The northern territory police magazine $4 c tat
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The next day we were on our way back to Robinson River Station with the prisoner travelling on foot. The horses we had dropped on the way up were picked up. " Riding through spinifex country all day — very desolate looking. Out of beef again, which means johnny cake and golden syrup for supper ", ran part of the diary entry for 3ist March; then followed some remarks about seeing I had more and better provisions next time I went out. On again the next day through more spinifex country where the flies were almost unbearable. After lunch we got out of the spinifex into better country and late in the afternoon we shot a killer near our night camp. I wrote, " All had a great feed of fresh beef which tasted wonderful after having no beef for days ". Another day's travelling with one horse lame, and the prisoner not going too fast, so progress was slow and then the next morning we arrived back at Robinson River where Archie McIntyre told me that Jenny had died after reaching Cloncurry. I heard afterwards when Dr. Alberry of Cloncurry gave his evidence in the Supreme Court at Darwin that the spear had entered her liver. A day's spell at Robinson River and then four days travelling back to Borroloola with the prisoner on foot all the way, the biggest distance for one day being 25 miles which didn't seem to worry George much. The whole trip occupied 23 days and about 39o-odd miles. It was 8th April when we arrived back at Borroloola and a little over a week later I went up to McArthur River with the mail and brought back witnesses by horse. Then (Continued overleaf) Page Twenty followed the Court. George was committed for trial at the next Supreme Court sitting in Darwin. Two days later, with the prisoner, two witnesses and a tracker, I was on my way by horse plant to Birdum, about 26o-odd miles distant, to catch the train for Darwin, arriving there two weeks later. The trip was uneventful, except for the fact that rain held us up for three days near Tanumbirini Station, which meant travelling long hours during the following days, so that we wouldn't miss the train which departed from Birduni. every Friday morning. However, we managed to get 411e-re on the Thursday evening by making a big stage of 45 miles the day before. The prisoner, by the way, was making the trip on horseback and not having a very comfortable time when mounted. It was something he wasn't accustomed to and at times I noticed him sitting very lightly in the saddle, which caused a great deal of amusement to the other blacks in the party. His new blue dungaree trousers were chafing him, he complained to me, so he was given some dripping to rub on the affected parts the only thing on hand suitable for such a misfortune. Then followed the two day train trip to Darwin and on 25th May Wearyan George appeared in the Supreme Court charged with murder. The evidence was over by 12.15 p.m., but then came something of a surprise —the jury couldn't agree. Three times they returned to the Court, still without agreement, the last somewhere about xi p.m., whereupon the Judge ordered that they be locked up for the night. This did cause some con sternation for the Police who had to find beds, bedding, mosquito nets and other things for the Jurors who were finally bedded down for the night in a long room in the rear of the old Court House building. The next morning, when Court resumed, the Jury returned a verdict of " Not Guilty ". George was taken out to the Kablin Compound, which was situated in the area now occupied by Darwin Hospital buildings, to await transport back to his own country. He had other ideas, however, and soon afterwards dis appeared, never to be heard of again so far as I know. "Finhe Flash " Constable Charlie Taylor. Yüklə 0,73 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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