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Bushranger Index
HUNTER VALLEY
BUSHRANGERS
McIntyre & Rideout
Singleton Mail Robbers - 1846
Highway
Robbery - Daring Outrage-
On
Monday afternoon, the Maitland and Singleton mail was
stopped, about two miles on the Singleton side of Black
Creek, by two armed bushrangers, who, coming up towards
the mail at an easy pace, were not in the least suspected
by the driver. On reaching the mail, however, one came on
one side and the other on the other, and each presenting a
pistol, they made the driver and Mr. Griffin, who was the
only passenger, dismount. Immediately after this, one of
the robbers discovered a traveller riding along the road,
and immediately dashed off after him, to overtake him. The
man who remained with the mail was a tall man, thin face,
and apparently about twenty six or twenty seven years of
age, on a dark bay or rather brown horse, and had a black
handkerchief tied over his face. The other was mounted on
a chestnut horse, with light coloured mane and tail,
nearly silver, watch tail and had his face unconcealed;
features very broad, dark eyebrows and beard, with dirty
straw or cabbage tree hat. As soon as the one man had
started, the other made the mailman take the bags out of
the coach, and leave them on the ground. He then asked the
man what money he had about him. The poor driver produced
one shilling and sixpence, which was refused by the
robber. he then asked the same question of Mr. Griffin,
who offered him two shillings, which was also politely
declined , as not coming up to his ideas of gentlemanly
robbery. He then ordered them to mount the mail and drive
on with which order they very readily complied. In the
meanwhile the other man had come up with Mr. Lumley, who,
doubting the purity of their intentions had clapped spurs
to his horse, but not being a particularly light weight,
the pursuer soon pulled him up, made him dismount and
rifle his pockets taking from him a booty of between seven
and eight pounds in silver and notes and a gold watch.
Information was speedily given of the robbery and an
express despatched to Patrick's Plains for the purposed of
stopping such orders and cheques as ahs been stolen with
the mail bags it being reported that there was a
considerable sum in notes and orders transmitted in the
mail. The same evening the whole country was up in arms
scouring the road and bush in all directions. Amongst the
first of those who went in pursuit was Captain Smith. But
we have not yet heard that any have fallen upon the trail
of these marauders. Three troopers of the mounted police
left Maitland the same evening in search of the robbers;
and as all seem willing to render their assistance, the
career of these Australian Turpins, it is to be hoped will
be but a short one. Both men wore the usual dress of
stockmen.
Maitland Mercury 12 August 1846
On Tuesday evening, the 11 August 1846 between 4 and 5
o’clock two men came to the house of Mr. Perfrement,
Golden Fleece, at Gammon Plains and remained there
drinking until the following Friday evening. On that
evening, whilst the men were absent in a neighbouring hut,
Mr. Perfrement got a Mercury containing a description of
the cheques, orders, &C., stolen from the Singleton mail
Finding that some of the descriptions tallied with certain
of the cheques he had received from the men, he
immediately went to the hut, where one of the men, who
afterwards turned out to be Macintyre, happened to be,
taking with him a constable named Barker, who had come up
from Merton in the mail, on the look out for the robbers.
On entering the hut, they found about a dozen men
assembled there. Mr. P. went up and laid his hand on
Macintyre’s shoulder when he drew himself back and said
‘Come on’. Barker, immediately on his doing so, threw
himself upon him, endeavouring to secure him; they both
fell and struggled for some time desperately on the
ground. At length Macintyre got up and taking a pistol
from his pocket, presented it at the constable.
Mr. P., in the struggle had got one of Macintyre’s pistols
from him, and presenting it at him, called on him to
surrender. Of this summons Macintyre took no notice, but
struggled hard to get the muzzle of his pistol down to
Barkers breast. Mr. Perfrement, finding the matter growing
serious, called several times on the men in the hut to
assist him in the capture, but they still remained sanding
by without replying.
Mr. P. now threw away his pistol, and took hold of the one
Macintyre had. He however refused to let go, when Mr. P
bit his fingers until he loosed his hold. Barker at the
same time struck him in the face with his fist, and
stunned him. On his coming to he said he would surrender.
Before he was secured he endeavored to throw away a Watch
and guard, and some money he had on him; but Mr. P seized
the watch and it afterwards turned out to be that lost by
Mr. Lumley; some money was also found on him.
Mr. Perfrement and Barker then went to the hut where
Macintyre’s companion was. They found him asleep and
secured him almost with out a struggle. He had previously
given to Mr. P. a silver watch and guard together with
some money. This last man is known by the name of ‘Ride
out’
One of them had a bay horse with white hind feet, branded
R1 on near shoulder; the other had a bay horse with a
switch tail and standing about 15 hands
We need hardly point out the gallantry displayed by both
the constable, Barker, and Mr. Perfrement in thus throwing
themselves fearlessly amongst men, who, if the least
inducement had been offered, would evidently have leant
more towards the robbers than their captors.
The Singleton Mail Robbery – In the
Government Gazette of
Tuesday last there is a reward of 15 pounds offered, or a
conditional pardon to a prisoner of the crown, for such
information as shall lead to the apprehension and
conviction of the two men who robbed the Singleton mail on
Monday week. The notice was issued subsequent to the
capture of the men by Constable Barker and Mr. Perfrement;
but we hope this will not induce the government to
withhold a reward which has been so well earned.
Maitland Mercury
22 August 1846-2
The bushrangers that robbed the Singleton mail (McIntyre
and Rideout) were forwarded to Singleton by the mail car
on Thursday last, in the custody of Mr. Everness, the
chief constable of Merton, and the constable who
apprehended them. Ridout is well known in this part of the
colony, as well as at Bathurst and at Parramatta as an
itinerant farrier and jockey. He was once in the assigned
service of Mr. Palmer of Parramatta and has been a free
man for many years.
Maitland Mercury 26 August1846-2
The Mail Robbery – The two men for the robbery of the
Singleton mail came down, under escort, on Thursday last,
having been committed on two charges – robbing Mr. Lumley
and robbing the mail. The first gives his name John Smith,
denying stoutly any identity with Macintyre, and stating
positively that no person In the Maitland district can
possibly know him. He is a stout, dark complexioned man,
apparently about thirty-five years of age, with black hair
and whiskers and deeply marked with the small pox. A kind
of impudent, or rather assured, smile is a peculiar
characteristic of his face, which he changes into a
disagreeable scowl on perceiving any person noticing him.
He is about five feet six or seven inches in height, and
has a remarkably swaggering off hand manner with him.
The other John Rideout, has a rather quiet, unassuming
appearance and is certainly as far as a first glance goes,
about the last man that we should suspect of assisting in
so daring a deed. He is of a sallow complexion, with light
hair, and, wearing a large Chesterfield cut coat, has much
the appearance of a broken down groom. Mr. Griffin
identified the latter man yesterday as one of the persons
who stopped the mail; the other he was not so certain
about, but still believes him to be the man.
Maitland Mercury 29 August 1846-2
In the possession of the police, Singleton, Patrick's
Plains, the under mentioned horses and other property,
taken from John Smith and John Rideout, who now stand
committed on two charges of highway robbery’ One bay
horse, black mane and tail hind feet with a little white
on forefoot, star in the forehead and nose, sore back and
saddle marks, aged, brand RL on near shoulder, defaced
brands on neck.
One brown horse, white spot on forehead black mane and
tail l long, near hind fetlock white, six years old,
branded IS or JS on near shoulder.
One bay horse black mane and tail tall long, white saddle
marks, four years old, branded like HIS on off shoulder
Also
3 saddles’ 2 bridles 1 pair of saddle bags 1 pair of horse
pistols with swivel ramrods, makers name ‘Manton’ London’
1 silver watch, with silver ring chain and gold seal and
ring. Description of watch – No 12816, Echappement a
cylinder, Quatre trous en Pierre – Connoisier Freres
Chanx de Fonds
Any persons claiming the above property, are requested to
apply to the chief constable Singleton
If not claimed on or before Saturday the 26th
September they will be sold.
Maitland Mercury 5 September 1846
High way robbery
John Smith and John Rideout were placed at the bar, and
arraigned on a charge of putting one John Lumley in bodily
fear on the 10th August, and of robbing him of
one gold watch, one chain, eight shillings in silver, and
two orders on for 6 pounds 2 shillings 3d. and the other
for ten shillings.
The prisoner Smith pleaded guilty to the charge and
Rideout pleaded not guilty.
The Solicitor General opened the case by going through the
various circumstances and commenting on the different
points as they arose at considerable length and called.
John Lumley who deposed; I am an innkeeper at Singleton.
About two miles from Black Creek, on the other side from
here I was stopped on the road; I saw the mail standing
still, the coachman was off his seat and a passenger
getting off; I turned round, but before I did so, saw one
of the men coming after me. I galloped off, but the man
pursued me, and said he would shoot me if I did not stop;
I pulled up, as he was within shot of me, and had a pistol
in his hand. He then told me to get of the horse, and made
me lead the horse back towards where the mail was
stopping. I did so and the other man met us. Smith then
told me to take out my watch and turn out my pockets; I
did so, and gave them a one-pound note, eight shillings in
silver a ten-shilling order of Mr. Eckford’s and a cheque
on the Bank of Australasia for six pounds together with my
watch and chain. The watch produced is mine, and the
cheque and orders are those that were stolen from me. The
second man had a red handkerchief with white spots on it
over his face. He seemed on horseback to be a tall thin
man. Prisoner Rideout resembles him in size and make. The
man then went away, Smith having first wished to take my
horse, but the other man wished him not to do so. They
then said they would go and see if they could meet anybody
else. It was about half past two when the robbery
occurred.
Benjamin Pitt Griffin was on the mail on the day of the
robbery. Two men, dressed like stockmen came jogging up to
the mail and when they reached the mail they drew out
pistols and ordered the mailman to stop. Whilst they were
rifling us Mr. Lumley came along the road and Smith
galloped off after him; the other man made the mailman
pull out the bags throw them on the ground and drive on. I
could not recognize the man; he had a black silk
handkerchief over his face, which seemed to be like a
neckerchief suddenly pulled up to conceal himself. He
seemed to be about the size of Rideout, and was evidently
a thin-faced man, with eyes similar, and of the same
color, as those of the prisoner. I took Particular notice
of him, as I thought I might at some future time identify
him.
John Perfrement: I am an innkeeper at Gammon Plains, about
eight three miles from Black Creek; Rideout came to my
house on Wednesday 13 August between four and five o’clock
put his horse in the stable and called for some
refreshment; Smith came in about half an hour afterwards;
they each had a horse, and two bags; they remained till
Friday, when they went away about sundown; I never saw
them in company; Smith I thought had gone, but Rideout's
horse was still in the stable; he passed several orders;
he was treating a number of people, and gave me the cheque
produced for 6 pounds; I gave him no change for he said
that he wished them to go to his account; he passed
several other orders to me (now produced ) ; I took
between 70 and 80 pounds of them; on Friday I received
some information and the constable Barker having come up
on the look out, I went with him into a hut, where Smith
and about a dozen men were assembled; we succeeded in
apprehending him, and we then took Rideout, who was in bed
two huts off; he made no resistance; I never knew
Rideout myself, though everybody about the place was
acquainted with him.
By his Honor; Rideout bought a horse, saddle and bridle of
me; he spent a good deal of money in liquor for he was
treating every body in the township.
Thomas Cullen; I reside at Singleton and recollect posting
a letter on the 10th August, containing about
50 pounds addressed to the manager of the Bank of
Australasia Maitland; the cheques were
endorsed by me,. And those produced are the cheques I
sent, with the exception of one that is missing
The prisoner declined addressing the jury.
His Honor in summing up said that the case was entirely
circumstantial; for although one of the witnesses spoke to
the similitude of eyes and make of the prisoner, yet he
was not perfectly identified. This, of itself, he should
say, would be insufficient to convict the prisoner. But
then came the other facts – that of changing the horse and
the passing of the orders stolen from Mr. Lumley, and from
the mail and the acknowledged robber being found eighty
three miles from the place where the robbery was
committed, in company or at all events arriving shortly
after the prisoner Rideout
The jury having retired for about ten minutes returned a
verdict of guilty.
His honor in passing sentence said that he was sorry for
Rideout, as from his previous good character he had no
doubt that he had been led into the commission of the
offence by the example of the other man, who had doubtless
by pleading guilty, endeavored to screen his comrade. The
suspicions against him were so strong, that he had not the
least hesitation in acting on their verdict. Rideout had
been a prisoner, and had already had one warning, and was
not therefore excusable. Smith had come free to the colony
and he felt convicted that nothing but a vicious and
depraved appetite could have drawn him into the commission
of crime, when it was well known that any man who wished
it might obtain employment. He was also determined to
protect as far as he could persons traveling on the road,
for it was the duty of a judge to terrify by punishment
all those who should make traveling unsafe. His honor then
sentenced each of the prisoners to fifteen years
transportation.
Maitland Mercury
19 September 1846-4
In the Matter of John Rideout
His Honor stated that he had received an application on
behalf of this prisoner, convicted of mail robbery,
stating that he had two motherless female children in the
country but he was sorry to say that his duty would not
allow him to attend to it. Maitland Mercury
26 September 1846-4
The Late Mail Robbery – The man Smith, who was convicted
of the mail robbery at the last assizes, was identified on
Wednesday last at Hyde Park Barracks as John McTear, per
Captain Cook 1832 a prisoner for life. He held a ticket of
leave for the district of Bathurst, for the last four or
five years and has been reported as having absconded with
firearms about a year since. He was last known as the
notorious McIntyre, of the Bathurst and Mudgee country.
Maitland Mercury
3 October 1846-2
John McTear was was a pedlar
in his native country. He was tried in County Antrim in 1831 and was 17 years
old when he arrived in 1832. On arrival he was assigned to James McCarthy in
Castlereagh
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