Constable William GORDON

Drowned

Windsor

30 April, 1861

The constable drowned while on escort duty in floods at Windsor. The Sydney Morning Herald of 8 May, 1861 carried a lengthy account of evidence given at his inquest, of which the following is an extract.

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF CONSTABLE GORDON – INQUEST

Constable Byrnes deposed “I belong to the Windsor Constabulary. On Wednesday last I was instructed, along with Constables Wilkinson and Alpin, by Chief Constable Hobbs, to go in search of Gordon, who had been reported to have been drowned, we continued our search (Sergeant “Warren, from Penrith, afterwards joining us) until today, between nine and ten o’clock in the forenoon we saw the body lying in the water at the chain of ponds, about two miles from Windsor, the face was downwards, on searching the body I found a receipt signed by the watch-house keeper at Windsor for a prisoner named Mortimer, who had been forwarded from Bathurst, also a knife, a pipe and some tobacco, and one penny halfpenny in his trousers-pockets , he was taken in a cart to the dead house at the hospital.”

W. Phillips, watchhouse keeper at Windsor, identified the body. “He left the watch house at about four o’clock on Monday afternoon, having previously delivered up a prisoner named Mortimer, he said he would return that night to Castlereagh, where he lived, being fearful of a flood he was perfectly sober.”

Richard Melier, innkeeper deposed, “The deceased called at my house on Monday afternoon about four o’clock, and asked for some refreshment, it was then raining very hard, he remained till between seven and eight o’clock in the evening, when he seemed very anxious to return home, I tried to induce him to remain all night as it was very wet and dark, but he would not do so; the deceased was quite capable of taking care of himself and horse when he left my place.”

Richard Warren, Sergeant in Penrith police, depose: “I recognise the body as that of Constable Gordon, he belonged to the Penrith force, and was stationed at Castlereagh, I have known him for six years in the force, he was generally under my instructions, he was a prudent and temperate man, he leaves a widow and four children, I was present at the finding of the body.”

The jury returned a verdict of “accidentally drowned”.

At the time of his death the constable was 33 years old and was stationed at Castlereagh. He appears to have been in the police force for six years.

Trooper John TIPPER

Horse Accident

Stuart Town

18 March, 1858

The trooper was accidentally killed in a fall from his police horse at the police camp at the Wellington Road diggings (now Stuart Town). On that day the trooper and another police officer were riding back to the police camp. As they went around a bend in the road, about 400 metres from the camp, Trooper Tipper’s horse suddenly shied and then ran obliquely across the roadway and into the sloping trunk of a tree. The trooper’s head and face struck the tree with considerable force, knocking him off the horse and causing extensive injuries.

The Sydney Morning Herald of 5 April, 1858 reported details of the inquest, during which it was revealed that “Upon being raised from the ground, a portion of the brain was observed to be protruding, and, upon further examination, it was found that the whole of the frontal bones were crushed in, and the features of the unhappy man totally destroyed. Distressing to relate, no surgical assistance could be procured, there being no medical man resident within many miles of this place. Messengers were immediately dispatched to the nearest townships for a doctor; but, after lingering until the evening, and long before medical aid could possibly arrive, the poor sufferer died. All that it was in the power of the persons present to do to relieve pain was done, but it would at least have been a satisfaction to the poor widow to know that her late husband had had the benefit of medical assistance.”

At the time of his death the trooper was aged 27 years and was attached to the Western Gold Police, Wellington. He left behind a widow and an infant son.

Trooper William HOLOHAN

Drowned

Winburndale

10 February, 1856

The trooper was drowned while on duty and attempting to cross the Winburndale Creek, Winburndale (north-east of Bathurst). Details of the incident are as yet unknown, however the Sydney Morning Herald of Friday 14 August, 1857 carried details of the Police Reward Fund expenditure for that period and listed a payment to “Widow Holohan, residing in Kilkenny, Ireland, in consideration of the services of her late son, who belonged to the Gold Police of this colony, and was drowned whilst on duty: £100.”

The listing of a gratuity payment of one hundred pounds is evidence of the fact that the trooper indeed drowned on duty. He is sometimes recorded as Houlahan or Hoolahan.

At the time of his death the trooper was attached to the Gold Escort, probably at Bathurst.

Sergeant Richard DOGHERTY

Fall from Roadway

Millers Point

21 June, 1855

Very little is known of this death at present, and it is not known if it occurred on duty or not. It occurred at Millers Point (Sydney) and the coroner found that the deceased was “under the influence of drink”. As such it is thought that this was probably not an on-duty death, however research is continuing. The Maitland Mercury of 27 June, 1855 reported on the inquest:

Two inquests were held yesterday at the Three Tuns Tavern, corner of Elizabeth and King Streets, the cause of death in each case being accidental. The deceased in one case was a sergeant of police who, on Saturday night last, while under the influence of liquor, fell from the rocks over-looking Kent Street into the street beneath, a distance of about twenty feet. The unfortunate man subsequently expired in the Infirmary on Thursday night. Finding- “Died from the effects of injuries accidentally received whilst under the influence of drink.”

At the time of his death it would appear that the sergeant was stationed in Sydney.

Constable John BETAGH

Drowned

Carcoar

29 March, 1853

The constable died when he was drowned in the Abercrombie River near Carcoar on 29 March, 1853. His death was reported in the Maitland Mercury on Saturday 30 April, 1853.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT — On the 29^th of March Constable John Betagh, of the Carcoar Police, was unfortunately drowned in the Abercrombie River. An inquest was held on the body by S. North Esq., Police Magistrate, when it appeared the deceased (who was on duty with the chief constable) was giving his horse a drink at a deep water hole. The bank gave way and both man and horse slid in. The chief constable not being able to swim could afford no assistance, and both were drowned. The body was found next day. Verdict – accidentally drowned.

At the time of his death the constable was stationed at Carcoar. No further details are known as yet.

Trooper John NICHOL

Horse Accident

Ben Bullen

19 March, 1853

Trooper John Nichol of Ben Bullen died on 19 March 1853. An inquest into his death found the cause of death to be “by a fall from his horse whilst in the execution of his duty.” He had been in pursuit of the robber of the Mudgee mail and was found by Mr. Walton, innkeeper of Running Stream, about one mile north of Crown Ridge. His death was reported in the Maitland Mercury of Wednesday 13 April, 1853 as follows:

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.- On Saturday, the 19th March a report having reached trooper John Nichol, of the mounted patrol stationed at Ben Bullen, Mudgee Road, that the Mudgee mail had been again stopped and robbed on Cherry-tree Hill, he (Nichol), with his usual zeal, started immediately for the spot where the robbery was reported to have been committed, and when about one mile north of Crown Ridge, on descending a steep and rugged hill was thrown from his horse, falling on his head and fracturing his skull in a shocking manner. The first person who found deceased was a Mr. Walton, innkeeper of Running Stream, who had started in company with Nichol, but owing to his horse being jaded could not keep in sight of him. Descending from the hill alluded to, Walton first picked up a carbine, and immediately afterwards found Nichol lying on the ground with his face downwards, and on turning him over he found the vital spark had fled. According to Walton’s statement it could not have been more than ten or fifteen minutes from the time he had quitted company with deceased, and he was a lifeless corpse. Thomas Cadell, Esq., J.P., was quickly on the spot, and ordered the body to be removed to the barracks.

An inquest was held on Monday before Thomas Brown, Esq., coroner, and a highly respectable jury, and after adjourning to the Ben Bullen Inn and hearing the evidence, a verdict to the following effect was returned: That the deceased John Nichol had been killed by a fall from his horse whilst in the execution of his duty. Deceased was a very active officer, and highly respected by the inhabitants of the district. He has left a widow to deplore her sudden bereavement, for whom, we are glad to find, a subscription has been set on foot. It is a strange fact, and worthy of notice, that we are allowed two mounted troopers for this road, but since the detestable new gold regulations have come in vogue, one is taken away to assist at Sofala in collecting licenses; we are therefore trusting to one, or at least were, when the sad accident occurred. Hence the occasion of this man’s death and another mail robbery.- Correspondent of Bell’s Life.

At the time of his death the trooper was stationed at Ben Bullen and appears to have been attached to the Mounted Road Patrol.

Sergeant JIPP

Assault – Brawl

Hill End

1853

The sergeant was apparently killed in a brawl at a Hill End gold miner’s camp in 1853 and was buried on the spot at a place which later became the Hill End Racecourse. A stringybark tree at the site was blazed and inscribed with the sergeant’s name and the year of his death. Later, after white ants had begun to attack the tree, the author Harry Hodge placed a sandstone marker at the site with the inscription “Sgt Jipp, 1853”. This marker has long since disappeared.

Despite continuing research, no further details have so far been found regarding this incident. The only known record of this death appears to be a brief mention in Harry Hodge’s book The Hill End Story (1973). As such, there remains a serious degree of doubt as to the accuracy of this claim.

At the time of his death the sergeant was apparently stationed at Tambaroora (Hill End) and may have been a soldier attached to either the Gold Escort or the Mounted Police.

Constable John CANFIELD

Assault

Parramatta

16 August, 1852

Constable Canfield died at Parramatta on 16 August, 1852 as a result of “severe injuries from bushrangers” he had received “years earlier”.  These injuries were no doubt received on or about 4 March, 1850 during an incident which had been described in some detail in the Bella’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer newspaper dated 9 March, 1850.

OUTRAGES ON THE PARRAMATTA AND LIVERPOOL ROADS – Late on the evening of yesterday week, as Dr. Gwynne, of Parramatta, was proceeding towards that township, when near Iron Cove Bridge, three armed men rushed from the bush on him, forced him to dismount, and having plundered him of his purse, containing about £5, and his riding whip, he was allowed to proceed. On Dr. G passing the Concord Watchhouse, reported the occurrence to the resident constable there, Canfield, who, being a very active officer, lost no time in mounting his horse, and, taking a cross road, soon reached the Liverpool Road, which he proceeded to traverse, making in the direction of Sydney. After loitering about for some hours, and as he was passing close to the Canterbury Bridge, the three men suddenly came upon him, two seized his horse, whilst the third, by a violent blow on the head, brought him to the ground, when they jumped on him, took from him his pistols and handcuffs, and stripped him of all his clothing but his shirt. They then handcuffed him, and dragged him some distance along the ground, inflicting some serious wounds, and, after maltreating him by blows and kicks, left him. Canfield, after lying for some time insensible, contrived to get up, but had proceeded but a short distance when he was again encountered, and most savagely ill-used and left covered with gore. Subsequently he managed to reach Frazer’s (Ireland’s) public house. Canfield’s life is stated to be in a very precarious state. Parties of police have been sent out from Parramatta in search of the ruffians, but hitherto no tidings have been gained of them.

Shortly after his death Constable Canfield’s widow Mary Anne made an application for a gratuity from the Police Reward Fund. An enclosure with Mrs Canfield’s application revealed that “Constable John Canfield entered the Parramatta Police on 1^st June 1843 and continued in it until the day of his death the 16^th of August 1852 being a period of nine years and 77 days. His death resulted mainly from severe injuries received from bushrangers in the execution of his duty some years previously” Gratuity proposed “the amount of one year’s pay of an ordinary constable.”

The constable was aged 48 years and had joined the police force on 1 June, 1843.  At the time of his death he was stationed at Concord. He is sometimes referred to as “Cantfield”.

Constable Charles BARTON

Horse Accident

Carcoar

2 April, 1852

Constable Barton died on 2 April, 1852 from head injuries received when he was thrown from his horse while on duty at Carcoar. Colonial Secretary’s Letters 1852 reveal that the police troop horse Honesty had a habit of bucking and on the day of the fatal incident Constable Barton was thrown from the horse and landed on the roadway. He was found insensible and carried to a local public house where he was attended to by the Chief Constable’s wife, Mrs Fox. Unfortunately he died of his injuries before a doctor could arrive from Bathurst.

The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal of 3 April, 1852 reported the following.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT  “On Monday last a mounted trooper named Barton was thrown from his horse at Carcoar with great violence, when his head unfortunately came in contact with the ground, and a concussion of the brain was the consequence. From the time of the accident he has remained in a state of insensibility, from which it appears somewhat doubtful if he will ever recover. The horse, it appears was lately sent up from Sydney, and was known to be dangerously roguish. Some degree of blame for the accident is therefore due to Barton’s superior officers.

At the time of his death the constable was stationed at Carcoar.

Acting Sergeant James McDONALD

Exposure

Sydney

24 June, 1851

The acting sergeant was described as having died from ‘indisposition arising from cold in the discharge of his duties’ after ‘a protracted illness’(probably exposure). It was later also recorded that he had ‘died from illness contracted in the service’ and had ‘died whilst serving in the police’. No further details are known as yet. His correct name may be “McDonnell” and he is known to have left a widow, Bridget, and five children aged under ten years. The couple had come to Australia in 1840.

The sergeant joined the police force on 2 April, 1841 and at the time of his death he was attached to the Sydney Police. He had been an acting sergeant for seven years.