THE RUSH TO THE LITTLE GREY.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 774, 9 February 1871, Page 2

THE RUSH TO THE LITTLE GREY.

CONFESSION AND TRIAL Of THE " PROSPECTOR,"

The excitement regarding the duller rush to the head-waters of the Little Grey continued at the Ahaura township throughout Friday and Saturday. There was a large number of men in the township, who had been deceived by Biker, and who threatened to take lii'a out of the lock-up and hang him, but one of the ring-leaders was arrested by tiie police and lodged in the lock-up along with the mm he was proposing to lynch. As a rule, however, the men wore very quiet and orderly, considering the amount of provocation they had received. While in the lockup at the Ahaura, Baker made "a confession " which was taken down bv Constable Dorris, and of which the following is a copy : "Ahaura, Friday, Feb. 3, 1871.

"I, William Samuel Baker, say that —On Wednesday, the 7th dav ofJauu ary, 1871, 1 met John Coglone at Totara Flat. He told me that he had discovered good payable ground, from which he showed me two prospects*, of about one half pennyweight each, of gold, and said if 1 wished to join him I could take the gold and go and apply for a prospecting claim, but that J might not be in a hurry for a weelc or two, or a little more, as he was goiug to put up a shanty. 1 consented to go and apply for the prospecting claim. He then handed me five pounds (a note) to pay my expenses to Cobden and back to the ground he was working. I asked him where he got his stores, and where lie was working. He told me ho got his stores either from the Saddle or from some accommodation house, and that in going to the ground where he got the gold 1 was to go on the road to the Saddle of the Little Grey, about four miles past the last pakihi, and that 1 would see a little creek, with about a head and a half of water, coming into the right-hand side of tiie Little Grey. 1 was to follow the creek up until 1 would come to a blind gully, which would take me into the leading range, which I would follow down on the. opposite side into the creek, where he (Coglone) was working, and in which there were about three heads of water running. He. told me that he had prospected tho creek for about four miles, and that it contained payable gold. He also told ine that there was a flat on the right-hand side of the creek, about one mile by eight, which he had prospected, and that it contained payable gold throughout, sufficient to hold a population of five thousand persons. I then agreed to go and get a prospecting claim and grant of reward if I could, and we were to be mates. On Thursday, 26th January, 1 was going to Half-ounce. I met Coglone again; he asked me if I had applied for the prospecting claim, I said 'Not yet, but that I would go to-day.' Coglone then said ho was going up to the claim, which ho had marked off. I then started for tho Grey, and reached the Twelvemile that night. Next day I arrived at Greymouth, and; showed the prospects at tho Bank of New South Wales. I got one parcel of gold melted, which produced IGgra of gold. I said at the Rink that I was going to apply to Mr Whitefoord for a prospecting claim. Mr Farmer, the meltor, went With mo to Mr Wkite-

foord. I told him (Mr Whitefoord) I had found payable ground with a man named .Coglone. He asked me where it was, and I told him it wag situated about eighteen miles from Smith's, in the direction of the Saddle. I told hi in that I prospected the ground for about four miles, which contained payable gold sufficient to hold a population of 5000 people. The smelter then stated the prospects which he tried. Mr Whitefoord asked me if I was certain that the ground was payable. I said ' Yes ;' and I then got the prospecting ground protected. I then went to the " Grey Eiver Argus " office with Mr Farmer. They asked me at the office if it was correct about my getting a prospecting claim? 1 said ' Y~es.' Coglone was a mate of mine in Victoria for about eighteen months. I thought I could rely on what he told me. I am sorry that the ground is not fouud, and for misleading the public.

" I, the said William Samuel Baker, make this statement and sign it, after being cautioned by Sergeant Goodall that it will be used in evidence against me. " Wm. Samuel Baker." Ou the return of Mr Warden Whitefoord from Napoleon to the Ahaura. on Friday night, a Magig. trate's Court was opened in the Camp, and Samuel Baker, alias •' Yankee Sam," was charged, under the provi, sions of the Vagrant Act of 1866, sec. 4. clause 3, which says, " Any person imposing or endeavoring to impose upon any charitable institution ot private individual, by any false ot fraudulent representation, either ver bally or in writing, with a view to oh tain money or any other benefit oi advantage, shall be liable to imprison inent in any gaol, with hard labor, for any period not exceeding one year,' Sergeant Goodall prosecuted. Thi prisoner heard a statement he hi made to Constable Dorrisat the Polici Station read over to him, and he sail it had been taken down correctly. Hi

said he was sorry for misleading tl public, and that there was no found tiou for the rush further than I stated.

The Magistrate, after giving the pi soner a severe lecture, sentenced hi to six months' imprisonment, wi hard labor.