The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-11-20


} with several days rations in their
saddle bags.
AS they left the diggings many
a digger cast a glance at Harry
and wondered if they would ever
see him again, for Take had very
bad reputation, and it was whis-
pered about that certain person
who was intrusted to Takes guild
ance across ranch in Gippsland
was never again heard of.
Itwas also known that Harry had
been persuaded to take with him
all his gold and precious stones.
Nine days passed away, when 10,
Take made his appearance at
Omeo. He returned alone, but
brought back with him Harry's
black mare and foal. He also had
Harry's saddle and bride, his
pepper-box revolver, his gold and
precious stones.
Where's Harry? Where did
you leave him?" was the general
cry of the diggers.
Take explained that they had
both Travelled across the mountains
until they had struck the main
road to Melbourne through the
fern tree gullies near "Commis-
sioner Babbs " public house, So
called, and that Harry had gone on
to Melbourne.
Take went few days after to
Green's store and offered a quanti-
ty of gold for sale.
1t then became generally known
that he had Harry's gold.
The diggers, suspicious and in
dlgnant, arrested him.
There were no police at Omeo at
this time, nor within fifty miles Of
it. But Mr.. Venerables, a superin-
tendent of ranch, was a justice
of the peace; so Take was arraigned
before him charged with the MUIR
der of William Henry Clare, alias
Baliarat Harry.
He denied the charge.
But the diggers gave evidence
and swore to the whole of Harry's
property having been found on
Take or in his possession.
Mr.. Venerables gave the diggers
to understand that no man could
be convicted of murder without
positive evidence of the death of
the supposed victim.
Take was accordingly discharged,
and afterwards opened store on
Gibbo creek, near the foot of the
Gibbo mountains.
All respectable people Stunned
the man, but | regret to say there
were those who looked upon him
as hero on account of his daring.
Among those who SO looked upon
him were four diggers, named
Chamberlain, Armstrong, Parish
and Pennyman.
These men were the terror of the
diggings. Just after Takes exam
ination or trial before the justice,
three policemen were stationed at
OmeO under sergeant.
They had not been there many
days before one of the most cruel
murders ever recorded in that dis
trict took place. Mr.. Green, an
American gentleman, kept a store
on Finerston creek. He was one
of those genial souls who always
tried to make people happy; in
fact, a man beloved by every hon
est person who knew him.
Mr.. Green, for business purposes,
used to go to Melbourne every
month, taking with him on pack
horse the gold he had purchased.
On account of the difficulties to
be met with en- route over the Gibbo
mountain, Mr.. Green always trav-
eled through lower Gippsland to
Port Albert and there took the
steamer.
One morning Mr.. Green started
as usual, and about two hours af-
forwards his pack horse came gal
Looping through the diggings rider
less. That some misfortune had
occurred everybody felt convinced
The police, accompanied by dig
gers, turned out to look for Mr..
Green. The unfortunate man was
found lying dead on the road about
two miles and a half away. He
had been shot through the heart
from an ambush as he quietly rode
along the road.
Suspicion at once fell upon the
bad characters on the diggings, and
Chamberlain, Armstrong, Penny
man and Parish being absent, war
rants were applied for.
Search, without avail, for several
days took place. At last Take,
who was supplying them with food,
and consequently knew their
whereabouts, turned queens evil
dence. He said these four men had
confessed to him that they had
murdered Mr.. Green, and offered
to lead the police to their hiding
place. The police, accompanied by
some some diggers and led by Tate.
.oor fourd and orrpsted the fOur