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MURDER OF THE

CLERMONT ESCORT

By: -Fitzroy

PART 2 || PART 3

EARLY LIFE OF A BAD MAN

In the annals of crime in Queensland in the early days of settlement no misdeed stands out with greater prominence than the dastardly and cowardly murder of the Clermont gold escort, Troopers Power and Cahill, by Thomas John Griffin, Police Magistrate and Gold Commissioner, and all the rest of it, on November 6th, 1867. The writer has often thought the whole circumstances over to see it, in the interest of fair play, some extenuating circumstances might be found, not to excuse the foul deed, but to lessen the rancour most people must feel at such a deed of violence. All in vain, for looked at in any light the crime always appears as an act of diabolical treachery and cruelty to two men who had done him not the slightest harm, were ostensible under his charge and protection, and whose death did not, and could not, free him from the difficulty his villainy had got him into. The late W.R.O. Hill, so long a valued police magistrate in this state, who died only a few months ago, aptly described Griffin's character in a few words: - "He had a very pleasant manner to those whom he desired to conciliate, but was abrupt and tyrannical with those whom he regarded as inferiors, always a bad symptom in man or woman."

He likewise had an utter disregard of the feelings of sufferings of others, but if fearlessness be a virtue, he could perhaps he lay claim to that as his solitary good quality.

Thomas John Griffin is supposed to have been born in County Sligo, Ireland, his father being a County Inspector of Police. Young Griffin who no doubt was a tall well-built youth, joined the famous Irish Constabulary when about eighteen, and was assigned in clerical work. When the Crimean were broke out many of constabulary joined the British forces and among them Griffin, who later obtained a cornetey in the Turkish Contingent. He is credited with having distinguished himself and no doubt he did, for he was a fine swordsman and a good shot. The war over he, with others from the war, was given a passage to Australia, arriving in Melbourne about the end of 1856.

On the voyage out he ingratiated himself with a widow named Crosby, and finding out that she has some ready cash he married her, and soon spent all of her money he could get hold of. He soon tired of his wife, who was older than himself, and went off to Tasmania or New Zealand, and got someone to put an advertisement in a paper recounting his death, and also a letter telling how it happened. Griffin then took ship for Sydney, where his war credentials gained him a place in the police, and he became acquainted with William John Brown, afterwards Sub-Collector of Customs at Rockhampton.

Meanwhile the Canoona Rush had taken thousands to the site of Rockhampton, and though the rush did not come up to expectation many liked the country, and the new township soon attracted men and women who desired to settle in the new land. This meant that police had to be sent up from Sydney, and Thomas John Griffin received the appointment in place of Chief Constable M’llwraith, whose headquarters were at Gladstone. From the end of the 1860’s, for a couple of years, he held the position of Chief Constable in Rockhampton and then was promoted to a similar position in Brisbane. In 1862 Griffin was appointed acting clerk of petty Sessions in Brisbane and the next year was gazetted to the full appointment. All this while he was trying by every means to ingratiate himself with people of position and power, and so was appointed Gold Commissioner and then Police Magistrate at Clermont, at once taking up his duties.

GRIFFIN AS POLICE MAGISTRATE.

Griffin made one or two trips in charge of the escort, and visited Rockhampton in great style on occasion. He had a little gambling coterie in Clermont, but his decisions on the Bench were so outrageous that at length a petition was got up to have him removed, and he was then transferred to Rockhampton, as Assistant Gold Commissioner to John Jardine.

It will be observed that during Griffin's four years in Clermont as Police Magistrate his real character began to assert itself, so far as Queensland was concerned. He was a tall finely built man of a commanding and domineering type, and would brook no opposition from anyone who was in anyway subordinate to him. To his acquaintances he was at times fairly agreeable, but always ostentation, impressing them with high connections and the power that he possessed with the Government and high authorities in Brisbane. He rode about, in uniform, often with any orderly, and exhibited a nauseating amount of "swank." He assumed powers that he was not entitled to, and in many of his decisions on the Bench he neither studied law, justice, nor equity.

Such a man was bound to become unpopular, and as the "Telegram" was at times very outspoken, a good way to stop its remarks was to shut it up.

THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE

Though Griffin, in consequence of gambling losses and other extravagances, may have been frequently short of money, so far as is known he had always kept within the law. But a few weeks or perhaps months before he was removed to Rockhampton, he had received from six chinamen gold and money to be sent to Rockhampton in safe custody. The value of this was between £200 and £300. Probably with such a sum in his care he was tempted to put it to his own use, and lost it gambling.

What is known is that having left Clermont for good he arrived in Rockhampton on October 19th, 1867, and was told by Captain R. M. Hunter, who was probably the agent for the Chinamen, that these men had been inquiring about their money and gold, given to Griffin to send by Escort. Captain Hunter naturally informed the Chinamen that Griffin was in town. The Chinamen then worried him day by day for their money, and were put off by one excuse and another.

Two days before Griffin arrived in Rockhampton, the Escort, consisting of Sergeant Julian and Troopers Power and Cahill, had arrived in town with 2800oz. of gold. Griffin at once told Julian that he intended to send him back to Clermont with the cash to pay for the next lot of gold the bank in Clermont purchased. It is clear this ex-Police Magistrate had formed a scheme by which he should steal this cash after it was placed in charge of Julian, pay the unfortunate Chinamen, and have a nice sum in addition.

Sergeant Julian, who was a very capable, shrewd officer, no doubt knew something of the fix Griffin was in, and throughout acted with great caution not to give his superior an opportunity to fix any blame on him. It is also probable Julian hinted some of his suspicions to the troopers.

CASH GIVEN TO ESCORT.

The escort troopers camped near Rockleigh, the residence of Mrs. Ottley and her daughter, the latter of whom was said to be engaged to be married to Griffin. In order that present day readers shall know the locality it may be further explained the camp was near the Duck Pond, on the Crocodile-road, four miles from town. Now with regard to this cash, practically all in paper money, every note was "narrated" (the numbers taken) before leaving the Australian Joint Stock Bank.

On October 26th Sergeant Julian received an order from Griffin to get the money (£8151) from the bank and take it to Clermont, with the usual escort. This Julian did, arranging to meet Cahill at the Railway Hotel. Cahill did not turn up, and at 3.30 p.m. Julian took the money back to the bank instead of taking it to the camp. Griffin was told of what had been done and having promised to sack Cahill, sent Julian for the money the next day (27th). Julian received the money again and at 4 O'clock Griffin, Julian, and Cahill rode out to Stanwell and camped. Julian put the bundles of notes under his blankets and laid on them, a little way on the road. At 3 o’clock in the morning Cahill was ordered to look for the horses, and Griffin brought his blankets nearer to where Julian was lying. Griffin was uneasy and appeared to be watching Julian, who pretended to be examining his revolver. This continued till Cahill returned with the horses and the day broke.

They were preparing the horses for the road when Griffin asked how much money Julian had, and whether the notes were all signed, as sometimes they were signed at Clermont. As they went along, Griffin kept looking back, evidently thinking they would fall off their horses from the poison they were supposed to have taken in the tea. As the men did not drop off as expected. Griffin said he had left a parcel of gold behind, and ordered them back to camp near Ottley's. Griffin took off telling the troopers they would not start till the next day, but directly he was out of sight Julian took the money back to the bank once more.

SERGEANT JULIAN SUSPENDED.

Griffin saw the troopers returning after leaving the money at the bank, and when told what had been done suspended Julian in the street and appointed Power to his position. Julian gave up his revolver to Power, and one may be sure gave him good advice. Then Griffin went to Mr. Tom Hall, manager of the bank, and told him what he had done. Hall said he would only send half the money with Power, as he was new to the responsibility. Power got the money and went out to the camp, and Griffin came and took it to Ottley's house for safe keeping that night. When Griffin knew Julian was out of the way he told the boss of the Chinamen he would pay them in the morning, the 30th, and when at Ottley's he took a roll of notes out of the bundles, and went to town and, according to appointment, paid the different Chinamen their amounts, £259 in all.

POWER SEALS HIS FATE.

Most people will wonder what Mr. Hall thought of all this extraordinary carrying on with the money. It must have been plain that Julian strongly suspected Griffin, and had ample cause for doing so. Mr. Hall had no doubt been friendly with Griffin when Hall was the manager of the bank at Clermont, and held him incapable of such a mean dastardly action as to wish to rob his subordinates in order to save his own skin. The troopers remained in camp all day, Griffin having taken the money to Ottley's. When Griffin brought the parcel of notes to Power the next morning, the latter wanted to see it repacked, but griffin told him it was exactly as it came from the bank. Power felt there was a vacant space in the parcel where the roll of notes had been taken out, and he raised some excuse to cause delay and sent in and asked Mr. Hall to come out and see that the parcel was all right before they left. This Mr. Hall did, and came out on November 1st to see why there was so much delay. Griffin said the horses had been lost.

Mr. Hall asked Griffin to seal up the mouth of the bag in which all the money was supposed to be, but Griffin said it would only be broken with the friction of the pack saddle. Shortly afterwards Power asked Griffin to seal the bag, and as he expected Power would refuse to take it unless it was sealed he did so. Thus Power had one bag from which he thought a parcel of notes had been taken with Griffin's seal on it, and on arrival at Clermont if some of the notes were gone, Griffin would be held responsible for the loss. This act sealed Power's fate, and no doubt Griffin then resolved definitely to kill him.

These explanations of the sending away of the escort are somewhat tedious and confusing, but it was a battle of wits between Julian and Griffin, and it serves to show the cruel relentlessness of Griffin to have the money at whatever cost and to place the onus of the theft on his innocent subordinates. As a young inexperienced man Power had done his best in saving Griffin put his seal on the bag of money, but in reality it would have been better for himself and Cahill had he not insisted on it being done.

THE DEATH CAMP.

It must be understood that John Francis Power and Patrick William Cahill did not belong to the regular police exactly, having been detailed specially for escort work. They were probably lacking in the sagacity and shrewdness acquired by thorough police training. They were young well-connected Irishmen, with plenty of daring, and probably considered they were quite capable of holding their own should Griffin attempt anything. Still there was abundance of proof that at least Power suspected Griffin, but had nothing really definite to go on to lay a change, or to refuse to obey his orders.

After delays that had lasted nearly a week, Griffin, Power, and Cahill, with about £4000 in notes, left Ottley's camp. All were in plain clothes. Power and Cahill armed with revolvers, and Griffin without any visible arms. Before Griffin left he distinctly told Mr. Hall that he would go no further than Gogango, 40 miles from town, and expected to return the next day. He told the accountant of the bank he would go no further than Westwood or Sebastopol.

What really occurred on that dreadful journey will never definitely be known, but Power in particular must have kept a keen eye on Griffin's movements. However, there is reason to believe Griffin made one or two attempts to kill them before the Mackenzie Crossing was reached. Griffin rode behind them, and at one place fired at Power through his revolver case, the ball going through Power's coat. He apologised, explaining that the weapon had gone off accidentally.

On November 4th they arrived at Ashcroft's accommodation house at The Dam, 26 miles from the Mackenzie River. Power and Cahill went some little distance from the house and camped, but Griffin went back to the house and frightened Mrs. Ashcroft by flourishing his revolver about and ask in the morning and he and Griffin agreed to leave in company.

At that period the Mackenzie Crossing was a weird sort of place at night-time, with its tall moaning gum trees, howling dingoes, and little patches of scrub. At least the writer found it so when camping there alone a year earlier, almost in the very spot the troopers were done to death.

About 8 O'clock the troopers went to their camp from Bedford's taking a couple of bottles of beer with them, and soon after Griffin, with a pint of brandy, also went to the camp. At 2 O'clock the next morning, November 6th Bedford was awakened by what he took to be a pistol shot. Lying dosing he heard another shot, and found it was half-past 3. At 4 o'clock Griffin arrived at Bedford's. He had a tired appearance and said he had lost his way. Bedford asked about the pistol shots, and Griffin said Power had lost his way looking for the horses, and fired to attract the camp. He said he heard only one shot.

GRIFFIN RETURNS TO THE ROCKHAMPTON.

Having accomplished his foul and dastard purpose Griffin accompanied by Bedford, started for Rockhampton. Griffin made Bedford keep in front of him, apparently having a lot of trouble with his swag. A few miles from Ashcroft's Griffin dismounted and went off the road for a purpose. Later in the day, at this spot, a man picked up a £1 note that proved to be a "narrated" one from the escort bundle. That night Griffin and Bedford reached Gainsford, and the next day arrived at Rockhampton, and the two with a friend called at the Commercial Hotel for refreshments. Griffin tendered a torn £1 note, which there was some demur about changing, so that the barmaid and landlady both had a careful examination of it. That also was a "narrated" note, and the next day attention was drawn to it at the bank.

On November 8th Griffin went to Sub-inspector Elliott's office, and explained to the police officer, that he had gone to the Mackenzie to see the troopers safely on their journey. Elliott said he had often wondered why the troopers were not stuck up going through the scrubs where they could be fired on by bushrangers who were shattered. Griffin replied it would never be done that way, but near morning when they were in camp and sleepy.

That afternoon Griffin galloped to Elliott's office and asked if he had heard the troopers had been found dead in camp at the Mackenzie? Elliott said "No," and asked for particulars, but just then Constable Moynihan rode up with a telegram from Sub-inspector Uhr, telling of the murder. Both read it and Griffin exclaimed: "My God, I left them at 1 o'clock at the Mackenzie, with Cahill on watch." Elliott remembering their conversation of a few hours previously instantly suspected Griffin, but resolved to act with great caution.

Griffin saw T. S. Hall before the party started, and told him Julian had been laughing and saying he was well out of it. Mr. Hall asked: "However did those fellows get the poison." For the first report was that the troopers had been poisoned, it's all a trumped up yarn - a false report. They are shot, and you will see if they are not." This remark was exceedingly incriminating for all stories said the men were poisoned, and that pigs had died through eating the vomit, Sub-inspector Uhr, who had seen the bodies, and ridden 100 miles in ten hours to report the affair, with one arm in a sling, thought the men had been poisoned, and no one had any idea the troopers had really been shot. Even to this day, the same delusion exists. Quite recently the writer saw in a southern paper an allusion to Griffin poisoning the Clermont escort and being hanged for the offence in Brisbane Gaol. As will be shown presently both troopers were shot, and there was no evidence that either had been poisoned, though possibly they had been given laudanum to make them sleep.

It seems likely Griffin agreed that no bushrangers, or robbers of that type, would be able to poison the troopers though they may have been able to shoot them whilst asleep. If they were poisoned it would have been at the hands of someone they were on drinking terms, with, and there was plenty of evidence that no one had such a chance of introducing poison as Griffin, was the last man with him.

THE DEAD TROOPERS

A fairly large party, including Dr. Salmond, the Health Officer, Sub inspector Elliott, Detective Kilfeder, Griffin, Julian, H. P. Abbott, J. P., and a few others started early next morning for the Mackenzie, and were joined on the road by Sub-inspector Uhr and two black troopers.

To Sub-inspector Elliott every stage of that journey brought additional suspicions of Griffin's guilt. On the plea of sickness he obtained Dr. Salmond's consent to his riding with him in his gig, all the rest of the party being on horseback. Dr. Salmond was an elderly man, and readily gave the reins to Griffin, who drove in a most reckless manner, and nearly upset the gig on several occasions. Dr. Salmond, once he got Griffin out, would not let him in the gig again, and told him he was either the most reckless or the most careless man he ever saw.

At an accommodation house Sub-inspector Elliott managed to get Griffin's revolver when he was taking a nap, and left it so it would not explode the charge, because he never expected Griffin to be arrested quietly. Griffin quite failed in his attempts to delay the party, and on Monday morning, November 11th, Bedford's Hotel, at the Mackenzie River, was reached.

The troopers had been temporarily buried, but were exhumed and Dr. Salmond at once made an examination. He quickly found that both Power and Cahill had been shot through the head, and told Sub-inspector Elliott so quietly. Elliot said, "Don't say a word about it at present," and strolling over to Kilfeder- the whole part, were awaiting the conclusion of the examination-told him Griffin was the murderer, and instructed him to sit on the log with Griffin and keep him in conversation. This Kilfeder did, and Elliott went over to Dr. Salmond and glancing around found Kilfeder had done as instructed.

ARREST OF GRIFFIN.

Elliot then strolled carelessly over and sat down on the other side of Griffin, saying "This is a sickening sight Griffin; have you got a drop of whisky or brandy! "yes" said Griffin, and put his hands up to get the flask from a breast pocket, when Elliot gave Kilfeder a nod and each man seized one of Griffin's arms, and the handcuffs were on in a twinkling. Elliott saying "I arrest you for the murder of Troopers Power and Cahill." Griffin gave a suppressed groan, and said, "Well I could only expect it as I was the last person known to be in company with the poor fellows."

It has always been said that no person, except Sub-inspector Elliott and Sergeant Julian, suspected Griffin before he was in custody, but it is difficult to believe how any person aware of the facts could have failed to at least suspect him when there were so many suspicious circumstances pointing to him as the culprit. It seems much more likely that a few of Griffin's friends did not think he was guilty, and vigorously spread that opinion.

THE INQUIRY.

Mr. Abbott being the only Magistrate available he decided to hold a preliminary inquiry at Bedford's Hotel, when evidence was given by a number of witnesses. Briefly the following facts were decided-That Griffin was the last person known to have been in the camp where the men were found murdered, which Griffin himself admitted. That he took brandy to the men from the hotel, and remained in the camp for several hours. That during that period two pistol shots were heard at intervals. That the troopers were both found to have been shot through the head. That Griffin returned later to the hotel in a dazed condition and said he had lost his way, which was almost an impossibility. That Griffin had no business with the troopers at all, and had gone without permission from his superior officer. That he had promised Trooper Power to allow Constable Moyhiban to go with the escort instead of himself, but had still continued on the journey as a "protector." That he had left the men on the most dangerous section of the road if robbers were feared. That he had made conflicting statements to Sub-inspector Elliott and Uhr as to when he left the camp and other matters. That there had been great difficulty in getting away with the money from the bank and why it was returned and other facts of minor importance. Many persons have been convicted on crimes on less evidence, so it is not surprising that Mr. Abbott, felt justified in adjourning the case to Rockhampton, holding Griffin in custody.

At the Police Court, Rockhampton, still more convincing evidence was given and Griffin was committed for trial and sent to Brisbane for safe custody.

Whilst in the lock-up Griffin asked M'Mulkin, the lock-up-keeper, to let him out to do some business, saying it was a trumped-up charge. M'Mulkin was not to be hoodwinked but agreed to post a letter for him. Getting the letter he took it to Sub-inspector Elliott, who opened it, and found it was addressed to his wife in Melbourne. The police cleverly ferreted out the fact that he had been paying his wife an allowance to keep her from exposing him. So apparently bigamy was another offence he contemplated.

PART 2 || PART 3

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