CAPTURE OF RUTHERFORD THE BUSHRANGER.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 461, 4 February 1869, Page 3

CAPTURE OF RUTHERFORD THE BUSHRANGER.

The Sydney papers contain accounts of the capture of a bushranger, a mate of the notorious Thunderbolt, The evidence of the arresting constable was I to _ this effect: —-The prisoner was riding at racing speed towards the hut, and he made for the ranges. We were then 300 yards from him. I called to him at the top of my voice to " stand and fight like a man." At the same time I sent a bullet after him. Johns did the same. "We fired again and again, when suddenly the prisoner rolled from his horse on the off side. I said " He is wounded." He then turned and placed his left hand to his breast. We dismounted. He then aimed a pistol at constable Johns. I believe he did not fire. He then scrambled behind a large rock quite near. I left my horse, and fired my fourth shot at the fugitive. We . stopped about a minute to breathe. The black following here called out, "He is mounting the range." We then made a dash for his horse, which we secured, with bridle, saddle, waterbag, and loaded single-barrel gun. We returned to the hut with the horses, watching them all night; all the horses on the station were alike yarded. On the following morning I put the trackers on the trail and followed them throughout ► the day in the different parts of the mountains ; we again returned to the hut with all the horses, and kept a strict watch. The next dr,y we were again on his tracks. I then gave constable Johns charge of all the horses, saddles, etc., and directed him to keep Mr Smith's company with the other men on the station, and that I would follow the trail myself, forming a code of signals, showing him how to act. We followed the footprints till about half-past 10, leaping from rock to rock. The blacks were at fault for a quarter of an hour. One then said—" White close up, bael boot, sit down." I was above him when he said this, looking •down the different caves and gullies,

and as I gained a shelf in "the rock, I saw a pistol and a large pouch. I , then returned to the top of the rock, took off my hoots, and signalled the blacks to join ine. They did so. I despatched one of them for constable Johns and the horses, myself and Tommy keeping watch near where I found the pistol. In an hour I was joined by Johns, Mr Smith, and another man. I signed to Johns not to come up. He took off his boots, and we crept to the place where I had found the pistol. Tommy here said that he could see a naked leg between the crevices of the rock, and that it moved. I sai 1 we must rush the place. Crawled to the rock under which he was, and jumped down to where he was, one taking ona end and the other the other, and then I called on him in the Queen's name to stand, each of us covering him with our revolvers. The prisoner said "Yes, I will." I said to Johns, "Handcuff him." O e of his hands was thrown up. He was then secured. He was quite nude. I disarmed him of a revolver, loaded and capped in six chambers; also, a single pistol, loaded and capped, a pouch containing a bag of powder, box of caps, twenty-eight bullets and seven revolver bullets. I gave him the usual caution, and asked him his name. He replied, "My name is Eutherford, Thunderbolt's mate." I then charged j him with shooting senior-constable I M'Cabeon the 6th of October last, I on the Warrego River • he said," Yes, lam the man who shot M'Cabe :"■ I am sorry for it, and must suffer for it." I We then gave him water and started for the horses, and on his way down he said his name was Pearson, and was [ a doctor by profession. The prisoner, at the hearing of the charge against him, said that the police had shown more pluck than is generally displayed, and that they treated him with extreme kindness. During the hearing he remained as cool as a spectator at a theatre, glancing back unflinched stares from all who sought his gaze.