CAPTURE OF AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGERS An Exciting Scene -Three Men Shot Dead.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 May 1885, Page 3

CAPTURE OF AUSTRALIAN BUSHRANGERS An Exciting Scene -Three Men Shot Dead.

An inquest was begun on Saturday, 11th April, at Mudgee, on the bodies of Charles Stewart, a storekeeper, of Green Swamp, and William White, alias Thurston, who were c<hot dead. It appears that, from information received, an attack on Stewarts store, Belinfante Bridge, was expected, and Sergeant Burns and Mounted-troi-pers Day and McKinlay secreted themselves on the premises. At about half-past eleven Thurston and Angel, two desporate robbers, called at Stewarts residence, a short distance from tho store, and asked to be supplied with tobacco. Stewart took them 10 the store, and after having (riven them the tobacco was about to re close the premises, when Thurston presented a pistol at him, and Baid, " We want you." Sergeant Burns, who was armed with a double barrelled rifle loided with slugs, called out to the bushrangers to surrender. Thuraton immediately accused Stewart of being an informer, and shot him dead on the spot. Serjeant Burns fired atThurston, whodropped immediately, and Trooper Day at Angel. Angel ran away, but Pay fired again with more success than on the previous occasion. The bullet penetrated the small of Angel's back, passed clean through, and cam© out al. the lower extremity of the abdomen. Later details state :— Angel, the bushranger, died on Sunday morning in the Gulgong Hospital from the effects of the wounds ieeeh 7 ed during the conflict with the police on Friday night in Stewarts store He remained conscious to the last, bub suffered tho most excruciating agony. It has transpired from the evidence given at the • oroner's inquiry that, Stewart was adn a ed by the police to leave the premises on the night of the bushrangers' visit ; but he refused, on thoground that it would appear cowardly on his part. He was an old miner, and many years ago— at tho time of the Lambing Flat Goldfield rush— came in contact with the notorious bushrangers, Frank Gardiner, Gilbert, Ben Hall, and others, and had escaped without molestation from any of them. Hence the reason of his not fearing the visit of Angel and Thurston.