AN OLD TIME MEMORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11764, 31 July 1916, Page 4

AN OLD TIME MEMORY.

CAPTURE OF A BUSHRANGER. Among tho pioneers of 'the pastora!ists of New South Wales was Mr James Beveridge, of Torandra Park Station, near GuncTagai, who died recently It was Mr Beveridge who, with Mr Murdoch M'Kenzie, arrested Charles Piesley, the notorious bushranger, at Mundarlo, and took him in a. cart to the police at Gundagai. On January 29, 1862, when Mr Beveridge was managing Wantahadgery Station, about tiliirtv miles up the river from Wagga, Piesley, the bushranger, was known to be operating in the vicinity, and general holds-up had set the police scouting through the country. On that day Mr Beveridge rode across to Murdarlo—a typical early Australian bush township, with a public-house, a. store and few other buildings—three .miles away across the Murrumbidgeo River from Wantabadgery homestead. When he reached the hotel the landlord, Mr Murdoch M'Kenzie, looking , scared, informed him that Piesley was there. The bushranger had just walked along the passage and out into the back yard of the hotel. From a room at the back of the building Mr Beveridge saw Piesley, and suggested making an effort to arrest him at once. would be clangorous," Mr M'Kenzie replied. "Well," said Mr TJeveridge, after further discussion as to the best means of yarding their man, "I'll rido to Tarcutta and fetch the police." Arriving at Tarcutta., about twelve miles awav. he found that the police were out looking for the bushranger. "Have you_got a revolver and handcuffs?" he said, addressing the gaoler or attendant. Ho received both a revolver and handcuffs, and rode back to Mundarlo, bent on catching the man and putting an end to the regime of crime. Mr M'Kenzie. who had watched Piesley during Mr Beveridge's absence, met him on his return, and together they planned' '.lie arrest. Piesley was sitting on a form betweer._ the table and the wall, having his dinner. A drunken man, whom Piesley had tried to induce to join him, was; sitting beside him, and between him and the door. Piesley's only _ way out_ of the room without arousing suspicion was around the farther end of tho tablo, and between it and the fireplace. It was decided that Mr Beveridgo should take up his stand in Front of the fireplace. Mr M'Kenzie was to have possession of tho revolver, wait outside, and if there was a. scuffle to rush in and cover Piesley with the weapon.

Everything happened as expected Piesley finished his meal, ro?e leisureIt, and was passing between Mr Beveridge and the tabic, when the .station manager, a big. powerfully built roan, flung himself at the criminal, and threw him heavily to the floor. It was so sudden and unexpected that Piesley was completely taken off his guard Ikv was, however, making desecrate efforts to get away when M'Konzio entered' and levelled th.? rerolver. At that moment Mr B°veridge. though ho had a decided advantage' over his adversary, was the most frightened o! those concerned in the oxoitmg drama Jlo afterwards admitted that that was so. > ; ' r thought that M'Kon/.io might get excited and pull the trigger," he explained. '" Ho had mo covered as imioh as Piosley. " " Put that revolver down." I said. Then I slipped the haiulrulfs on the bushranger. 'M'Konzie brought some rope, and between us we tied him up, and left him secured for the night. Next morning we took him in a cart to Gundagai, and handed hira over to the police." Piesley was hanged on 3klarcii 13, 1562.