The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-10-15 00:00:00

in the hut with t

.ere, a quiet

conducted man, named Ti
week O'Connor was kept at the hut, occasionally attend-
ingthe sheep, and during this period he often had words

about i.

with It-3
flock

referanee to the way he managed his

Roberts Nv

ff in circumstances as a shep-

herd ; he had a silver hunting watch and other articles of
value about him, and these seemed to attract the particu-
lar attention of Connor. However, nothing serious was

expected of him.
On the 28th of May the unfortunate shepherd left with
his sheep for the "run," and shortly after O'Connor
quitted the hut with his horse, taking with him his blan-
ket, a double-barrelled gun and a double-barrelled pistol.
In the evening the sheep returned without the shepherd,
and fears were entertained as to his fate. Captain Bagot
and others went in search of him, and having lighted a
fire on a hill, previously firing a gun to frighten the wild
dogs, they heard the bark of a dog, and proceeding in the
direction of the sound Roberts' coat and a crook were
found. The garment was spotted with blood. About 200
yards from where it was picked up was discovered the dead
body of the missing shepherd, and a brief examination

Ishowed that he had been murdered. There v
wounds in his head and side, and murderous stabs as if

.e bullet

.
were several wounds on the left side, four on the arm, and
another under the nipple of the left breast in the region of
the heart, while the lower portion of his face had been
carried away by a musket-ball. Attention was then
directed towards the murderer. A shepherd at a neigh-
bouring station heard two reports in the direction of
where the body was picked up, and a man riding a horse
was seen gallopine from the spot. His description fully
answered that of O'Connor, who had absconded.

Some days afterwards he was seen at a depot called
Lake Bonney, and when told of the murder he seemed
much agitated, and desired his informer not to take any
notice of having seen him, as he would not like to be
" pulled up." Having taken to the bush, it is supposed,
for a few days, he on the 7th of June appeared on the
highway, and made the following daring attack on the
Gawler Town mail :—Disguised in a naval dress, with a
blue handkerchief thrown over his face and a cabbage-
tree cap on his head, he rode up to the horses of the mail,
and, presenting a double-barrelled pistol at the head of

the driver, denianded his money and the mail bags. The
driver, naturally much alarmed, made an attempt to get
down, at the same time handing the reins to Mr. Duval,
a passenger. The driver assuring him that he had no

cash, he-tried his fortune with Mr. Duval. Having de-
manded his money, he answered that he had none, and
at the same moment jumped to the ground with the reins

Duval's head, and again insisted upon having his cash.
Mr. Duval in a very cool manner regretted that he could
not oblige him, and taking out his snuff-box asked the
ruffian if he would take a pinch of snuff. He made no
answer, and was apparently thrown off his guard by Mr.
Duval's unconcerned demeanour. Mr. Duval then pre-
sented his assailant with a white pocket-handkerchief.
He replied that he would not have it, and that Mr. Duval
must take off his breeches. Mr. Duval replied that he
had no pockets in his breeches, and, with a view of dis-
tracting his attention and seizing the pistol he was hold-
ing at his head, offered him a pocket compass. The ruse
succeeded, the ruffian was thrown off his guard, and as
he was taking the compass Mr. Duval made a snatch at
the pistol and got hold of the stock. As soon as he
found he had lost possession of the weapon, the robber
spurred his horse and galloped off. Mr. Duval fired off
one of the barrels at him, but missed. In the struggle
the handkerchief dropped from his face, and Mr. Duval
and the driver clearly saw his features. He also dropped
his cap. Information being given of the attack,the whole
district turned out in search of the robber. He was traced

to the hills, where he robbed a hut of a coat and hat. At
length his horse was seen standing outside of a public-
house, where he had sat down comfortably to a dinner.
On being arrested he was instantly pinioned, and
another double barrelled pistol loaded with ball, with a
spring dagger attached, was found upon him. Being
duly secured, he became very insolent to the officers, and
chuckled the chase they had had after him, having rid-
den 180 miles over a very hilly country in 48 hours. He
appeared very much chagrined at being captured, as he
had determined to fight to the last. On being taken be-
fore the magistrates at Adelaide, his examination on the

charges of murder, stopping the mail, and other offences,
lasted several days; and more corroborative proo's being
adduced, he was committed for trial on several charges.
The apprehension and probable conviction of the con-
vict has caused no trifling satisfaction in the colony.
While at large a general feeling of terror seemed to per-
vade all classes.