The Omeo Murder
It was early in January, 1859, while the first gold fever was still raging in Victoria, that a man named Cornelius Green, a large gold-buyer, became the victim of as foul and cold-blooded a murder as was ever committed, the perpetrators being two monsters whose lust for gold had evidently destroyed the last spark of manhood within their breasts. The names of these monsters were Chamberlain and Armstrong, and although I have been unable to discover any previous record of crime against them, the manner in which they set about this deed of blood indicates very clearly that it was not their first acquaintance with deeds of violence.
Green had been at a digging township on Livingstone Creek, in Gippsland, and having collected about 800 ounces of gold, arranged to proceed to Melbourne with his treasure under the escort of a mounted constable, a lady friend of Green's, Miss Mutter, also making one of the party. The party started in the afternoon intending to make a short journey as far as a roadside inn, kept by a man named Burns, before nightfall. This part of the journey they accomplished in safety, but just before arriving at their halting place they passed three men, one of whom was known by Mutter as a journeyman butcher named Chamberlain. Next morning, having breakfasted, the party resumed their journey, a Mr. Dickens, a storekeeper of Swift's Creek, having joined them, as the road they were travelling passed near his store, which was situated about two miles from the inn. On arriving at this place Mr. Green determined upon visiting the store for the purpose of purchasing more gold, and when they reached the turning the party headed for the store, to reach which they had to cross along what was known as the Tongee Racecourse, a fine flat piece of country, but heavily timbered. As the road was not sufficiently wide for the party to ride together they proceeded in the following order:– Mr. Green in advance, leading the pack horse with the gold strapped upon his back; Miss Mutter, upon the same line, upon his left; constable Green a few yards behind, with Dickens upon his right, also leading a pack horse. They had covered about half a mile of the distance when the constable saw an armed man dressed in short trousers and white shirt, with a white turban round his head, suddenly step out from behind a tree, distant about 16 feet from the road, and without uttering a word raised his gun to his shoulder and deliberately fire at Mr. Green. The unfortunate gentleman received the full force of the shot in his side and at once fell against Miss Mutter, whose horse, startled by the report and the falling of Green, immediately bolted in the bush. Almost simultaneously the constable was fired at from another quarter, and received ugly wounds in both arms; and Dickens also was shot with slugs in the back; it was supposed from the fire of a third party, although from what transpired subsequently, it appeared that only two men were engaged in the outrage. Dickens' horse and the constable's both bolted into the bush with them, having, no doubt, been struck with some of the shot, but the latter had not got beyond range before he saw one of the men again deliberately take aim at him and fire, although the second shot did not, fortunately, take effect. The horse was a mettlesome animal, and, gaining the mastery over the wounded constable, made for the Tambo River, into which it threw its rider, although the constable subsequently managed to remount and ride towards the township for assistance. After proceeding a short distance along the road, he met the mailman, who had left Livingstone Creek that morning with the down-country mails. The constable related to him the circumstance of the "sticking-up", and inquired from him how far he was from Swift's Creek, and the direction. In answer to his enquiries, the mailman told him he did not know, as he was nearly an entire stranger in these parts, this being his first trip, from the mail contract having changed hands. However, he stated they were fully two miles from Burns', to which place he advised the constable to proceed with all haste, himself pursuing the mail journey, although he took the precaution of first planting his money at the root of a convenient gum tree.
Miss Mutter's horse, after bolting into the bush for about 200 yards, managed to relieve itself of its rider by throwing her, although she was not hurt in the fall. Naturally looking back to the spot where Mr. Green had fallen, she became witness to a horrible scene. Poor Green was lying on his back, with his hands uplifted, apparently supplicating the two wretches who stood over him; but his prayers were of no avail, for another shot rang out upon the air and the unfortunate victim sank into quietude. Yet even then the robbers' thirst for blood was not appeased, and as Miss Mutter turned to run from the spot, she saw one of them hacking at the prostrate form with a tomahawk. Almost dazed with the horrific sight which had met her gaze. Miss Mutter ran blindly on through the bush, and fortunately fell in with Dickens, who also had been thrown, and was making his way in the direction of his home as fast as his wounds would allow him. They then had a distance of about a mile and a half to traverse before reaching the store, and together they ran until they reached the road, upon which they found Mr. Green's two horses, they having evidently got oft before the robbers had finished their murderous work. They drove the horses before them to the store, and, to their surprise, discovered that the valise containing the gold, cheques and papers, was still on the saddle. These, of course, were at once secured, and deposited in a place of safety.
In due course the constable arrived at Burns' Inn, and told the landlord his story. A pack rider was at once despatched to the police camp at Livingstone Creek with the news, and before nightfall he returned, accompanied by Inspector Hill, the whole of the police force there stationed, and a number of the townspeople, who had volunteered to join in the hunt for the murderers. Reaching the scene of the tragedy, they found Mr. Green's dead body, horribly mutilated, his head riddled with slugs, the nose gashed off from below the arch of the eyebrow, and one of his hands nearly severed from the arm by a tomahawk cut, while there was another terrible gash on the left temple. Every valuable he had about his person had been taken, and it is possible the robbers sought to gratify their wild passion at the loss of the horse with the gold by putting him to death as they did.
Near the spot where the body was lying, it was found that the bushrangers had made a sort of ambush, choosing two gum trees on a line with each other, and filling up the intervening space with boughs, so that they were completely hidden from the view of the unsuspecting party approaching. On search being made, two saddle-straps and some pieces of cartridge paper were found. The straps were at once identified by Mr. Day, storekeeper and publican, who was of the party, as having been sold by him to Armstrong, a few days before, he and Chamberlain having lodged at Day's house. The murdered man had also been stopping at Day's, and here it was, doubtless, that Armstrong and Chamberlain obtained knowledge of his being possessed of the large parcel of gold. The two men had left the house early on the morning of the murder and had not returned.
Poor Green's body was conveyed to Tongee and there buried in the presence of all the townspeople, the funeral service being read by a layman, as there was no clergyman available. No inquest was held, as the solitary magistrate located on the field was at the time away on leave.
The search for the bushrangers was continued with zeal by Inspector Hill and his men, but for some time it was unsuccessful. From the scene of the murder they traced them to a locality forty miles distant, where they had stolen fresh horses, leaving their jaded animals behind them. The chase was a long and severe one, but at last the murderers were caught, and I cannot do better than allow one of the then residents of Livingstone Creek tell the story of the pursuit and capture, as he told it when writing to a friend in Melbourne on the 1st January, 1859. He says:–
Inspector Hill, mounted troopers Reid and White accompanied by Messrs. M'Allister, Sheean, and Davies, left for Mount Gibbo, the police going by way of McFarland and Pender's stations, at Omeo, the others keeping the direct route, but again meeting at Murphy's Water Holes, distant six miles from the place where they parted. They then halted at Green's stores on the Gibbo Creek, had breakfast, and proceeded immediately after to Toke's store, three miles further on, where they ascertained that Chamberlain and Armstrong had arrived early on Sunday, Armstrong paying a visit to Toke's store. Toke was absent at the Livingstone at the time, but his storeman acquainted him on his return with regard to their visitors, and pointed out their encampment. Toke paid them a visit, and after apparently sympathizing with them, succeeded in gaining their confidence, and the two then related the whole narrative of Green's murder, and also that they had intended to murder Dickens, as he knew them, but the pack horse, which was carrying the gold, having got off, and while they were looking for it Dickens escaped.
While at Toke's, Chamberlain wrote a letter to Paynter the butcher, on the township, to be delivered by Toke, who, however, placed it in the hands of the police, at the same time telling the whole conversation he had with Chamberlain and Armstrong, and so freely as, perhaps, may entitle him to the £300 reward offered by Mr. Day. Early on the Tuesday morning following. Chamberlain and Armstrong removed three miles further up, at Wheeler's Crossing, in order to steal two more horses, in which they were unsuccessful. They had left two hours before their pursuers arrived and their departure was delayed as long as possible by Toke, who furnished their supplies, taking a very long time to supply them. They paid him with a horse and bullock receipts. The party of pursuers which arrived at the Livingstone was joined by Toke and a black named Tommy. They left at half-past one, crossed the Gibbo, and camped at Wheeler's crossing for the night, after riding 70 miles that day. They kindled no fire, and supped on bread, sardines, and water from the creek. After having spent a cold, wet, miserable night, they started at day break, and after riding four miles, came up to a diggers' encampment, and were told by one of the diggers, who had been at Wheeler's Station the previous evening, that he had seen the tracks of two horses, which had gone into the scrub. They then rode in pursuit, and after an hour and a half, reached the place where the two men had been encamped. The men were, however, gone, but their fire was still burning, and the tracks of the horses were plainly discernible. One of the party showed them a near cut, saving three miles, which they immediately took, and within a quarter of a mile of the main track, Mr. Sheean saw Chamberlain in advance of Armstrong, who, seeing themselves observed, wheeled their horses round, and made for the banks of the creek. In doing this, Armstrong's horse was bogged, and he thrown from his saddle. Both then left their horses and swags, taking a gun and revolver with them. All now joined in the pursuit except Davies, who stuck by the horses, as they had been stolen from him. After going about three-quarters of a mile up the range, Tommy on their track like a bloodhound, after pausing for a moment, looked up and spied them in a tree. M'Allister, who was with him, then cooey'd, and was at once joined by the rest of the party. Inspector Hill immediately ordered them down, and said the charge against them was horse-stealing. They never attempted to fire. The capture took place on Wednesday morning, about eight o'clock. They then returned by the same route, and when it was known in the township on Thursday night, that the murderers had been captured, everyone was overjoyed. They were brought in on Friday, when fully two-thirds of the population turned out, and cheered the police as they passed through. Armstrong was the first to jump from his horse and rush into the lock-up. Chamberlain seemed very indifferent, and even began to chaff the crowd. So confident were they that they would not be taken, that Chamberlain wrote a letter to Paynter to this effect: "That he felt sure the snaffle men (police) would not catch him this time yet. He would return some fine moonlight night, in about six months, and also that the articles which Paynter had planted for them amongst the rocks, they could not find." Paynter was also to school a young man called Sydney Penny, and should they get clear off, to be sure and maintain that the last place at which he saw them was the Water Holes looking for horses.
Paynter and Sydney Penny are both in the hands of the police. The former is chained in the stable, and the latter, being the first occupant, is chained in a room in the new quarters. The other two are in the lock-up.
I am, yours respectfully, &c.,
In July of the same year Armstrong and Chamberlain were tried in Melbourne for the murder, and being convicted on the clearest evidence were publicly executed.
Source: The Bushrangers (1915, March 30). The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955), p. 7.
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