Index  Return to Colonial Events 1842

Hunter River Gazette 5 February 1842

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE

At Lowe Farm, within a few miles of Newcastle, Mr. William Clarke was visited on the evening of Wednesday the 26^th instant, by three armed bushrangers. As they were approaching the house they met Mr. Clarke’s brother who was going to the stable, and being asked who he was, he replied a stranger; they accordingly asked him how many men he had there, and immediately thereafter desired him to stand or they would shoot him. Mr. Clarke, senior, hearing an unusual noise in the yard and the threat used to his brother, got his fowling piece and sword – by this time the bushrangers burst open the door of the house, when Mr. C. saw a musket levelled at him and heard some one say shoot the old b ----; shots were accordingly exchanged, Mr. Clarke then rushed on them sword in hand when the cowardly villains fled. After the affray Mr. C. being confident that some one had been shot called out to his brother, who not answering, Mr. C. went out with a light to search for him, and to his utmost horror discovered his brother had been shot dead. An inquest was held on the body on the 28^th at Newcastle where it was removed for interment; the verdict of the Jury of which Mr. Simon Kemp was the foreman was that Mr. John Clarke was accidentally shot by his brother William while defending himself against an attack of three armed bushrangers. The unfortunate man had left in England a wife and seven children who have to deplore his untimely loss, and had only recently come to the Colony to see his elder brother. Previous to the above tragical occurrence the bushrangers had visited a hut occupied by a William Benson, whom they robbed of slops, tea sugar etc while there they saw Mr. Ranclaud passing by on horseback, whom they called up to the hut and also robbed of all the loose cash he had about his person and gave him to understand at the same time that they should visit his residence which no doubt they would have done but for the gallant resistance they met with from the bold dragoon. Had a party of soldiers been immediately sent to Mr. Clarke’s as soon as the facts were made known at Newcastle it is possible they would have been taken; but the Police Magistrate was at Raymond Terrace on duty and Lieut. Fraser would not act without his concurrence.