In 1848 a reward was offered for the apprehension of John Roach (alias Hugh Duggan, alias Henry Howard alias Henry Herbert and Thomas Gregory who had committed several robberies in the district

 l5 July 1848

TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS REWARD, OR A CONDITIONAL PARDON

Whereas it has been represented to the government that, on the 7th instant, at different periods of the day, three persons were stopped by two armed bushrangers (hereunder described), near the station of James Landsborough, in the district of New England and robbed of the property below particularized; his Excellency the governor directs it to be notified that a reward of twenty five pounds will be paid to any free person or persons who may give such information as shall lead to the apprehension of the depredators; and if the person giving such information be a prisoner of the crown, application will be made to her Majesty for the allowance to such prisoner of the crown of a conditional pardon.

Description of the bushrangers referred to in the above notice

John Roach, alias Dubbo; stated to be a dark complexioned, black whiskered man, about 5'10" in height; was dressed in a blue frock, moleskin trousers and cabbage tree hat.

Thomas Gregory;' a short stout man, light complexion and whiskers about 5/5" in height; was dressed in a Guernsey frock and corduroy trousers.

Particulars of the property stolen

(1) A light bay colt, about four years old, branded DAY off side under man, No 15 near shoulder, near hind foot white' had on at the time of the robbery a colonial saddle, nearly new, covered with a sheepskin

(2) A light bay horse, rising four years old, bang tail, branded MP conjoined near should.

(3) A new saddle, and a valise containing some clothes

Their spree had begun on the 5th June when they robbed Mr. Dennis who was travelling to the Station of Edward Denny Day Esq of Aberfoil near Armidale. They stole his horse and another belonging to an employ of the station and being ridden by Day's groom. Chief constable Campbell pursued the bushrangers without success and they were soon reported to have committed another robbery on the Moonboy Ranges.

They had arrived on horseback at Dangar's Moonboy's station before dark and were given permission to make some tea before they left the hut on the pretence of finding their horses. They soon returned to the overseer's hut with their firearms and stole guns, ammunition, spurs and money. They exchanged their horses (the ones they had stolen belonging to Mr. Day) for fresh ones belonging to Mr. Dangar and rode on their way.

Perhaps they parted company at this stage, as the next morning Henry Whiting of Australian Agricultural Company, Goonoo Goonoo station, was riding his horse into the Peel when he was forced to dismount after a man stepped from the bushes brandished a gun in his face. He was unhurt, however the bushranger made away with his horse in the direction of Currabubla.

Whiting made his way back to Goonoo Goonoo and enlisted the assistance of company constable Hardy. They set out in hot pursuit with fresh horses and had covered 17 miles when they caught up with their quarry, John Roach, near Doughboy Hollow.