ATTEMPT TO STICK UP A STORE AT THE GILBERT.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 666, 26 April 1870, Page 4

ATTEMPT TO STICK UP A STORE AT THE GILBERT.

[SYDNEY MAIL, APRIL 2. j The following particulars of an attempt to stick-up Towns and Co. 'a store, at the Junction of the Gilbert and Robertson (near the Western Creek Diggings, North Queensland), have been brought in by an express messenger from Mr Francis, the manager of the store, to Mr Inspector Clohesy, the officer in charge of the Gilberton station. Early in the forenoon of the 31st ult., two well known rowdies — JackMoreland, alias " Three Fingered Jack," and Jack Sullivan, made their appearance in the neighborhood of the store, and commenced operations by tying to a tree, a mile up the river, a boy belonging to the store. They then went in search of another of Mr Francis's hands named Beath, and having found him they took him four miles higher up the river where there is an island in the middle of the stream, to which they conveyed him, and there lashed him securely to the ground. But, while this was going on, the boy had managed to release himself by gnawing with his teeth the cord with which he had been secured, and he then lost no time in running to the store and giving the alarm. It appears the junction store is a regnlar arsenal in the way of firearms, but at the time the boy rushed in with the news of the occurrence Mr Francis was the only man on the premises. Fortunately, however, at this juncture, a blackfellow, a bullock-driver, named Donald Simpson, who was taking stores from Gilberton to Western Creek for 'Mr Bernecker, rode up, and on Mr Francis telling him that he was about to be stuck up, Simpson willingly consented to stand by him. This was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and by the time they had armed themselves and got things in readiness to give the ruffians a reception equal to their deserts, Moreland and Sullivan were seen to come up the stockyard, a short distance from the store, Moreland on horseback, and Sullivan on foot. Both men were well known to Simpson, and Moreland especially is well known to the police and to the people of Northern Queensland as a desperate character. It appears that about the time of the last Gilberton races he had something to do with a horse in which Simpson was interested, about which they had a fight at Gilberton, Simpson beating his opponent in two rounds, so that Simpson estimated Moreland's prowess very lightly. On their approaching the stockyard, therefore, Simpson rode up to them and said, "You'd better. clear out of this, Jack — I know what you're after;" upon which Moreland drew his revolver and shot him through the body, the ball entering his right side, immediately below the ribs, j and passing out at a corresponding point of the back. Simpson fell from his horse, which Moreland was Beizing to ride away with, no doubt seeing that the game was

spoiled for the time — when Simpson fired at him from where he lay, the ball taking effect in the thigh. This, however, did not prevent the fellow mounting the horse, but before they had properly started Mr Francis fired a rifle shot at Moreland, and again he was hit, the ball having apparently passed through the upper part of the body, and considerably staggering him. But still he retained his seat in the saddle, and both started full speed for the Robertson, which is only 200 or 300 yards distant, and was only crossable at the time by swimming. On the bank, they were joined by a third man on horseback, a cattle- tailer, who was no doubt to have taken part in the programme, had it been carried out— and the trio entered the river together. Only Sullivan and Moreland reached the opposite bank, however, so that the third man must have been carried down the stream and drowned. After crossing the river, they rode in the direction of the Western Creek diggings, and had not proceeded far when they encountered " Sam, the Tracker," a person going from Francis's branch store on the diggings to the main store at the junction, with the gold and cash taken during the week, and two other men, neither of whom, so my informant writes, had even a pocket-knife with him. The bushrangers were nearly naked— one of them quite so ; and, after some remarks about the river, "Sam, the Tracker," seeing the blood welling from two or three different places on Moreland, remarked that he must have been snagged in crossing. Moreland appeared to think there had been enough talking, and no doubt knowing his men, he rode up to Francis's assistant and asked if he had any gold. He was answered in the affirmative. "Then," said the bushranger, " out with it, for I want it !" presenting his revolver. There was no alternative, and the men had to surrender 290z of gold and a large sum in notes. As the robbers were riding off, Moreland, referring to the booty he had acquired, said, " I don't think I shall live long, but if Ido I'll spend it." This was the last that was seen of them up to the time the messenger left. Inspector Clohesy started from here for the Junction on Friday evening, accompanied by a black tracker, there being no police station at Western Creek. There is no surgeon in that part of the district either, so that it was not known whether Simpson's wound was necessarily mortal, but at best it is a most' dangerous one.