"There is something strange, and to the government of this country,
something not quite comprehensible, in this League. For the first time
in the southern hemisphere, a Reform League is to be inaugurated.
There is something ominous in this; the word 'League,' in a time of such
feverish excitement as the present, is big with immense purport (indeed!)
Indeed, it would ill become 'The Times' to mince in matter of such weighty
importance. This League is not more or less that the germ of Australian
independence (sic). The die is cast, and fate has stamped upon the movement
its indelible signature. No power on earth can restrain the united might
and headlong strides for freedom of the people of this country, and we are
lost in amazement while contemplating the dazzling panorama of the Australian
future (Great works). We salute the League [but not the trio, Vern, Kennedy,
Humffray], and tender our hopes and prayers for its prosperity [in the shape
of a goodly pile of half-crowns]. The League has undertaken a mighty task
[the trio'll shirk it though], fit only for a great people - that of changing
the dynasty of the country (Great works). The League does not exactly
propose, nor adopt such a scheme, but we know what it means, the principles
it would inculcate, and that eventually it will resolve itself into
an Australian Congress." (Great Works!!)
Vote for
HUMFFRAY to be Auctioneer,
KENNEDY to be Bellman,
VERN to be Runner,
of the 'Starring league.'
Chapter XXIV.
Ortica ensis: Secunda.
Out came the 'Ballaarat Times', Saturday, November 25, 1854. Work was stopped
at every hole: the miners left the deep and mobbed together round any reader
of the full report of the -
Trial of
MR. AND MRS. BENTLEY,
Hanse, and Farrel,
FOR THE MURDER OF
JAMES SCOBIE.
- -
Supreme Court, Melbourne.
- -
GUILTY! of Manslaughter.
Mrs. Bentley scot-free.
His Honour considered their conduct
was wanton and reckless. He should
mark his sense of the outrage of which
they have been found guilty, by passing
on each of them a sentence of
THREE (!) YEARS' IMPRISONMENT
WITH HARD LABOUR ON THE ROADS.
Great Works!
Trial of
Fletcher, M`Intyre and Westerby,
for BURNING THE EUREKA HOTEL.
- -
Supreme Court, Melbourne.
Criminal Sittings.
- -
GUILTY, with a recommendation
to mercy!!
The Foreman of the Jury appended
the following rider to the verdict: -
"The jury feel, in giving their verdict
against the prisoners at the bar,
that in all probability, they (the jury)
should never have had that painful
duty to Perform, if those entrusted
with the government offices at Ballaarat
had done theirs properly."
His Honour said: THE SENTENCE
of the Court is, that you,
M`Intyre be confined in H.M. gaol,
at Melbourne, for THREE MONTHS,
but I shall not subject you to labour.
(Great works!) You, Fletcher, to four
months; and you, Westerby, to six
months confinement...
...The Executive was sufficiently
strong to punish those who outrage
the law!
