Extract from Victoria Police Gazette.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume III, Issue 14, 2 July 1879, Page 117

Extract from Victoria Police Gazette.

(From Gazette, 1879, page 147.)

(See Government Gazette, 10th April, 1879, page 817 ; Police Gazette, 1879, pages 63, 81, 89, and 119.) Murder at Murphy’s Creek, near Orville. £IOO Reward. Whereas on Tuesday, the 11th of March last, a man named John Scott was found dead in his hut at Murphy’s Creek, near Orville, and, from the evidence adduced at the inquest held on the body, there is not the least doubt but that the deceased was murdered: Notice is hereby given that a reward of £IOO will be paid by the Government for such information as will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons by whom the said John Scott was murdered. Bryan O'Loghlen, Chief Secretary’s Office, Acting Chief Secretary. Melbourne, Bth April, 1879.

Particulars : John Scott, herdsman of Murphy’s Flat Common, near Tarnagulla, was found murdered in his hut about 8 p.m. on the 11th instant, with three wounds on the head, such as might have been inflicted with a hammer. He was last seen alive at 5 p.m. on the 10th instant. It is believed deceased had in his hut a sum of money amounting to about £2O, which cannot now be found. A pair of strong elastic-side boots, half-soled, but worn a good deal since being soled, and a pair of blucher boots with iron tips on heels, sprigs in centre-piece, and hobnails in soles, are also missing from the hut. Information is requested of a man, name unknown, who on the day of the murder was begging for food and seeking work in the neighbourhood of Murphy’s Flat, and went towards Wedderburn. Description : Irish, twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, a labourer, fresh complexion, brown beard, whiskers, and moustache, dark-brown hair, has one eye sore or it is blind ; dressed in brown coat, dirty moleskin trousers, light billycock hat, heavy boots, one of them sewn with twine at toe ; earned a small swag with canvas wrapper. It is highly important that this man should be found. The man described above is believed to be James Burke, better known as “ Cranky Jim,” a miner and farm labourer, native of County Waterford, Ireland. — O. 1551. May, 1879.