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on Saturday, December 2nd. I said to my mates, 'You'll get teh slabs ready, I will just go over to see Cox and his family at Ballaarat.' I arrived at Ballaarat about half past four, or thereabouts. I saw armed men walking about in parties of twenty or thirty; went to Cox's tent; put on another pair of trowsers, and walked down the diggings. Looked in the ring (the stockade). After that, went home, went to bed in the tent at the back of Cox's tent, about half-past nine. On Sunday morning, about four, or half-past, was awoke by the noise of firing. Got up soon after, and walked about twenty yards, when some trooper rode up to me. The foremost one was a young man whom I knew as the Clerk of the Peace. He was of a light, fair complexion, with reddish hair. He told me to 'stand in the Queen's name! You are my prisoner' I said, 'Very good, Sir.' Up came more troopers/ I cannot say how many. Believe about twenty or thirty. I said 'Very well, gentlemen(!) don't be in a hurry, there are plenty of you,' and then the young man struck me on the head with a crooked knife, about three feet and a half long, in a sheath. I fell to the ground. They then fired at me, and rode over me several times. I never had any hand in the disturbance. There, that's all.
First case of an inquest which has taken place since the massacre on the memorable 3rd. The evidence as to the murder of Powell (writes The Argus express correspondent) is but a specimen of the recitals heard on every hand of the reckless brutality of the troupers that morning.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
The death of deceased, Henry Powell, gold-digger, was caused by sabre cuts and gun shot wounds, wilfully and feloniously, and of their malice aforethought inflicted and fired by ARTHUR PURCELL AKEHURST, Clerk of the Peace, Ballaarat bench, and other persons unknown.
'The jury return a verdict of Wilful Murder against A. P. Akehurst and other persons unknown.
The jury express their condemnation of the conduct of Captain Evans, in not swearing deceased at the time of taking his statement after his having been cautioned by Dr. Wills of his immediate danger. The jury view with extreme horror the brutal conduct of the mounted police in firing at and cutting down unarmed and innocent persons of both sexes, at a distance from the scene of disturbance, on December 3rd, 1854.
Mind, good reader, the above is a legal document.
After my trial, on my way to Ballaarat, I met in Geelong the identical Akehurst, cracking some nuts with (I mean, speaking to) some young ladies.
I DESPAIR OF THIS COLONY.
May it please Her Majesty to cause inquiry to be made into the character of such that have branded the miners of Ballaarat as disloyal to their QUEEN.
