S3-E09-The Mark's Murders - Law and Order - Take 2

Commissioner Bligh was unable to achieve law and order on the McIntyre.  Partly at the instigation of Augustus Morris on Callandoon Station, the Native Police was formed under the command of Frederick Walker (a friend of Morris).  The Native Police were Aboriginal men under the command of European officers. Walker aggressively pursued “ring leaders” and “trouble makers” amongst the Bigambul.  Peace was achieved on the McIntyre but at the cost of many Aboriginal lives. 

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Transcript

Greg: 0:01

From“Today’s Stories”- this is“The Mark’s Murders”– a story of murder and mayhem told over several episodes- by myself, Greg and by Peter. If you haven’t listened to this series from Episode 1, we suggest that you stop listening now and go back to the very beginning. Also, a warning. This series of podcasts discusses the murders of indigenous and non-indigenous people. It contains the names of aboriginal people who have died. Whilst quoting original historical material, this series also contains racist language, some language that would be seen as inappropriate today, and historical ideas that are offensive.

Peter: 1:01

Previously on the“Mark’s Murders”…… It’s 1847– about 50 km north-west of modern-day Goondiwindi.

Denise: 1:09

Young described Marks's frenzied response, calling him'a hater of all aboriginals', shooting every native in sight'.

Daniel McLean: 1:24

Billy was looking about and found a gin concealed by the fence, and he pulled her out. She escaped from his grasp and ran. Someone called out"shoot her," and the whole party fired at her, and she fell by the slip panel. Martin then struck her once or twice on the head with a pistol he carried.

Jonathan Young: 1:44

I have been in great danger and alarm from the Natives ever since this outrage although I was formerly on the best possible terms. They are now spearing my cattle which they never did to my knowledge before.

Denise: 2:00

A station belonging to Mr. John Brown, of Singleton, was attacked by a party consisting of seven white men and an Aboriginal native, who murdered a gin named"Bootha," His Excellency the Governor directs it to be notified, that a reward of fifty pounds will be paid to any free person or persons not the actual perpetrators of this murder.

Peter: 2:28

The murder of Mark’s son and the murders of aboriginal people started in 1847, around the modern-day town of Goondiwindi. We know the bare bones of the story from the Personal Reminiscences of John Watts, an early squatter on the Darling Downs, and from other historical accounts. But these accounts don’t provide any context as to why the murders occurred, what actually happened, and their aftermath. We want to tell the truth of what happened. In previous episodes, we went through the series of murders that occurred from August 1847 until May 1849. In the last episode, we discussed the failed attempt to bring law and order and justice to the McIntyre due to the failed legal proceedings against James Mark and his gang.

Greg: 3:19

We’ve mentioned in previous episodes that the Native Police eventually arrived on the McIntyre to establish law and order and I assume that this happened after Bligh’s failed attempt at conventional legal processes. Who were the Native Police?

Peter: 3:32

Squatters on the McIntyre had been calling on the Government to send Native Police to the McIntyre for many years. This is because most squatters were aware that this method had been used in other British colonies. They sai d that the Native Police forces in Australia could follow the general template of the sepoy and sowar armies of the East India Company. There were also other forces on the British imperial frontier like the Cape Regiment in southern Africa and the Kaffir and Malay Corps in Ceylon as examples. So this was a tried and tested model for law enforcement in British colonies.

Greg: 4:09

OK. So what did the Native Police look like in Australia and when did they start?

Peter: 4:14

In the late 1830s, the NSW government found it was having trouble financing the NSW Mounted Police which was a corps of mounted soldiers that since 1825 operated as the main enforcers of colonial rule in the frontier areas. Officials looked at cheaper alternatives and came up with two solutions– the Border Police and the Native Police. From 1839, the main frontier policing force in the colony were divisions of mounted convict soldiers known as the Border Police– we’ve already discussed these in a previous episode. However, in the late 1840s, with the end of convict transportation looming, a new source of cheap and effective troopers were required to subdue resistance along the ever-extending frontier. The need was especially apparent in the north as conflict between squatters and aboriginals toward the McIntyre area was slowing pastoral expansion. The alternate solution to the Border Police was to trial a force of armed and mounted Aboriginals under the command of British officers. This was the Native Police. In October 1837, the first commander was appointed for the first official Native Police troopers at their station outside of Melbourne. It was disbanded briefly in January 1838 but reorganised in April of the same year with their new headquarters in Jolimont which is where the MCG carpark is now situated. Due to funding problems, the force was again dissolved in 1839. These issues delayed reformation of the corps until Superintendent Charles La Trobe indicated he was willing to underwrite the costs in 1842. As a result of the success in Melbourne of the Native Police, the NSW government passed legislation in 1848 to fund a new section of Native Police based on the Victorian model but to be used in northern NSW.

Greg: 6:21

OK. So the Native Police consisted of British officers and aboriginal troops. How did they get to the McIntyre?

Peter: 6:28

Well, the first step was to appoint a Commandant. This was Frederick Walker. He was a station manager and court official residing in the Murrumbidgee area. Augustus Morris on Callandoon Station was a friend of Walker and one of the influential people who recommended Walker’s appointment– perhaps because of the losses that Morris was suffering due to the mayhem on the McIntyre caused by James Mark. Walker recruited 14 native troopers from four different language groups along the Murrumbidgee, Murray, and Edwards Rivers areas. This force was consolidated and trained by Walker at Deniliquin. By all accounts, they were a well drilled and highly disciplined band greatly committed and attached to their Commandant who remained exceedingly proud and protective of his men.

Greg: 7:18

What do we know about the background of Frederick Walker? Had h e served in uniform?

Peter: 7:22

Well, Walker was born in Hampshire, England in 1820 to a relatively illustrious family. Hi s f ather, John Walker was an officer in the British Army. His mother was a daughter of the aristocratic travel writer, Henry Swinburne, and granddaughter to Sir John Swinburne 3rd Baronet. Frederick's sister married a rear-admiral in the Royal Navy. Frederi ck immigr a ted to Aus tralia via Ceylon in 1844 and was shortly after employed by Will ia m Charles Wentworth on his massiv e station on the Murrumbidgee River w here he served as superintendent. In the s am e year, he was made a corporal in the Border Police unit based in the Murrumbidgee District and this seems to be the limit of his previous military experience. Then, in 18 A ugust 18 48, he was appointed"Magistrate of the Territories and its Dependencies" and Commandant of the newly-established Native Police Force on the recommendation of his former employer, Wen tworth an d Augustus Morr is, who were, a t that stage, both members of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Subsequently, Walker travelled with his force up the Darling River where the first engagement occurred 100 miles below Fort Bourke at a place called Moanna, resulting in at least 5 aboriginal people being killed by his troopers. In October 1848, t he Colonial Secretary advised Walker of– quote-“certain murders having been recently perpetrated by the whites on the Aborigines at the MacIntyre River”. Hence, it appears th at Wa lker was sent to the McIntyre to not only quell the a boriginals but also to arrest J ames Mar k. Mark certainly believe d th is to be the case as he later said to J ohn Watts.

Greg: 9:25

OK. So Walker’s force has been trained and had seen some action. What did they do when they got to the McIntyre?

Peter: 9:32

I’ve found a newspaper report of their arrival. The report is dated 11 July 1849. It says that Walker arrived on 10 May 1849 and continues:

Denise: 9:46

It appears that when the native police reached Boogabilla on that day, the Macintyre was running half bank high, and they crossed it in a bark canoe. They then proceeded in search of the marauding blacks, who were then engaged in driving off and spearing the cattle of Messrs. Dight and Howe. The police came up with these blacks in the midst of a brigalow scrub, but the police being fatigued with a long journey, the blacks got away from them, leaving behind their arms, tomahawks, opossum cloaks, and a steer of Mr. Dight's, which fell into the possession of the police. The police on this occasion pursued the blacks some distance, and Edward, one of the police, sent a ball within three inches of Pulldown, one of the most notorious and desperate of the Severn blacks. Two days afterwards, the police saved the dray of a carrier, named Smith, from being robbed, and no doubt the lives of the two men themselves. Cockatoo on this occasion was shot through the thigh by a trooper already mentioned in the Mercury, Larry, not Lang.

Peter: 10:59

I was very intrigued to read the brief section about the carrier called Smith.

Greg: 11:04

Why? What's the significance about Smith?

Peter: 11:08

Well, in John Watts’ Personal Reminiscences, there is a section that I have had trouble with. John gives no date as to when it happens but it is now obvious that this is an important event that John describes. He starts by saying:

John Watts: 11:26

There was strong feeling in the Colony at this time, and the Government then formed a Native Police, which was commanded by Capt. Walker, a first-class man for such an appointment, and he went to the Murray River to obtain his recruits; he got a fine lot of men and soon got them into shape. He appointed one of them as corporal, his name was Harry, but his nation I never knew.

Peter: 11:54

So John has correctly described the formation of the Native Police under the command of Walker. John notes that he was in the area at the time– probably droving down at Beebo. He then goes on:

John Watts: 12:06

They came up to the Severn during the time of my last visit and a few days before their arrival, a carrier, who went by the name of the Smiler, he being the only carrier on the road at this time in this district, and he had supplies for the McIntyre, on his drays. Arriving at Beeboo he was told there(and the information came through the black boy) that the blacks intended to attack him at a camp where the scrub came down to a point on the river, and the place where he usually camped, about ten miles.

Peter: 12:44

I have confirmed that the carrier John Watts refers to as Smiler is the Smith referred to in the newspaper article. Watts then continues:

John Watts: 12:54

He was afraid to go on, and hearing that the native police were to arrive in a day to two, waited for them, with a hope that they could escort him past this camp, after which the country was more open and therefore more safe. Capt. Walker on his arrival told him to go on and camp as usual in his old camping ground, and take no notice of what he heard, and when he got to this place to turn out his bullocks, but first placing his drays as close to the river bank as he could, to pull down the tarpaulins all round his dray, leaving the end next the river open, and he would be there as soon as he had camped. This he did, and had not been there long before the police stole along the river close under its banks, which by the action of the floods had been left about three feet high. They had left their horses about a quarter of a mile up the river, and had stolen unseen under the drays and got under the tarpaulin much to the delight of Smiler, who had been in a great fright for fear they would not be there in time. It was only a very short time before two blacks came out of the scrub and requested him to give them tobacco, which he proceeded to do in the usual manner by taking out a fig from his pocket and breaking off a piece for each, when one said:"Bale break'em, we want'em all, and suppose you bale give it me take'em altogether, dray and bullocks." And as Smiler refused, he gave a cooey, and in a moment a large tribe came out of the scrub dressed in their war paint, intending to kill, no doubt, both Smiler and his mate. The police were so excited that Capt. Walker could not control them, this being the first time they had been in action, and they discharged their muskets and an immediate retreat was the result of this discharge. But the natives, who had up to this time never seen nor heard of a native police, only went inside the scrub where in former days they were quite safe, for no white man dare follow; so no doubt they thought they might be able to get round and yet accomplish their end. But the police were too quick for them and followed them up, and the number they killed no one but their commander and themselves ever knew.

Greg: 15:26

“The number they killed no one but their commander and themselves ever knew!” That sounds like a significant engagement or encounter.

Peter: 15:34

Yes. I think that John Watts has inadvertently described t he first mass killing of Aboriginal people by the Native Police in Queensland. It's very unclear, but if it is, it happened on the 12th of May, 1849.

Greg: 15:49

What happened after that?

Peter: 15:52

The newspaper report continues:

Denise: 15:55

On the return of the police to Boogabilla they started in pursuit of the notorious mob who have killed so many men, but after six days, two of which they were without food, they were obliged to give it up, owing to the treachery of the guides. They now took a few days rest, after their journey of 1,200 miles. On the 9th June, a detachment of police, with the Commandant, Mr. Walker, went in pursuit of the Bubera mob, who had been committing great depredations on the cattle on the river for the previous month. The police came up with them three miles above Mr. Larnach's hut, and an attempt was made to capture Cranky(the black who some time since wounded Holmes, one of Mr. Yeomans's men), and two others, when the police met with a desperate resistance; several of the blacks were wounded, and Cranky was killed, after a chase of three miles; he had speared Mr. Rens's horse, and nearly hit Mr. Rens himself with a second spear; Mr. Walker had also a narrow escape.

Peter: 17:10

The Bubera mob that the article refers to would have to be the Bigambul people around their sacred site, Boobera Lagoon which was on Carbucky Station. The article then goes on to say that Walker had intended to go on to the Condamine but local squatters, on 10 June, asked Walker to stay longer. He then proceeded– quote–“the next day in search of a fearful mob of blacks which had united—(the writer was credibly informed no less than three hundred)— a larger body than the friendly blacks on the Macintyre remembered having ever collected previously”. The author of the letter is not given but it is likely that it was Augustus Morris who would go on to write other letters of praise for Walker(and by inference, letters of praise for himself for having appointed Walker in the first place– Morris was a true politician.)

Greg: 18:10

Right. How did Walker go in chasing the Bubera mob, as they were described?

Peter: 18:17

What could be termed as the‘final stand’ of the Bigambul took place on the 9 July 1849. On 1 July, Walker was again preparing to go the Condamine when Pantaloon, a local man described by Walker as a“ringleader”, approached the Native Police camp making offerings of peace. At nine o’clock that evening, Walker was made aware that Pantaloon and his brother Bobby had stolen two sheep. A tribe of Aborigines believed to be under the leadership of‘Darby’ had joined a strong reinforcement of‘Moonee blacks’ at a place called Cumba. Walker felt that the peace proposal was an attempt to mislead the Native Police and at eleven o’clock that evening, set off in pursuit of them. They followed the trail, finding slaughtered cattle at each camp. Late in the afternoon of 9 July, Walker’s detachment came across a party of Aboriginal men cutting up a beast belonging to a Mr Pringle. Those men immediately attempted to escape across a plain but were driven back by a detachment of troopers under the command of Corporal Logan. Two troopers prevented them escaping across the river. Walker was joined by local squatters- Richard Marshall, Rens and his friend, Augustus Morris, and four other troopers. They were cut off from the main body by a group of thirty or more Aboriginal warriors who were protected by thick scrub. Sundown was approaching and Walker’s men flushed the Bigambul out of the bush and then rushed forward on foot. They fired their muzzle loading carbines upon the warriors who were twelve paces away. They eventually drove them from cover, but not without injury to themselves. Walker’s orderly, Edgar was speared through the leg but drew the weapon out and drove it several inches into the body of his adversary. Rens received a facial wound from a boomerang. Once this party had been dealt with, Walker’s small group rejoined the main body of troopers. What remained of the Bigambul warriors had by now escaped. Not satisfied with the carnage already inflicted on them, Walker later reported his famous statement, and I quote,

Frederick Walke: 20:48

“I much regretted not having one hour more daylight as I would have annihilated the lot, among which were six murderers and all the rest living solely on cattle.”

Peter: 21:04

Returning the next morning, Walker recorded that he found the body of one Aboriginal man and“saw that several had been badly wounded, having crawled off on their hands and knees leaving a trail of blood.” The battle was described colourfully in the Maitland Mercury…spears and boomerangs were flying in every direction, the flashing of fire arms showing the blacks the position of their assailants; the yells of the savages, answered by the war cry of the police, and the ring of the carbines must have had a most exciting effect"…

Greg: 21:37

It certainly seems that Walker was intent on pursuing and killing as many of the“notorious blacks” as possible. Do you think it was Walker’s intention to kill every Bigambul person he came across?

Peter: 21:49

Walker’s attitude to the Bigambul is complex and misunderstood. His comment that we used just before is often simply given as“I much regretted not having one hour more daylight as I would have annihilated that lot” without the last phrase which states that he was after aboriginal men whom he believed were murderers or those killing the squatter’s livestock. It certainly is true that some of the squatters on the McIntyre believed that it was Walker’s role to eradicate the Bigambul from the area completely but this was not Walker’s intention. This difference in expectation caused on-going conflict between Walker and some squatters– including James Mark who, by this time, had already left the area. In a letter to the Colonial Secretary in March 1852– which is just two years after he first arrived on the McIntyre, Walker outlines his theories. This letter was published in newspapers at the time. In it, Walker outlines his concepts of how the Native Police and the squatters should act. Walker is addressing some issues that had been raised against him and his force. Now, of course, we need to be aware that Walker may have been self-serving in his comments here but this was written long before the troubles that lead to his later suspension. The publication of his comments in the Sydney Morning Herald was followed by a number of anonymous letters to the editor in various newspapers by squatters that were extremely critical of Walker and vitriolic.

Greg: 23:32

Wow. Well, what does he say?

Peter: 23:36

Firstly, he says that the approach taken by the squatters had not resulted in peace on the McIntyre. He says specifically- and I quote:

Frederick Walke: 23:49

Previous to 1849, settlers in the outer districts, finding that they were beyond the protection of the law, and not being able to put up with the injuries done to life and property by the aborigines, took up arms in their own defence, and attempted to put a stop by main force to a state of things which Government had not been able to alter. In so doing, however justifiable the original motive may have been, yet each settler acted from a feeling of self-interest alone, not in the least with a view to the public good. It was impossible the settlers could act without showing, in some cases, motives of revenge and feelings of vindictiveness; and as most of their servants were men of no education, frequent instances of harshness and abominable cruelty were heard of.

Peter: 24:46

I really think Walker here is referring to James Mark and his gang here. As we noted in previous episodes, most of Mark’s gang were only station labourers, poorly educated and some were ex-convicts. Next Walker says- and I quote:

Frederick Walke: 25:05

In many districts, the settlers succeeded in putting a stop to the hostilities of the aborigines, but in some they singlely failed; for instance, the Macintyre, where, after nine years' warfare, the blacks were as far from subdued as ever.

Greg: 25:25

Well that statement's interesting. Walker's admitting that the Bigambul had been conducting nine years of warfare against the squatters and the squatters alone had been quite unable to overcome the Bigambul.

Peter: 25:38

Yeah, he clearly has some respect for their abilities. Then he goes on to say- quote:

Frederick Walke: 25:44

During the four years in which I have held the command of this Force, it has never acted unless I knew that a felony had been committed, and I had reasonable grounds of suspecting the offenders, warrants had been issued, or affidavits, clearly pointing out the offenders, sworn to. In every case depositions have been forwarded to the Attorney-General of the proceedings of the Native Police when a death has occurred through their endeavours to put a stop to hostilities; and he is the best judge whether I have acted legally or not. At all events, I have always thought that I was right, morally and legally. When Mounted Police had hostile encounters with armed felons, I presume that their officers had similar views. The Government therefore never allowed any proceedings towards the aborigines that were not warranted by law. It is remarkable that the persons who were most clamorous against the Government for not interfering should be the first to exclaim against them when they do.

Greg: 26:53

I'm not too sure about this section. It seems unlikely that he had warrants for every aboriginal person his troops killed. Well, I guess he's saying that he only attacked those aboriginal men who were known to have attacked the squatters– not innocent women and children.

Peter: 27:11

Yes, and Walker believed that the best system for all was for Aboriginal people to be allowed on the stations and allowed to hunt and find food in traditional ways and to be employed as shepherds. He didn't want them all killed. He wrote, and I'll quote:

Frederick Walke: 27:31

When the experimental force was raised, it was first sent to the Macintyre. With the exception of three stations, the blacks in that portion of the Darling Downs District were in a manner outlawed in their own country, being hunted from the river and creek frontages, and thus deprived of means of lawfully obtaining food. Driven to desperation, they carried on a constant war of retaliation with the whites, and lived solely on cattle. So accustomed were they become to this life, that force had to be resorted to, to make the ringleaders submit.

Peter: 28:12

Walker is saying that the squatters largely brought the problem on themselves and the Bigambul, quite understandably, resorted to violence.

Greg: 28:21

Yes. You said that some squatters had different expectations about the Native Police compared to what Walker did and I find it interesting that they talked about three stations where the blacks weren't excluded. Did Walker comment on those expectations?

Peter: 28:28

Yeah. Clearly Walker wanted a peaceful co-existence between the squatters and the Bigambul. He said- I quote:

Frederick Walke: 28:46

One great cause of difference of opinion is the system, so much followed, of not allowing the blacks at the stations.

Peter: 28:54

Then he goes on to say about the squatters- quote:

Frederick Walke: 28:58

So long as settlers carry on the system of preventing the blacks from obtaining their lawful means of livelihood, and persist in not showing to them that all old grudges and vindictiveness are thrown on one side by the whites, which the blacks will believe when they are allowed at the stations, and not till then, so long will, a system of depredations be carried on which the Native Police may check, but cannot permanently put an end to.

Greg: 29:29

That's interesting. Do you think that this section is aimed at James Mark and his gang?

Peter: 29:35

Oh, I think quite clearly, it's aimed at Mark and his gang because he then comes on to say another section- and quote:

Frederick Walke: 29:43

I cannot but look with feelings of contempt and indignation on any person who can for any length of time feel vindictively towards such miserable and ignorant wretches as the aborigines of this continent are in their natural state. And should any officer of the Native Police evince any vindictive feeling in his dealings with them, he would be unworthy of the confidence of the Government. The only object he must have in view is by endeavouring to put the law into force against offenders, to intimidate others from committing crime.

Peter: 30:25

Walker had some practical reasons for wanting the squatters to have aboriginal people on every station. He makes two comments about keeping aboriginals on the runs. Firstly, he says- quote:

Frederick Walke: 30:40

It is impossible to persuade me that a station is more safe because the Europeans do not see the blacks at it, for they may be, unknown to them, in a scrub only one mile from a sheep station, ready to pounce out at an advantage upon some unprepared and solitary shepherd. On the contrary, where they are seen it is known at least where some are, and it can generally be learned from them where the others are, and what their doings are. If every settler were to follow the system called"keeping them at a distance," a term adopted by settlers from convict stockmen, where would the blacks go for their food? One settler said he did not care, and his hearers seemed to admire the expression; but there cannot be many who could entertain such a selfish idea. If every settler were to allow only ten aborigines on his station, there would be such a small number of them in the bush that they would hardly be dangerous. It is the hostile bearing of the settlers that causes the blacks to keep in large numbers, for they cannot continue the assemblies customary to them for more than a few days at a time, on account of the want of food,(the Bunya seasons are of course an exception.) They supply this want from the herds of the settler, and are compelled to do so.

Peter: 32:17

Then in a later paragraph he says, and I quote:

Frederick Walke: 32:21

The best argument I have heard yet in support of the system was that of a settler, who said his reason for not admitting the blacks at his station was, that he could not prevent quarrels between his servants and them, arising principally from the intercourse of the Europeans and the females. It is rather too bad that for such a reason the unfortunate aborigines should be expelled from their own fatherland.

Greg: 32:52

That's quite interesting. It presents a different view of Walker compared to what some historians have said about him. He wanted peaceful co-existence, not removal of all of the Bigambul.

Peter: 33:04

Yes– rememebring these are Walker's own words and may be self-serving and we also must never forget that the objective of the squatters was the occupation of all of the Bigambul country which inevitably led to the destruction of their culture and way of their life. Walker and his Native Police was an effective tool that the squatters used to achieve their objective.

Greg: 33:28

Fair enough. Do we know of any other violent encounters by Walker on the McIntyre?

Peter: 33:33

Well, Perhaps. The following is a section of Margaret Young’s journal which follows her description of the murder of her friend, Bootha. She says:

Margaret: 33:46

Some weeks later the Police came back shooting still more natives whether guilty or not; we lost twelve more of our station blacks. Two young gins ran to me for protection, I hid them up in the corner of our roof, behind some hay, they had to remain there for two days and nights without food or water. The Police were still in and out of our house; I was in fear and dread they would be discovered but the police departed before doing so. The hiding of these two gins were later to save our lives.

Peter: 34:23

Given Margaret’s reasonably accurate description of previous murders, we can assume that this event did happen but unfortunately, Margaret doesn’t say exactly when this event occurred and she doesn’t describe the police who apparently remained on Umbercollie for some days. The police could either have been Bligh’s Border Force or Walker’s Native Police. Margaret then continues:

Margaret: 34:52

Very soon a tribe of very savage natives returned, all shouting and yelling to kill us. I kept the children beside me, waiting for the inevitable. However, these two gins came up from their camp, spoke to the head tribesman, saying I had saved their lives some weeks earlier, and not to hurt us. Almost like a miracle they departed and never came back. I forgot to mention, after the Police had gone from the last shooting, we faced the terrible sight of so many dead natives, and this time the wild dogs had joined the pigs tearing the bodies to pieces. Once again Jonathan had the job of burying them. The natives were by now very stirred up, many coming from other districts, planning to hunt the white settlers out for the future. However, the Government realising the danger we were now in, sent two policemen to Umbercollie for our protection as I was the only white woman in the district, also our children. They kept guard day and night beside our home; this was a great relief as I felt I could not stand any more massacres and bloodshed, which seemed to be getting worse.

Peter: 36:08

In the previous episode, we noted that, in October 1848, the Colonial Secretary authorised the Warialda Bench of Magistrates to engage four more constables for the Border Police and sent them to the McIntyre until the arrival of Frederick Walker and the Native Police. Margaret says that this incident occurred a few weeks after the murder of Bootha in June 1848. This could be October 1848 when the extra Border Police arrived. Walker did not arrived until May 1849- many months later. So, I suspect that the killings described by Margaret were done by the Border Police rather than the Native Police as has been suggested by some historians. Irrespective of who committed these killings at Umbercollie, this simply added to the on-going tit-for-tat murders that followed the initial murders committed by James Mark.

Greg: 37:11

Okay. It's quite interesting that we have two different police forces there and it's quite likely that some of the actions of the Border Police who were generally convicts origin are quite different from the activities of the Native Police who were more like a militia. What happened with Walker then?

Peter: 37:36

Well, Walker and the Native Police actively pursued any aboriginal man that they believed was a murderer or killer of livestock but, at the same time, encouraged the squatters to have aboriginal people on every station. In 1852, Walker then said- quote:

Frederick Walke: 37:55

The Native Police arrived in May, 1849; in October, the settlers laid aside their weapons; the blacks were admitted everywhere at the stations; and a run which would not have fetched£100 in May 1849, was disposed of in January 1850, for£600, so much had property risen in value by the increased security of life and property. One settler told me, that for eight years he had expended£160 per annum on his cattle station, and now for the first time had a return from it in the shape of fat stock. It will be seen, therefore, that the principal cause of the success of the Native Police on the Macintyre, was that the settlers cordially co-operated with me in carrying out my plans, and the result is known; 55,000 sheep are now shepherded by blacks alone.

Peter: 38:59

John Watts noted the success of Walker in the McIntyre. He wrote- quote:

John Watts: 39:05

The Native Police put such fear into the tribes in this district that there was no more trouble, and the country began to settle down and progress.

Greg: 39:15

Well, let's call it a turnaround, isn't it? You can see that Walker has been successful. What happened to them after they brought peace to the McIntyre?

Peter: 39:26

The success of Frederick Walker and his troopers in bringing peace there was well publicised, in particular by Augustus Morris who wrote several letters to newspapers praising his old friend, Frederick Walker. Soon, many other districts on the frontier were asking for the Native Police to protect them. The size of the Native Police expanded to 10 Divisions by 1854 and, as a consequence, their violent methods were becoming increasingly noticeable. Supporters of the force had to defend charges of"wanton cruelty" perpetrated by the force. Further official complaints to the government in Sydney of massacres of peaceful"station blacks" by Native Police and these were brushed off in parliament by the Attorney-General as unfounded and exaggerated. However, Walker had growing problems in managing and controlling this larger force as it was spread across a wide geographical area. He also had great difficulties in paying his officers and troops, to the point where Walker was eventually accused of embezzlement of funds. Then further complaints from some squatters, who felt that they didn't get enough protection from the force, as well as the financial irregularities, pushed the NSW Government into organising an inquiry into the Native Police. Walker’s situation wasn’t helped at all by James Mark who wrote letters to newspapers criticizing Walker in 1853.

Greg: 41:37

This is a chap who's wanted by the police, isn't it?

Peter: 41:37

Yes- but he write these letters anonymously and it's only be inference that everyone belives that it is James Mark. Then, Walker’s situation was also not helped by his attachment to the bottle. He was really an alcoholic. It is not known what caused this addiction but by 1854, Augustus Morris was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for the pastoral districts of Liverpool Plains and Gwydir. He had his ear to the ground and he knew that trouble was brewing for Walker. In September 1854, Morris wrote several letters to Walker telling him that moves were underway to suspend him and that he really needed to stay sober. Morris wrote- and I quote:-“That terrible failing, as I have warned you so often, I fear will be the ruin of you”. Morris was so right on that matter. Walker was suspended from duty in September 1854 and the inquiry, to be held in Brisbane, was set for December. Walker’s fate was sealed when he arrived at the inquiry completely drunk and surrounded by eight or nine of his native troopers. The troopers were denied entry, and after an attempt to continue with the proceedings, the inebriation of Walker forced an adjournment to the inquiry which was later quickly and conveniently abandoned altogether. An attempt by one officer to confront Walker, resulted in the ex-Commandant drawing a sword against him. Eventually, Walker wandered off and was subsequently dismissed from the Native Police. He was later apprehended, charged with the embezzlement of£100 and sent to Sydney. After being sacked from the Native Police, Walker had a short career in western Queensland as a squatter and explorer. He died in November 1866, just 46 years old.

Greg: 43:16

It seems that Walker did what was asked of him– he brought peace to the McIntyre and the squatters could then live in peace and safety– and run their stations profitably and it seems that he was initially praised by those who wanted his services but, in the end, he is regarded very poorly- a drunk, embezzler and, by some historians as a ruthless mass murderer of aborigines. It all seems to be a bit unfair to Walker and I just wonder whether he's carrying the can for some of the other unsavory activities committed by others.

Peter: 43:47

Yes. I don’t think that history has been completely fair to Walker. He did what was asked of him and in some ways, he was a victim of his own initial success on the McIntyre- success at least in the eyes of squatters.

Greg: 44:01

Yeah, so in one previous episode, we discussed the number of aboriginal people that James Marks killed. Frederick Walker and the Native Police were sent to the McIntyre because of the mayhem caused by Mark and they ended up killing many more Bigambul– and unlike the Myall Creek Massacre, 10 years before, no one was held accountable. This is a sad story that we're telling. John Watts’ 700 words certainly concealed a much bigger story.

Peter: 44:28

Yes– and there is another part of the story that has never been told. What was the aftermath to the killings by James Mark and then by Frederick Walker. Who were the winners and losers? How did the various parties involved in this drama fare afterwards? We will discuss the aftermath in our next episode.

Greg: 44:51

We would like your views on this topic. Do you have a similar story in your family tree? If so, please contact us on email or comment on our Facebook- contact details are on our webpage– www.todaysstories.com.au. Full details of this story are available on our website. Please remember to subscribe to our podcast. For this podcast,• Your hosts were Greg and Peter• Research by Peter• Voice actors were Mark, Denise and Mick• Original music and Sound Engineering by Pete Hill• IT solutions by Shelly Thank you for listening