PORT PHILLIP. THE MURDERERS OF MR. BEVERIDGE.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 90, 20 February 1847, Page 4

PORT PHILLIP. THE MURDERERS OF MR. BEVERIDGE.

In our " Extraordinary" of Friday, we announced the capture of three blacks charged with the wilful immler of Mr. Beveridge, junior, settler, on the Lower Murray. They were accordingly brought up for a preliminary examination at the police office on the same rooming, but stand remanded to Monday next, in order to have the benefit of the attendance of two white men who have already identified the three assassins as being the persons perpetrated the lamentable act. Their names are Ptolemy, Bullet-eye, and Bobby. They appear to be between thirty and thirty- five years of age. Ptolemy and Bobby are men of much muscular frame and most savage disposition* The following particulars relative to their capture will no doubt be interesting to the public. On the 30th October, Corporal Johnston, who was on duty on the Lower Murray, with troopers Parrcll and Dollard, of the Border Police, heard of the untimely fate of Mr. Beveridge from Mr. Byerley, overseer to Captain Coghill, and therefore determined to leave no exertion untried in apprehending the murderers, whose description and names he obtained. Accordingly he started in pursuit, having first adopted the precaution of divesting himself and party of their police uniform, and assumed the dress and character of settlers. The services of a few friendly natives were also secured, and invitations transmitted to several aboriginal chiefs in the locality to come ami partake of " plenty bubble, bubble." After some exertions, about thhty of the natives were induced to cross the river ; these included the thiec persons the objects of the exclusion. The corporal then prepared some flour, sugar, and water, and having manuafacturcd some bark platters, a general ieast was served up, and the sable "lords of the soil" accommodated with scats mound the festive board, little dreaming of the stratagem in which they were enveloped. The tluee murderers occupied a prominent place amongst the " guests of the evening," and the corporal made himself pavticulaily agreeable in catering to their comfort. It was, however, preconcerted that three noosed ropes should be prepared, that the troopers at a given time should take up a position one behind each of the three blacks, and upon a given signal— the ejaculation of the word " 2'firec"-— each man should immediately throw tho noose over his blackfellow's head and hus make him his prisoner. In a few minutes the fatal password was pronounced, and each policeman did his duty most dexterously, and the three blacks wcie pinned ti^ht enough. Two shepherds then rushed from a hut with drawn swords, brandishing them at the blacks, vhi eh caused the lemnindcr of the company to retreat •iciobs the river, with loud yelling. The captives were then secured and placed in the hut under sufficient guard. This happened on the 2nd November, and on the afternoon of the same day a friendly blackfellow was despatched from the ncighboui ing* tribes as a messenger of consolation to the prisoncis, to inform them that before day-break on the following morning tho whitcfellow's hut would be attacked, and they set at liberty. Ths ambassador did not however discharge his duty with his exported integrity, but, turning traitor hought an interview with corporal Johnston, and cautioned him to— "bone sleep that night." Thus being forewarned, the commandant, as a matter of course, was " forearmed." Defensive preparations were forth* with commenced, all the cartridges in the hut (120 rounds) were placed at hand, guns and pistols were loaded, doors barred, and the hut put in every possible mode of resistance for the anticipated siege. About three o'clock in the morning the war cry of the blacks was heard, and some thirty of them commenced a vigorous attack on the hut ; a dozen of the mos,t courageous assailing the rear, and some of them actually mounting the roof with the intention of pulling away the bark. A chief of gigantic dimensions commenced cutting down the back slabs with a tomahawk, knowing of course, that if he succeeded the roof would fall in} Corporal Johnston immediately reconnoitred this act, and knowing the consequences, made towards that portion of the hut with a determination to prevent the consummation of the attempt. The moment however he approached the slabs a spear came whizzing through, and the barb actually perforated his jacket. His escape was miraculous, »s if it had advanced another inch ho

must have been killed on the spot A shot was instantly fucd in the direction of the spear by a Mr. Kirby, and the black fellow was killed. After corporal Johnston recovered himself from the shock he sustained, he looked towards the roof, and beheld a blackfcllow actually making his way through it. On this Mr. Andiew Beveridge discharged his piece, ami brought him to the ground. The attack was continued for some time in a most determined and sanguinary manner by the blacks, and the hut was as ably defended by its inmates, who were only eight in number. Dollard, one of the lioopers, being an athletic man, rcndeied considerable assistance from the powerful manner in which he qua ded and maintained the door against the furious exw turns of the assailants. Morning came at length and the blacks departed, foiled in their fixed resolve to lescne their brethren from the custody of the whites. There were about thirty blacks at the hut, and, it is supposed, no less than two hundred were lying in am bush in the sanoundiug scrub, who wcic ready to join the advance upon a change of cry. They nlso imagined they would have an easy conquest, that the whites the moment of the commencement of the attack would flee hut, make for their horses, and be butchered in the attempt. In this they unfortunately reckoned without their host. In their retreat the blacks falling in with the hoi scs of the others, speared one, and the remainder foiUmalely started towards the hut. The' next thing to be considered by the corporal was, the safe transmission of his prisoners to Melbourne — the aboriginal tribes all 'round were fierce and hostile — delay would be dangi'rou?, and to attempt to proceed with his then limited escort, worse. The pai ty was at this time 250 miles fiom town, in a sequestered portion of the Lower Murray, and the only alternative to be adopted was, the despatch of a mounted express a distance of 75 miles, which was accomplished in .in incredible short time, snd a reinfoi cement of nine men arrived in the evening after, with which the prisoners proceeded to Melbourne without any molestation whatsoever. The additional guard lcmaincd with them until they got beyond the jurisdiction of the Murray blacks, when they returned to their avocations, and the three troopers continued their march. On reaching within ten miles from town, Johnston and Dollard proceeded in in search of a waterhole, and Ptolemy, the black under the charge of trooper Farrell lay down on the road, stating that he was ill, and unwilling to proceed farther. The trooper was in the act of jumping from his horse to compel him to get up, when Ptolemy watched his opportunity, j.taitcd on his legs, drew the policeman's sword, and , immediately attacked him. Farrell commenced to " cooey," and the corpotal, hearing the voice, lost no time in returning, when he found the parties struggling with each other ; he accordingly overpowered and secured Ptolemy. Farrell has received a severe wound in the arm, so much so that it is thought he will be depi ived of the use of it The prisoners were then brought | to Melbourne, which they reached on Thursday evening. Great credit is due to Corptfral Johnston, for his determination and foresight in this matter. Had it not been | for his experience ajad 'dexterity, a foul and unprovoked , murder would cry in for vengeance — the three guilty homicides would be allowed to revel through their native wilds with impunity, and an exulting impression that the massacre of a white man can be perpetrated at pleasure. He has, therefore, a peculiar claim upon the generosity of the settlers in that locality. We understand a subscription has been already organized on the Murray— such a step is not only right, but necessary. The same man, it will be recollected, was the apprchender of Warrigle Jemmy, the convicted blackfellow, who speared Mr. Cooper's shepherd on the Lower Loddon ;— and what Government reward did he receive I on that occasion? Will it be believed, that though that airest and prosecution actually cost Corporal Johnston £7 10s., the Crown has not refunded him one farthing 1 This is certainly unreasonable. If the aborigines receive not a salutary check, no bounds will attend their atrocities. The only way to teach them to fear the arm of the law, is to have " punishment follow quick the steps of crime ;" and if adventurous and praiseworthy public officers be not reasonably rewarded, few will be found to risk their lives in contributing to | the safety of the lives and property of others.— P. P. Herald.