Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-02-20
-
FMc4fnH has cIescribed to me how, on orc

they were able to get within rihe-shot
and he WAS sorel y tempted to show them
, as little consideration sSthey had shown
the poor sergeant, and fire. but Couch
who, before he came to my employment
had been Il sub-inspector of police, aud
had had much experience III hunting
down hushrangers, was bent on taking
them alive, aud would not risk the
chance Of long shot. These cooler
counscls prevailed, and they steadily and
;stealthily followed on. They were
doomed to disappointment in the end
for, almost incredible rs it may seem,
with wounded man to endure such
heat and fatigue, these hardy despera-
does made no hate. ~ mig lit came on
our men, on the o:Hrr hand, were obliged
to camp, rs they could no longer follow
the hoofmarks OF the fusitives' horses
! without risk uf losing them altogether.
So soon, however, rs the moon was up
they were again on their tracks, and FOL
lowed them till soon after daylight,
when, Worn out with thirst and fatigue,
they reached Mr.. Vincent Downing y
antabullA station, On the Cuttaburra
river. Here they were mortified to find
that the buShrangcrs had again been too
quick for them, had run the station
horses into the yard, helped themselves
to fresh ones, and were away with some
hours clear start. 1t was then decided
; to abandon the pursuit. There were at
that time few stations further west, and
sooner or later starvation would compel
the runaways TO return to inhabited
parts. The troopers were left to watch
AND elueayor to pick up further intor-
nation, while McNall and Couch had re-.
, luctantly to return and look to their sta
ton duties.
At the time when bushranging was
rife i'll Australia there were parts Of the
country where, among certain class of
small farmers and publicans, sympathy
WAS shown for bushrargers, and what
the police had to encounter before they
ultimately succeeded in extirpating the
evil was tae great difficulty in getting
, reliable Information of the movements
Of these marauders, who on the other
hand were themselves kept posted i'll the
movements If their pursuers, and the
office being given, were harbored or
assisted 10 escape by secret allies, who
seemed above suspicion. In the far in
terror, where we lost sight of Pearson
and Rutherford, this was fortunately not
the ease: here they would find no
cover" either from the nature of the
country or the disposition Of the inhab-
ilants. They could no: hold out long
outside the occupied country, and when
forced to return, the population was so
scattered and sympathizers none, that
hopes Of escape were slight. Added to
this, the excellent police force of the
colony was on the alert, and border
patrols active and vigilant. Notwith-
standing, for upward Of month there
was no sign; till one day Pearson was
sighted on foot in q range of hills near
Fort Bourke. He was easily captured,
and, when brought before the bench, was
haggard and worn out with fatigue.
This unfortunate man was Of COM
paratively gentle birth, had been a med
ical student in England, and being sent
out to the colony to seek his fortune, had,
as is too often the case where young
fellow is shipped Oft without friends, in
terest or capital, lost caste, got among
dissolute companions, until, attracted
by what weak-minded boys would think
a dashing life, had come by rapid steps
to this terrible depth Of crime.
The case was siuple-his only care
seemed to be to clear himself of the &C.
tual murderof McCabe. The law, how
ever, could take no cognizance of this
whether he fired the shot or not he
was equally guilty of the murder. He
was committed, tried and sentenced to
be hanged. Subsequently his sentence
was committed to imprisonment for life,
and when l last heard of him he was
still an inmate of Daringhurst jail.
An extraordinary statement of his was
that on leaving the public house, he had
to be helped on to his horse in an almost
fainting condition, and yet held up
through that exhausting escape; that a
day later, by his directions, his mate ex-
tracted the ball from mis- shoulder with
his knife; and yet when taken, though
weak and i'll, no trace of wounds save
the scars remained. He had Parted
from Rutherford, as bis enfeebled state
was danger to both, and he had not
had the hardihood to attempt to make
his way through the Gordon formed by
! the vigilant guardians of the peace.
But to his companion he was true as
steel, and would give no clue to the
direction Rutherford had taken.
The latter, who was much more ex-
perienced bushman, and in stronger
health, was successful in evading his
fate for some time longer. AS was after
ward ascertained, he had contrived to
elude the police, and made. his way to
! the McQuarle river, some three hundred
miles nearer Sidney than the scene of
his late terrible outrage. He WAS
! smart young fellow, a native Australian,
,, though of English parentage, and of
good address. Arriving in a district
: where he was unknown, he had no diff
Guilty in getting employment, and was
for some time engaged breaking.in horses
on cattle station, duty he was we'll
able to perform.
Had he been contented to remain at
honest work he might have long escaped
detection; but it was not to be. He
was soon at his old work, and one day
walked into the Pine Rid ge hotel, near
Canonba, Kept by Frenchman named
Beauvais, and unceremoniously an
nounced: 81 am Rutherford. Bail up."
The process vas without excitement,
orderly and bus!uess-like, and Beauvais
knew there was no alternative but to
submit.
He pleaded that lie was not rich pub
lican, and begged moderate terms, offer
ing any refreshment he demanded. Ruth
erford wanted money and nothing else
that or your life" With his revolver
at the head Of the unhappy Frenchman
he marched him into the private room
where the cash box was kept, and stood
by while his victim reluctantly and slow
~ opened it. However, he stood little
too close, and Beauvais, as he described
it to me, thought: II will not part with
my money without struggle.'' There
was no time handying words or remon-
STRANGE. Quick as thought he threw up
his antagonists revolver arm, and Crap
pied with him in deadly struggle. He
was a plucky fellow, but the odds were
against him. Rutherford was younger
and stronger man, armed, and now des-