, in which a bushranger (not connected with Hall's sra.iiK) was concerned, he was instrumental in recovering for one of the banks some £3000 in notes which bad been stolen from one of the Western mails. The hank bad offered £109 reward fnr Hie recovery of the notes, but Father M'Carthy refused to accept that reward also. Tho act wns characteristic of the man, who in his priestly nfllce labourer! for something aiore precious and more enduring than earthly treasure. (To be continued.)