AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 193, 22 May 1872, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

From the Sydney Morning Herald. THE MURDER OF SERGEANT SUTHERLAND. A telegram was received by Mr Super!tit. iidcnt Lydiard on Thursday last (says the Bathurst Times), conveying the intelligence that \V iliiatu Bristol*, the companion of the man who murdered Sergeant Sutherland, had been captured at Cowra. George Gray, the actual murder* r, is still at large, but it is to lie hoped that lie aiso will soon be in the bands of the police. I'lie t legram above referred to is as follows :—“ William Bristoe arrested on the bank of the river, at Cowra, at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, by Cub-Inspector Stephenson and Constai-le Ilaeket. Identified positively by* three witnesses as one of the murderers.” We believe that a reward of £2OO is attached to the capture of the two men. The Carcoar Chronicle of Saturday* gives the following further particulars : Ahout 5 o’clock, on Wednesday, SubInspector Stephenson and Constable liackett arrested a man answering the description of one of the bushrangers concerned in the murder of Sergeant Sutherland, between the bridge and the police barracks on the hank of the river. The man, whose name is William Bristoe, was brought up and examined to-day r , and fully identified by five witnesses as the mate of the man who shot Mr Sutherland. Patrick Connell, a shepherd, swore positively* that this man (Bristoe) and his mate accosted him in the hush ahout five miles from Cowra, on the west bank of the Lachlan ; that Bristoe carried a gun, but could not see whether the other man had one or not; they* inquired the road to Forbes, and also to West’s station, Binda, having previously asked the road to the river, saying they intended to shoot ducks. Mrs Whittaker, residing on the Back Creek, swore that the prisoner was one of the three men who camped near her place, having a bullock-team, loaded or partly loaded with potatoes; and from whom she had bought some ; she noticed that the men had firearms ; they inquired the road to the river; Mrs Whittaker swore distinctly that prisoner was one of the men. John Jamieson and Mrs Jamieson, who reside about 200 yards from Hoian’a (the scene of the murdei), swore distinctly that prisoner was one of the two men who inquired for one James Seery, a farmer, on the day of the murder ; they were riding bay horses. Jamieson stated that in about ten minutes after the men passed on their way to Horan’s lie heard shot’s tired ; he came up to the place afterwards and saw the dead body of Mr Sutherland. Daniel Horan swore that prisoner was like the man that inquired for James Seery while crossing the creek, but was not stout enough, and had too much heard to be the man ; he was not tho man.

Mrs Horan said that two men came to her house about ten minutes before Sergt. Sutherland came ; she went out to gather some firewood, and- while putting it down opposite the fire she heard a horse outside; she went to the door, and sergeant Sutherland bid her “ good dayshe bid him “ good day ” also ; and lie asked if Dan (her husband) was at home; this was between 3 and 4 o’clock : the younger of the two men walk dto the door; sergeant Sutherland beckoned to him, and they went to the end of the but and bad five minutes’ conversation ; Sutli ■rland said, “ have you got a mate inside,” but I did not hear the reply ; Sutherland rede I mole asrain to the hut, and said to the men inside, “come out;’’ the man answered “ I won’t Sut erland said “ I’ll make you, or I’ll shunt the pair of you. Witness here slated that she was always afraid of shootimr ; she ran away to the back of the hut, and while there she heard three shots find; Mrs Sr ery called to her, and tod her the s rgeant had fallen, rnd to come to her ; she went to the s rgeant and brought a pint of water; the sergeant was dead ; she did not see the men run away; she could not identify them, her sight having been failing for eleven years. Mrs Keery gave evidence similar to the last witness up to the time of last witness going to the back of the hut. When Sergeant Sutherland said he would slmot the pair of them he (the sergeant) got off his horse, and as he did so the tall darkhaired man described by witness came to the door and said, “ I’ll shoot," and fired with a revolver which ho took from his hreast. Sergeant Sutherland ran in front of the hut, and the tall dark man followed him, and fired two more shots. Sergeant Sutherland fell. When this man fired at Sutherland he was within three or four hundred yards of his back. Witness then said, “My God! the man is killed,” and went to the sergeant, saw the man mount the sergeant’s horse arid lead the other away. Could give no further account of the affair, being very excited. Prisoner is not one of the two men, as tho younger of them looked as if he had been clean shaved,