SIXTY YEARS IN GAOL

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4416, 18 February 1930, Page 3

SIXTY YEARS IN GAOL

* LAST OF BUSHRANGERS RELEASED AT AGE OF 88.

Sydney, February 7,

A recent release from the New South Wales gaols is Jack Bradshaw, the last of the old-time bushrangers. He is now living in Darling-hurst, ail old man of 88 years. Nearly three-quarters of his life have been spent behind prison walls, his whole sentence covering nearly (50 years. Bradshaw was interviewed this week by a Sydney newspaper, and lie told a harrowing tale of the early prison days, when the lash and irons were familiar parts of the prison routine. He still bears the marks of the cat o’ nine tails mi his back and the scars of the irons on bis wrists and ankles. Bradshaw was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for stealing £SOO from a bank at Grenfell. He bailed up the teller and then took, to the bush, where he became the terror of the roads for many years. He was a contemporary of Thunderbolt and Captain. Starlight, and operated on the New England roads and round Maitland and Singleton. After his capture lie was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, with (it) lashes added. He served that sentence, hut with a bitter hatred of the law in his heart, lie took to the mad again when he was released, and again enjoyed a few yea'rs of bush ranging, travelling all over Australia. Again ho was captured mid sentenced to 20 years, and again his back felt the sting of the lush. He escaped from the gaol at A! nit land when he had served 12 years of his second sentence, and on recapture be was ordered another 20 years’-imprisonment. Ilis conduct in prison earned him more lashes and solitary confinement with irons. Although due for release several years ago, he was allowed to stay on in the gaol because he had no home or friends to go to if lie walked out. His savinss while in craol,.augmented by a Government grant at the end of last vear, enabled him to leave the prison, and he is now living- in a small lint in Darlinghurst.