ON THIS DAY - September 15, 1877 RUSHWORTH MURDER AT RUSHW0RTH. A shocking tragedy occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Murchison road, half a mile from Rushworth. Joseph Kelly, a miner, deliberately walked up to a former mate, named Henry Parkinson, who was working on the road side, and shot him dead. Kelly seems to have been brooding over the imaginary grievance for some time past that his mate had defrauded him, and at last determined on the fatal act, after which he surrendered himself to the police. The body was removed to the police camp. The Inquest. The inquest on the remains of the unfortunate Henry Parkinson was held by Deputy Coroner Healy, at the Court-house, to-day. The town has been in a state of excitement since the occurrence, and the court was crowded to excess. The principal witness was a mate of the deceased (Thos. Sweeney), who was working with him at the time of the murder. The prisoner conducted himself throughout the day with the utmost nonchalance, making frequent comments whilst the evidence was being taken. After very little deliberation the jury, about four oclock, returned a verdict of wilful murder, and the prisoner was committed to take his trial at Sandhurst on the 23rd of October next. Thos. Sweeney deposed that on Saturday afternoon last about two oclock he was shovelling gravel on one side of a dray, and his mate (the deceased) was working an the other, when suddenly the deceased ran round as if for protection, and looking under the horse Sweeney saw the prisoner Kelly, who immediately followed deceased, saying that he would not be robbed by him. The deceased then ran away, the prisoner pursued him and fired four shots, when poor Parkinson fell dead. The prisoner then went towards the police station. Senior-constable Wilkinson deposed that on being informed by a miner named Drage that a murder had been committed, he immediately set out, and met the prisoner with a revolver in his hand coming towards the camp. When within six or seven yards of the prisoner, he (Wilkinson) halted, and said, Do you intend to fire? Prisoner said, No; I have come to give myself up. I have shot Harry Parkinson. The medical evidence allowed that one bullet had passed through the back, and another had lodged in the brain, of course causing instant death. After the inquest, the hearse drew up to carry the remains to the Church of England, but the miners present, to show the great respect they entertained for the deceased, carried the coffin on their shoulders, and after the service thence to the cemetery, a distance of half a mile. The remains were followed by about 300 persons, every one being anxious to express their sympathy, the deceased being highly respected by this community. The statement of the prisoner that the deceased had defrauded l him is believed to be utterly groundless.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
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