THE BAGDAD OUTRAGE

Otago Witness, Issue 567, 11 October 1862, Page 3

THE BAGDAD OUTRAGE

(From the Hobart Town Mercury , Sept. 16.)

After two remands and three examinations at the Police Office, Pontville, the prisoner Wm. Mulligan was finally committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court, by Mr. Elliston, the Resident Stipendiary Magistrate, on Friday last, the 12th instant. The evidence of the young married female at the first examination disclosed the fact that this robbery with violence was accompanied with an additional act of brutality, which had not jet been generally known— a violation under duress had also been consummated. The complainant, who was brought in a carriage to the Police Office, was in the last stage of pregnancy, hhe was very weak, suffering evidently as much, if not more, in mind than body. She gave her name Johannah Christianna Harrbach, and her statement was to the followingeffect :—

My husband, Win. Harrbach, acts as groom to Mr. Thomas Mills, proprietor ef the Green Ponds coach ; on the morning of Wednesday, the 3rd inst-int, he left as usual about four o'clock in the morning to attend to his horses. Soon after lie had gone I heard some one groping about in my bedroom. I spoke in German, thinking at first my husband had returned—a man answered, "Lie still and keep quiet, or I will shoot you." I got out of bed, and tried to get hold of the matches. The man caught hold of ono of my hands. We struggled and 1 got away and ran into the next room and opened the door and ran outside. The man followed me, and caught hold of my nightcap behind, and pulled me down to the ground ; he then threw himself upon me, clasped mj' throat tightly with his hands, and said, "I'll soon settle you." My little brother, whom I had previously awakened by calling, came out of the hut, and was running off to call my husband. The man then got up and ran after him, and drove him back. I tottered back into the hut, and the man, driving my brother, came in, locked the door, and put the key in his pocket. He said, "By God, I'll have every penny you have got in the house." lie pulled me into the bedroom, pushed me on to the bed, and compelled me to submit, lie afterwards demauded my money. I feared, from his threats, he would kill me, and opened the box in which my money was kept. I lifted up the little box (this was a japanned cashbox.) The prisoner took out the tray, with the silver in it, and then left the hut. It wns dark inside the hut when the prisoner first came in, but outside it was light enough for me to recognize him. I knew him, for I had seen him on the Sunday before in our yard. lie opened the gate for Mr. Simcoe's chaise cart to pass through.

These were the main features of Mrs. Ilarrbach's evidence, corroborated, as to the identity of the prisoner, by her brother, Ludwyk Gates.

The prisoner, who -was apprehended about ten o'clock on the morning of the outrage, had it appears been in the service of William Siracoe, of Bagdad. On Sunda}', the 31st August, Mr. and Mrs. Simcoe went to Eridgewater, taking the prisoner Mulligan with them. He asked permission to go across the water for the purpose, as he stated, of getting some clothes, promising to return in about an hour. This, however, was a ruse, for as it afterwards transpired, the prisoner, in passing through Pontville, obtained a pass as a ticket-of-leaVe holder for Ilobart Town, telling the District Constable that his master had that day discharged him. The prisoner having crossed at Bridgewater, made his way to Ilobart Town, where it is found he obtained on the 2nd inst. another pass to proceed to Mr. Clcburne's, at Risilon, from whence he again made his waj' to Bagdad, and early on the morning of the 3rd perpetrated the crime for which he now stands committed. After the prisoner had robbed and left liar rbach's hut, a pocket handkerchief was found on the ground in Mrs. Ilarrbach's bedroom, knotted up so as to form an offensive weapon, with a large stone inside. This the prisoner would probably have used with fearful effect had Mrs. Han bach been capable of exerting herself with greater vigor. The handkerchief has since been identified by Mr. Simcoe as belonging to the prisoner, who had it with him ou the Sunday previous. Upon being searched by D. C. Kenny, two pounds ten shillings and sixpence were found upon him, tallying exactly with the amount of silver stated by [Mrs. Harrbach to have been in the cash-box. A pistol was also found upon the prisoner, which turns out to have been stolen from his late master, Mr. Simcoe. The prisoner is a mean, pitiful-looking creature, with, nevertheless, au aspect of deep cunning. Unlike the late murderer Flanders, he avoided loquacity, and in answer to the usual question by the magistrate, "Do yon wish to ask this witness any question ?" his invariable reply was a cautious " Not now, sir." Mrs. Harrbach, who was formerly in the service of Captain Chalmers, bears a most respectable character. She was confined the day after her examination at the Police Office, and although, at first, there were some aggravating symptoms, she is now going on well.