Flashback: Death of Morgan, The Bushranger, 1865

First published in "The Australian News for Home Readers" (Victoria) April 19, 1865.

On Monday, the 10th inst. (April 1865), the city, or, indeed, we may safely say the colony, wherever the electric telegraph has penetrated, was joyfully surprised by the news that the bushranger Morgan, whose very name has, for some two and twenty months past, been a terror to the rural districts of New South Wales, had at length been stopped in his career of crime and blood. The gratification necessarily arising from the fact that society had been rid of a monster for whom in the perpetration of whole sale human butchery the annals of the colonies afford no parallel, since the days when ferocious runaways from Port Arthur spread slaughter and dismay through the island of Tasmania, was in no small degree intensified when it became known that the individual by whose hand the triple murderer — for such he was — met his doom was a Victorian.

It appears that on the 4th inst. (April 1865), Morgan crossed into this colony, and, after having stuck up the station of Mr. Evans on the King River, set fire to the corn and hay stacks, and committed other depredations; to have proceeded to Mr. Macpherson's station, at Peechelba, where he met his fate.

On Friday, 7th inst. (April 1865), the news arrived at Wangaratta of his visit to Victoria, he had stuck up Whitefield station, about twenty miles from that place. The local police were at once in motion, together with reinforcements from Beechworth and Chiltern. After leaving Whitefield, on the same day, he baled up a carrier at Winton's, and the next morning he visited Warby's station, and on Saturday evening arrived at Peechelba, on the Ovens River. There he baled up, as he thought, all persons connected with the station in one room, to prevent information reaching Wangaratta. Several men, however, were still at large, one of whom started for the township with intelligence. Morgan proceeded to enjoy himself in the meantime, and, tea being ready, he made all sit down together. The company included Mr. Macpherson (the owner of the station), his wife, and other ladies. During the night Morgan was very chatty and confidential. He spoke of the hardships he had to endure in the bush, and of his father and mother, both of whom he said were alive. He made one of the ladies play the piano, and allowed the ladies to leave the room at bedtime, with a caution as to their conduct. He said he was blamed for the part he took in the Round Hill affair far more than he deserved, and that Hewitt's messenger (M'Lean) would not have been shot but that he took the wrong road, which made him think it was his intention to give information. 

During the night Morgan was very sleepy, and nodded occasionally, but always kept a revolver in his hand, ready for action. He said he had not slept for five days or nights, but told them to be cautious, and not to seek to take any advantage, as he always slept with one eye open. In the meantime Mr. Rutherford, the partner of Mr. Macpherson, had collected all the station hands he could, twelve in number, and,arming them with firearms, they surrounded Macpherson's house. Assistance from Wangaratta arrived in due course, consisting of three or four policemen and a dozen volunteers. A much larger number of volunteers would have gone out, but the stock of firearms was exhausted. The Wangaratta force joined Mr. Rutherford without making the least disturbance, and all resolved to lie in ambush till Morgan came out in the morning. At one time the men got impatient, and wanted to rush the house and secure Morgan, and were with some difficulty restrained. 

Morgan still fancied himself in safety inside, but, towards daylight, he went to the door, and walked up and down the verandah, and took a survey of the locality. The men being in ambush, Morgan could not see them, and afterwards re-entered the house, and washed himself in one of the bedrooms, and combed his hair with some attention to neatness. At breakfast he excused himself for eating so much, saying that for days he was often without a meal. He then made preparations for his departure, and, parading Mr. M'Pherson and three others, he made them leave the house and proceed before him towards a paddock to obtain a horse. He was still armed with a revolver which he carried in his right hand, and had another weapon in his belt. After going some distance from the house, Macpherson, looking back, became aware of the presence of armed men who were approaching on his rear, and, recognising them, he stepped aside to give them a chance of firing, at the same time pointing to a mare, saying to Morgan that she was a good one. Morgan observed Macpherson stepping aside, and, suspicious of the movement, was in the act of turning his head to ascertain the cause, when a man employed on the station, named Quinlan, took aim at him and fired with a fowling-piece. The shot entered Morgan's back, passing upwards and out near the windpipe. He at once fell on his face insensible for a few minutes. He then slightly recovered, and reproached those who had attacked him for cowardice, saying they should have given him a fair challenge. As he was evidently sinking rapidly, medical assistance was immediately sent for. 

On being searched, eighty-six pounds in notes, was found on him, and a bank draft on Albury for seven pounds. Two revolvers were also found on him, one of which belonged to Sergeant M'Ginnerty, whom Morgan shot dead in June last, near Copabella, in Now South Wales. He was asked if he desired a clergyman to be sent for in his last moments, as it was evident his end was approaching, but he declined. 

A doctor arrived about half-past one, but the case was hopeless and human aid unavailing. He asked Morgan if he felt much pain, and he replied by pointing to his throat, and saying he was choking. He died about two p.m., nearly sensible to the last moment. On the body being stripped for investigation marks of shot were visible in various places. As in the police description, the finger joint was gone, and there was a tumor, of the size of a pigeon's egg, on the back of the head. The body was much emaciated. An inquest will be held tonight at Pecchelba. It is not known whether the body will be brought to Wangaratta. Throughout the chase after Morgan, the police acted energetically, and were ably seconded by volunteers.

INQUEST ON THE BODY.

The inquest on the body of Morgan was held, on the 10th (April 1865), at Peechelba, where he met his death. It commenced at five p.m., and terminated at half-past nine. A great crowd of persons from all parts, far and near, was present. The proceedings were initiated by the coroner of the district, Dr. Dobbyn. 

Several witnesses were examined, the principal evidence being elicited from the following persons:— 

Thomas Kidston, a settler on the Billabong, after viewing the body, recognised it as that of Morgan. He had been stuck up by him twice, and Morgan had threatened to shoot him at least fifty times. 

Ellen Turner recognised the deceased as the man who stuck up Dr. Mackay's station when he took away Mr. John Mackay's best rifle, and also carried off a valuable horse and saddle. 

Evan Macpherson, the proprietor of Peechelba station, stated that on Saturday he returned from Melbourne, and was in his house, sitting on the sofa, when the deceased came to the door with a revolver in his hand, and said he was Morgan. The deceased then entered the house and remained there all night. The witness, at length, detailed the movements of Morgan during the night up to leaving the house for the paddock, the particulars of which appear above. 

All the witnesses examined proved Morgan's identity. They had become acquainted with his person from having been his victims. After a partial investigation, the jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide, and appended a rider praising all persons engaged in his capture. 

After the inquest, the body of Morgan was brought into Wangaratta. Crowds went to see it. It was much wasted. The features individually were good, but their whole expression was sinister. The forehead is receding, but not much below the average. The eyes were deep set, the brows nearly meeting. The nose was thin and hooked, the lips thin and compressed, the teeth good and even. The beard was thick and long, the throat brawny, and the chest large; the hands small and slender.

Sources:

Death of Morgan, The Bush-Ranger (1865, April 19). The Australian News for Home Readers (Vic. : 1864 - 1867), p. 10.

Inquest on the Body (1865, April 19). The Australian News for Home Readers (Vic. : 1864 - 1867), p. 10. 

Morgan, The Bushranger, State Library of Victoria