MURDER AT THE DIAMOND CREEK STATION, VICTORIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 334, 18 October 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

MURDER AT THE DIAMOND CREEK STATION, VICTORIA.

(FROM THE ARGUS.)

The death of the late Mr Henry Hurst, by the hand of the bushranger, Burke, has been the causawf the most painful excitement through the district, as the deceased was a resident of nearly fifteen years' standing, and was generally liked and respected. On Saturday and Sunday the station was visited by a great number of his friends, who were desirous of offerirg thejr condolences to the surviving members of his family ; aiut many others who were not l personally acquainted with the deceased young man, made their way to the scene of the tragedy, for the purpose of expressing their sympathy with the bereaved family. It appears that the encounter between Mr ' Hurst and the bushranger has been incorrectly reported in one particular. The account previously published stated that Burke fired two shots before MrHurst closed with him, while the actual , fact is, that Burke did not discharge his pistol at all until Mr Hurst closed with him, when he fired three successive shots, the last penetrating the deceased's abdomen, and lodging in Burkes own leg. This was the fatal shot, the two previous ones having inflicted pnere slight injuries. According, however, to the statement made by the deceased just befoie his death, Burke tried to fire off one of the chambers before the struggle took place, and his object was only defeated by the cap missing fire. It was not until after this unmistakeable evidence of the ruffian's murderous intentions that Mr Hurst ' discharged his gun, and when he did so, he was so close to Burke that he could not raise the piece to his shoulder to take aim. As the charge went considerably wide of the mark, and was very nearly striking the deceased's sister, it seems probable that Burke, by a quick movement, pushed the muzzle of the gun on one side, and thus escaped death. The shot, after leaving the barrel of the gun, held very well together, for the charge can now be seen almost in one lump, embedded in the slabs of the kitchen,] It seems that the night before his visit to the st ition, Burke excited attention by the singularity of his conduct at a place called the Kangaroo-grounds, distant from Mr Hurst/s Nation about five

miles. lie arrived at this pla( :>• on Wednesday evening, and going to a bnurdinghousc kept by a person ni.med Weller, stated that he was bushed and wished to remain there for (he, night. He took tea with a number of other persons, and it was noticed 1.-v several that he appeared to be very im-'asy and fidgety, and disinclined to look anyone in the face — a peculiarity subsequently remarked by Miss Hurst. He was shown into a sleeping room, and in the morning it was found that <he had left before any of the inmates had risen, leaving his bedroom candle burning. From what occurred afterwards, it seems clear that Burke, who, evidently knows something of the country, made his way straight across the bush to Hurst's station, arriving there before eight o'clock. Burke, it appears, is not altogether unknown in this locality. He was recognised by a police-constable as having been a stockrider on the Wimmera four or five years ago, and it is said that at one time he was engaged in school-teaching in this colony. According to his own statement, his native place is Dublin, where a number of his relatives live. On his person was found a letter from his uncle, written in a style which proved its author to be a man of some education. Had all the chambers of Burkes revolver been loaded when he 1 cached the. station, it is more than probable that Abbott would have shared the fate of the deceased man. When Abbott courageously seized the bushranger by the throat, the latter presented his pistol at his, breast, and threatened to shoot him unless he let him go t/but had there been another charge in the revolvers, there can be no doubt that the ruffian would have fired at once, instead /of using an idle threat, judging at least from the freedom with which he hid previously used his weapon upon poor Hurst. Abbott, however, was under the impression that the pistol still contained one or more charges, mid in striking the weapon out .of Burkes hand he showed great presence ( f mind. Abbott's courageous conduct is .greatly praised bj the inhabitants, and it is to hoped that the Government will recognise it' in "some way. An inquest was held on the body of the unfortunate young man, which was adjourned for further evidence.

Test for Kerosene. — The following simple test for kerosene oil is given by Dr. J. W. Huntoon, of Boston, U.S. : — Fill a tumbler threefourths full of inodeiately cool water, tlu n pour half a table-spoonful of oil into it, stir them together, then hold a, lighted match over the tumbler, and if it takes fire from fche vapor, before the fhtne comes in contact with the oil, it is dangerous, as good oil will not thus ignite, and indeed, will not bjjrn readily when a flaming match is jthrown into it, while thos; which have been much adulterated with benzine will emit a vapor which is nearly as explosive as gunpowder, aud the oil will then burn freely.

A splendid testimonial, in the shape of a •silver dinner service, of the value of LIOOO, lias been preseuted to VL-eount Halifax, G.C.B. (better known as the Right Hon. Sir Ch.i'les Wood, Bart., M,P.), in recognition of his lordship's services to the constituency of Halifax during a period of thirty-three fears. The service consisted of two soup tiueens, simple, but elegant in design, twenty-four soup'and seventytwo dinner plates. Upon eftch of the pieces were the aims of the noble vfcconnt, and, encircled by a ttoial wreath, the words, " The gift of Halifax." „

era 15s.