1895: The Wild Scotchman: Death of Queensland Bushranger James Macpherson

James Alpin Macpherson, known as the Wild Scotchman, was one of Queensland’s most notorious bushrangers before his capture and imprisonment. Released from prison in 1874, he lived out the remainder of his days quietly, working as a stockman and station overseer far from his outlaw past.

Macpherson died on 23 August 1895 at Burketown, Queensland, aged 53, after falling from a horse. The man who had once terrorised the bush met his end not in a blaze of gunfire, but in an ordinary accident on the land he had spent his later years working.

Portrait of bushranger James MacPherson 1866
Portrait of bushranger James MacPherson 1866: The Wild Scotchman

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1854: Hanged at Brisbane Gaol for the Killing of a Station Manager

In March 1852, Adolphus Henry Trevethan, a station manager at Rawbell in the Burnett District, was killed during a tense confrontation with a large group of armed men on his property. He had gone out to negotiate and was returning with tobacco and pipes when he came running back, hand pressed to his chest, crying ‘I’m a dead man’ before dying of multiple stab wounds within hours.

The accused was tried at the Brisbane Circuit Court, where witness James Carney testified against the accused. Found guilty and sentenced to death, the condemned man walked to the scaffold on 22 August 1854, ascending it without resistance and dying without a struggle.

Noose at historic Tombstone courthouse courtyard, Arizona
Noose at historic Tombstone courthouse courtyard, Arizona

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1829: John Holmes Hanged for Arson at Campbelltown

John Holmes was convicted of maliciously setting fire to a barn belonging to James Benn at Campbell Town on 29 May 1829, with intent to injure and defraud the owner. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and a sentence of death was passed.

Holmes was executed at Campbelltown on 21 August 1829. On the scaffold, Reverend Mr. Therry sought and received permission to address the assembled crowd, relaying the condemned man’s confession before Holmes himself spoke, earnestly urging spectators to take warning from his fate and avoid the bad company that had brought him to his end.

Holmes acknowledged his guilt and the justice of his sentence, expressing hope that God had forgiven him as he freely forgave all who had wronged him.

Barn Fire
Barn Fire

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1865: David Young Hanged at Castlemaine for the Murder of Margaret Graham

David Young was executed at Castlemaine Gaol on 21 August 1865 for the murder of Margaret Graham at Daylesford. His case had drawn fierce public controversy: Young spent nearly seven months imprisoned before trial, twice remanded at Castlemaine Assizes by Crown Prosecutor C. A. Smyth despite what his defence counsel described as no credible evidence. His lawyer made repeated applications for discharge, one of which was refused by Judge Williams, who instead ordered that Young be tried or freed.

The prolonged detention sparked a public letter from his counsel condemning the Crown prosecutor’s conduct as repugnant to English law and a cruel oppression. Comparisons were drawn to parliamentary compensations paid to wrongfully imprisoned men in England and the colony. Despite all of this, Young was ultimately convicted and hanged.

Hut where Margaret Graham was murdered
Hut where Margaret Graham was murdered

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On This Day in True Crime History

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