were within the prison walls and quickly quelled the anger of the factionists. The ringleaders were seized and flogged with one hundred lashes each. Dr. Salvado, who, in the absence of Bishop Serra, was administrator of the diocese, disapproved of Mr. O'Neil's conduct, and withdrew him from the establishment, appointing the Rev. T. Donovan in his place.
A difficulty of some moment arose in 1856. In February Bishop Serra complained that Roman Catholic felons were compelled to attend a school kept by a Protestant. He augured serious results if it became known among the convicts that such attendance was against the rules of their church. Dr. Serra wrote to Governor Kennedy asking him to put an end to the practice. The Comptroller-General, in reply, said that no objection could reasonably be made to Roman Catholics being schooled by Protestant schoolmasters any more than they could object to learning trades from a Protestant mechanic. The door was opened to interference with prison discipline. He objected to incurring the expense of a second schoolmaster, and also regretted that Bishop Serra should in any way threaten the authorities. The Bishop then wrote the Colonial Secretary disclaiming any intention to threaten, and begging that the subject be submitted to the Secretary of State. He felt assured that Her Majesty's Government would not compel Roman Catholic prisoners to disobey the rules of their church. On 31st March Dr. Serra announced that the resignation of the Roman Catholic chaplain, the Rev. Donovan, was peremptory. The Colonial Secretary on 2nd April informed the Bishop that his complaint had been transmitted to the English Government. In respect to the Rev. Donovan, that gentleman had not intimated his desire to resign, nor had he complained that he was compelled to perform duties incompatible with his office as a Roman Catholic clergyman. Moreover, it would be a dereliction of duty on Rev. Donovan's part if he did resign without giving due notice. In conclusion, on behalf of Governor Kennedy, the Colonial Secretary cautioned Dr. Serra that his action in continuing the agitation might be productive of insubordination and the punishment of prisoners. Bishop Serra now retorted that Mr. Donovan was not appointed by a civil authority, and that he did not desire His Excellency's sanction to the appointment of a second Roman Catholic chaplain. On 2nd April the irate Bishop wrote the Rev. Donovan that it was necessary to take away the title and power as chaplain conferred upon him by himself (Dr. Serra), and none other. He forbad his entrance to the prison. The Colonial Secretary, addressing Dr. Serra, informed him that the Governor could not recognise his authority to compel the resignation of an officer appointed by Her Majesty's Government. Governor Kennedy recommended Mr. Donovan to resume his duties in the establishment, and that gentlemen wrote Captain Wray, the Acting Comptroller-General, a letter designed to pacify all parties. He reminded His Excellency that he would be placed in an awkward position if he disobeyed the order of his superior. While not acknowledging Bishop Serra's authority to interdict him from the establishment, or any other place in Her Majesty's dominions, he begged to be allowed to cease duty for few days so that "His Lordship may calm in his proceedings." Mr. Donovan then retired from the prison for some time. In 1857 news arrived from England that the Imperial Government approved of Governor Kennedy's action and Mr. Donovan was immediately reinstated. No further public objection was taken by Dr. Serra.
Two robberies were reported in 1854, and in August a convict named Edward Bishop was arrested on a charge of murdering a Chinaman at York. The body was thrown into the Avon. On 4th October Bishop was sentenced to be hung for the offence. He protested amid many tears that he was innocent, but on 12th. October he was hung at a point about one mile and a half along the road from Perth to Fremantle. Years afterwards a man named Voss confessed that it was he who murdered the Chinaman. It is said that the evidence against Bishop seemed very clear.
Several robberies were effected in 1855, especially from carts and drays. Owners of these vehicles began to carry firearms in order to protect themselves. In March a ticket-of-leave man murdered an immigrant girl on the York Road and was hung. On 26th September, George Williams, a convict, made a brutal attack on his warder with a spade. The warder was wounded in the leg, and the convict was sentenced to be hung. A murder was committed at the Vasse in April. A convict named Dodd conspired with a woman to murder her husband. The deed was committed under abominable circumstances; the murdered man was found dead in bed. Dodd and the woman were hung in front of the Perth Gaol, in October. A crowd of citizens witnessed the spectacle, and among them were women and children. In these times the populace could gather, as in England, to witness executions. A place over the causeway on the road to Guildford was previously used as the gallows; then the site was removed to the Fremantle Road. When the new gaol was erected (near present museum) all hangings took place in a prominent position before the building. Under the old system a bell was tolled shortly before the carrying out of the penalty. While the sounds yet rang in the listeners' ears, a procession filed out from the gaol. First came a cart containing the coffin; then another cart with the victim, upon whom all who wished might gaze; then followed the sheriff in his robes.
In March seven re-convicted convicts, while engaged on public works near the prison at Fremantle, made a rush for liberty. Two were soon captured; the remaining five were hounded down by black trackers about ten miles from Fremantle on the Mandurah Road. All the men were sentenced to three years' imprisonment and one hundred lashes. In September, 1857, two natives observed a convict near the Murray River. They rightly suspected him to be illegally at large, and, amid visions of ample rewards, drove him before them at the spear's point to Fremantle. In May, 1858, an inmate of the Fremantle Prison informed an officer that an insurrection was to take place at a certain time on a certain day. Precautions were taken; but the report was either a hoax, or the convicts became aware that their conspiracy was known to the authorities; no outbreak took place.
The most desperate attempt at escape within this period was made on 25th January, 1859. Five convicts, while out on public works, eluded a warder at Fremantle. They hurried into the bush, and proceeded to the Canning, and thence to Melville Water. At Point Walter they seized a four-oared boat, and, evading the vigilant eyes of their pursuers, who, led by black trackers, were following their trail in the bush, pulled along the Swan in the shelter of the banks and trees. By remarkable adroitness they managed to run the gauntlet of the look-out at Fremantle, and early in the following morning arrived at Garden Island. Entering the solitary cottage of Mr. Reed, they bound him and his family, and robbed them of £150, provisions, firearms, ammunition, and a compass. Then, taking the whaleboat, they went out to sea. Hardly had their boat disappeared from view when the water police, in pursuit, reached Garden Island and unbound the Reed family. Nothing more was heard of the men—all desperate characters—until 1st February, when they were seen at Champion Bay. The whaleboat stood off land to northward, and was believed to
