A STRANGE STORY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2589, 25 April 1877, Page 3

A STRANGE STORY.

A man named Roderick Manion (says the Wellington Argus), who is now in Wellington, makes the following statement:— ;•:■>

About three years ago I went on a visit .to New South Wales to see that colony. While travelling through/the interior, and having .reached the West Bogau No. 6 Cattle Station, in the occupation of a family named Neill, together with their brother-in-hw, Hugh -Monohon, I was robbed of-what I was possessed in money and wearing apparel. This occurred on Wednesday, January 19, 1876, about 9. p.m. The names ..of those who robbed me were John Neill, Robert Neill, Hugh Monohon, and a person who had arrived two days before with a buggy. My murder was, doubtless, intended on that night, and a fire lit to receive my remains. However, I fortunately escaped to Mr Richardson's, at Duck Creek, about two and a half miles distant. My four assassins followed me through the bush. I was promised assistance by a person residing at Mr Richardson's and protection by the same, in which he, failed, and jsned my pursuers as an accomplice. On \fs£ morning of the 20th ray ill-usage again commenced. I was hunted up and down in front of the house. I eluded my pursuers by dodging round a box tree, for I knew that if I once left the sight of men who were working at a sawmill about 300 yards distant and took to the bush, my death would be certain. The night of- 1 the 20th I passed in two outhouses, about 400 yards from the house. None of the men engaged on. the sawmill gave me assistance. On the morning of the 21st, Mr Richardson's overseer, by name Rogers, with his Btoreman, brQught two buckets of water and a rope,' with an iron ring in it. The overseer took the water from the storeman and threw-it in my face, and then, placing the rope about my neck (having beaten me on the head with the iron ring, marks of which remain to the present day), led me into the stable, saying he should hang me. I was detained there ajl the 21st without food or water. During the night a chain was put about .my arms, and my pursuer's treachery getting abroad amongst the men employed on the saw mill, a policeman was procured to bring a fictitious charge against me, by which means I should be obliged to quit the place. January 22nd I was taken .Jn charge, and brought down a "back creek in a spring cart to Canmbar Lock-up. During my journey the Neills made many attempts to take my life, riding armed on horses back. I was kept in Caninbar Lock-up •until January 29th. On Saturday, January 29, the same policeman took me to a small township named Warren, but the gaoler refused to admit me without a warrant. In the afternoon then I was driven on to a public-house on the road to Dubbo, which place I reached about 9.30 p.ni. There I was chained by the leg to an iron beadstead, and told by the policeman that such treatment was too good for a dog like'me. On the morning of Sunday, January 30th, we started in a coach for Dubbo, about 5 o'clock a.m., reaching Dubbo at mid-day. The goaler admitted me, smiled-.in my face, and entered me on bis books. Being .kept there a prisoner till Saturday, March 4th, I was led out to an.'., adjoining courthouse by the gaoler. He acnust d. me of breaking the peace, and wanted me - to find sureties—myself in £20 and two. others in £10. I told him that I had never broken the peace. He gave me.no answer, and led me back into the gaol. For the next three hours, at intervals, I was deprived by the gaoler and a doctor of my senses, under the process of chloroform and mesmerism—at the expiration of which I found myself back in the courthouse with, an' apple in the right hand and a piece of bread in the other. The doctor affirmed openly that hV believed me to be under the effects of a sunstroke. After asking the reason of my being thus unjustly treated, I was told that they were obliged to play some trick to get rid of me. I was then led back, to the gaol. On the next day, Sunday, March sth, between the hour of 6 and 7 p.m., I was taken strapped into the public streets* knocked down, and publicly illused. I had presence of mind enough to keep my temper and not raise my voice, telling them at the same time that I should bring their injustice to light, at the first favorable opportunity. Before leaving the gaol I demanded my clothes and £3 10s, which a sister of the Neill's had brought to the gaoler for my necessities, and out of which he had appropriated £1 10s. My clothes were refused, and out of the "£3 10s thirty-one shillings only was entrusted to a person who was commissioned to take me to Iron Barks. On the same night I was secured in the lc-ek-up at Iron Barks. After a number of day s I was forwarded to Wellington, detained there for some days, until,.in the dead of a- certain night, a conveyance drove: up to the gaol. I was hurried out of the; gaol, beaten with the drivers whip, and finally driven along a fence from the right angle of the entrance to the gaol. The next afternoon I found myself between two hills, and on enquiry found that my final destination was to be A rmadale, in.£pew- England. The gaol was situate aPiihe opposite end of the town to which we entered ; and I must here state that before entering the town they endeavored, without success, to deprive me again of my senses. Armadale is a flourishing, town with broad streets and- a thriving trade. I was kept in Armadale gaol in a state of insensibility, carried from thence to Hill End, where 1 "was placed in the yard of a publichouse as a j spectacle to a crbwd. My boots had been ! taken from me, rendering my feet blistered and my soles peeling off under the heat of the sun •, my body was in a filthy state from head to foot. I declined here accepting food from the person who had me in charge, being in a state unfit to be seen at table, although I had not tasted decent food for a long period. The' same day I was taken to Orange gaol where I was detained about four days. On the sth I was forwarded, to Bathurst. At Orange a cell was alloted to myself with three others in size about 12ft. by 6ft;, the stench of it and the heat were unbearable. During my imprisonment at Bathurst 1 met with a warder who had formerly been a color-sergeant in my own company of the 14th regiment, by name John Doyke, who took an interesHn my state, spoke to a chaplain concerning me, and on Tuesday, April 11, a statement was to be taken, on my behalf. The Governor of the gaol,however, ordered that I should proceed to Sydney an.d there obtain redress. . Accordingly, on Tuesday, April 11, 1876, 1 started in company with a Mr ILeredon and an officer in charge, by rail for Sydney ; nevertheless I was detained at Paramatta and not allowed to proceed. That

night I passed in Paramatta lock-up, and on the next morning was sent to GJadesville to visit aDr Manning. On receiving me he ordered me to IS!o. 2 yai'd. Cn April 19th and 20th T applied to Dr Joseph for a statement of my detention and a release^ He replied that I should have to remain, and that (here vas nothing wrong with me whatever. The roason why I made the application was that I was denied Divine Service on Kastc-r Day, Ap:il 16. List of Sundays on which I was allowed Divine Service:— April 23, 30, June 4, July 23, August 6, September ■24, October 8, 15, 27, November 5, 12, 19, 26, December 3, 10, 17,24, 31, Christmas Day 25, January 7, U, 21, 28, February 4. On all the other Sundays (of which the dates can be given) I was not allowed to attend Divine Service. April 29th I met with ELeredon, who had returned from Sydney: asked whether he had seen the chaplain who was to see to my welfare at Sydney. He replied that the chaplain did not wish to .have any communication with him. On the 10th of February I was shipped on the Hero to. Auckland, and put out of ■the jurisdiction, of the New South Wales Government.