THE DEPOSITIONS AT THE INQUIRY.

   The re-opened inquiry concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of James Cameron, at Fifield, on February 16. commenced at Fifield on the 11th inst, before Mr J McKensey, district coroner.

Five men (J Ferris, Edward Bourke, Jas Bourke, R Henderson, and William McNamara), accused of the willful murder of Cameron, appeared on bail. Mr A E Mcintosh, of Parkes, watched the case for the accused, while Sub-Inspector Kenny prosecuted.

The evidence was as follows :—

Thomas Low, blacksmith, Fifield, stated . "I know a man named James Cameron. I went to the cemetery on the morning of 11th inst and pointed out a grave to sub-inspector Kenny. I examined a coffin containing a dead body that was placed in a shed at Fifield, and I identify that coffin as the one in which James Cameron was buried. I saw the body but could not identify it as the features were all gone."

John Goonan, public school teacher, Fifield, deposed—"I saw the funeral of a man named James Cameron and saw a coffin being buried at Fifield on Feb 17th. I saw a coffin in a shed this morning, and I identify it as the coffin I saw buried and I saw a dead body therein. I read the burial service. I went to the cemetery this morning, and pointed out to Mr Kenny where the coffin was buried."

James Kenny, sub-inspector of police, Forbes—"At about 8 o'clock this morning, I went to the Fifield cemetery and asked Low to point out the grave where James Cameron was buried in February last. He pointed out the grave, J Goonan directed me to the same grave. By virtue of the warrant produced, I ordered the exhumation of the body. This was done and the coffin containing the body was conveyed to where it now lies. The lid was taken off in the presence of the coroner. On May 13th I saw William James McNamara in the police yard at Bogan Gate. I asked him did he   remember a man named James Cameron being burned at Fifield on Feb 16th last." He said " yes."   He said he wished to make a statement about Cameron being burned. He made a statement to Constable Byrne in writing. I asked McNamara was the statement correct and he said " yes." Mr Todd a J.P. witnessed the statement, and McNamara signed each page. (Statement produced.) I then went to Fifield, and that night saw Hempson at the police station. I asked him did he remember a man named James Cameron being burned at Fifield, and he replied in the affirmative. I asked him to make a statement and he did so. He signed the statement now produced.

After Hempson signed his statement I read McNamara's statement to him, and he made no reply. By virtue of a warrant I arrested Hempson for committing a common assault on James Cameron at Fifield on February 16th 1906. I also arrested McNamara at Bogan Gate the morning he made the   statement by virtue of a warrant. On Sunday night, May 13th, I saw Edward Bourke at the Fifield police, station and asked him did he remember a man named Cameron being burned at Fifield in February last. I asked him to make a statement and he did so, the document duly signed being produced. I read McNamara's statement and arrested Edward Bourke, and charged him with committing a common assault on Cameron. I then saw James Bourke at the station, and he made a statement produced. I   then arrested him and charged him with assault. When searched, on him was found the document produced. On the night of May 4th James Bourke was brought from the lock up to the   police office at Fifield. Constable Byrnes warned him in my presence. He then made a statement (produced) and signed it. On May 23rd I saw John D Ferris. I showed him the  inquiry report (produced), and asked him did he make it out. He said " yes." I tender the report in evidence. I also showed him the two other reports produced, which were in his handwriting.

He said they were partly true. I then arrested him and charged him with the murder of Cameron. On the same date I arrested W J McNamara, RH Hempson, E S Bourke   and J T Bourke on a charge of the murder of Cameron. None of them made any reply.

James Tout, pastoralist, Melrose Plains, stated : I remember a boy named Watson coming to Melrose Plains and leaving a message, in consequence of which I came to Fifield; I am a Justice of the Peace ; on my arrival at Fifield I saw Constable Ferris, and asked if he was ready to go on with the inquiry on James Cameron; he said "yes"; I saw the body in the back room of the hotel ; before viewing the body, I saw Mrs Cameron, the widow of James Cameron ; she told me something in consequence of which I again saw Const Ferris ; I said to him " I was told that a bag had been thrown over Cameron's head.''; Const Ferris said that that was the first he had heard of it ; I think he said "there is no truth in it" ; he pointed out a Mrs Watson to me and said that it was at her place that  Cameron was burnt and that she would probably know if he had a bag on him or not; I then went with Const Ferris and Mrs Watson to her yard and she   showed me a w.c. and said Cameron had been in there for some time and  had been making use of foul language; she said he was in there for about an hour and a half, and was there about the time her children came home from school ; she said that after the children returned to school she changed her dress, and came outside with the intention of going to the police station to get him removed ; as she came outside she saw the man coming towards her in flames ; she ran towards him, and tried to put his clothes out; he fell down and where he fell the grass caught fire; she got a blanket and threw over him, and also all the water she had in the place till assistance came ; I searched the w.c. and saw no traces of fire there; I also searched the ground where Mrs Watson said deceased fell, and found what I took to be the pocket of a trousers, also a pocket knife; in the pocket was a hole burned through about the size of a two-shilling piece, and there were some loose matches therein ; I could not say for certain whether the matches had heads on them ; I do not know what I did with the pocket or the knife—neither were produced at the inquiry ; I held a magisterial inquiry after viewing the body ; I noticed the legs of the body very much burned from the knee down ; the outer skin appeared to be peeled off; I also examined the face and chest ; there was a swelling, but I did not notice any burns. Mr Goonan the public school teacher took the depositions at the inquiry; Constable Ferris only examined the witnesses ; the depositions produced are those taken at the inquiry

To Mr Mcintosh : The inquiry was held at Bourke's hotel, and was open to the public, and anyone who wished to give evidence was examined ; I did not object to anyone ; I did not notice Low, the blacksmith, about that day ; I made a careful examination of the spot where Cameron bad been burned, and only found the pocket and knife ; Mrs Watson gave her evidence voluntarily, and made a straightforward statement as far as I could say, keeping nothing back.

To the Crown : Const Ferris called the witnesses, and I examined all those he called.

Charles James Kearney, Government Medical Officer, stated: "I saw a body in a coffin, in a shed, at Fifield this morning ; the body was very much decomposed ; I made a full post-mortem examination of the body; I found no bones broken; I could not speak as to the cause of death, the internal organs being too much decomposed to enable me to say anything ; there were one or two patches of skin left which presented the appearance that they might have  been burnt ; I could not say from my   examination as to what was the cause of death ; I examined the skull carefully and found no fracture at the base or top ; the brain was too much decomposed to show any lacerations from a blow

To the Coroner—One leg and portion of the chest appeared to have been burned ; the skin on the head and face was entirely gone.

Thos Low, recalled, stated : -To Sub Inspector Kenny—"I remember February10th last; I knew a man named James Cameron, and I saw him on that date at the public house all the morning ; I saw him on the verandah lying down between 11 and 12 o'clock; He had a chaff bag on him, pulled over him ; his head was cut out of the bottom of the bag, there being a hole in the bag, The bag was not loosely on him, being sewn at the bottom. The bag reached to about his knees, his arms being loose. He was the worse of drink I saw persons a couple of yards from him; They were Const Ferris, McNamara, Hempson, and James Bourke. I saw a wheelbarrow I did not see it near where Cameron was lying down. I did not see Cameron placed in the bag. I saw Hempson and McNamara wheel the barrow with Cameron in it. They wheeled him down the road towards Platina, about 200 yards. They turned him over on to the ground. This was about 12 o'clock One of them wheeled the barrow back. The barrow belongs to the police station. I next saw him walking towards Watson's. I saw no more of him till 1.30 When at dinner Bourke came in and said that Watson's was on fire and Cameron was burnt I rushed up to Watson's and saw Cameron lying on the ground with a blanket over him. The blanket was removed I did not notice any clothes on him. He was burned all over the top part of the body. Const Ferris and E Bourke were there. All I heard Cameron say was " water." I was at Fifield on the next day 17th, I was not called as a witness on the inquiry.

Const Ferris did not speak to me about the case at all I could not say whether his legs were burned.

To Mr Mcintosh : "Cameron was a " sponger " about the hotel He would let people fool with him and then cadge a drink off them. The usual " larking " was done to him this day. He could walk about well enough with the bag on him, and if he had asked me to take the bag off I would have done so.

Francis Watson., (17), laborer, Fifield, stated: "I remember the 16th February last I knew a man named James Cameron and I saw him at the hotel on that morning. He had a chaff bag on him. It was sometime before dinner. The bag had a hole in it and was drawn over his head. His arms were inside the bag which reached near his knees He was lying down in front of the hotel when I saw him first. Those near Cameron were, the blacksmith who was near the door, myself on the verandah, Const Ferris, Bob Hempson, Billy McNamara, and Jimmy Bourke. I heard Cameron swearing at everyone The language was as bad as you'd want. There was someone kneeling near Cameron, but I don't know which one . The man kneeling down was poking fun at Cameron. It was not possible to hear Cameron's language any distance off. Heard him say " If you don't take the bag off I'll make you pay for it" Cameron was drunk. Const Ferris asked me to go to the store and get a packing needle. I went to Young's store and got a needle off Young and gave it to Const Ferris."

"I saw Billy McNamara in the store and heard him ask Young for some string. I don't remember where he went I saw Const Ferris put a few stitches in the centre of the bag, I did not see him stitch the bag about the neck and legs. I went away after I saw Const Ferris stitch the bag. Const Ferris asked me where was the barrow and I said that it was over behind the blacksmith's shop. I meant the police barrow. Hempson went for the barrow and brought it to the hotel. I saw Cameron in the barrow. Const Ferris, the Bourkes, McNamara, and Hempson were there.

Francis Watson further deposed : "J Bourke, Hempson and McNamara wheeled the barrow across the street, lifted Cameron out of the barrow and put him on his feet; Cameron then walked to Edmonston's which adjoins the hotel; I next saw Cameron in the barrow with Hempson and McNamara wheeling him through the hotel gate ; I don't know which one was wheeling the barrow ; they wheeled him about 100 "yards down the Platina road ; I did not see Ferris or the two Bourkes anywhere as Hempson and McNamara wheeled Cameron away the second time; Hempson brought the barrow back the second time ; the last I saw of Cameron was walking towards my mothers residence about 50 yards from the w.c. and he was by himself; Hempson and McNamara were going in a different direction to Cameron, but Cameron had that bag on him then ; after dinner when I was lying down in the shop I heard someone singing out; I ran up to my mother's place where the smoke was, and saw Cameron lying on the ground with a blanket over him. I heard Cameron say "the woman   saved me" Cameron kept saying "The   b------" I saw that Cameron was burned about the body for the blanket was not properly over him ; his father in law took the trousers, but I did not see Ferris take any clothes; on the following day I went to Melrose Plains with a message for Mr Tout and he came to Fifield.

To Mr Mcintosh : "Cameron always used very bad language and "b------ "was a favorite word of his; He. walked alright when I first saw him in the bag ; I could not see his arms."

James Curtis, laborer, Fifield, stated : I remember the 16th February last; I was at Fifield and saw James Cameron at Bourke's Hotel about 10 a.m. and he was sober; I saw him about half-an-hour after, and he was then the worse for drink ; he had a bag on him and was in the bar having drinks ; when Cameron came into the bar I said to Ted " it is a 'd----' shame to tie a man up in a bag like that" Ted Bourke said " it is not right "; The   bag might have gone down below his knees, but I could not say how the bag was on him ; I thought it was tied on ; I saw him in the barrow with the bag on ; I saw Hempson with him on the barrow about 200yds down the Platina road. Ferris was on the verandah by   the pub ; Ferris was sober; I saw Cameron next at Mrs Watson's place when he was burnt ; he was on the ground ; I saw the body removed to the hotel; I asked him if he was in pain and he said " no only my eyes" I asked him how it happened, he said "the b-------- got away from me."

To Mr Mcintosh . "I told McNamara he was very foolish to interfere, as those practical jokes come to nothing; could not swear that Ted Bourke and I were not playing cards all the time, but I believe he was with me all the time the bit of fun was going on out side.

John Young, storekeeper, Fifield, stated :" I remember the 16th February last and remember Frank Watson coming to me and asking for a bale needle for Constable Ferris; I gave it to him ; I remember McNamara coming to me for some twine and I gave that to him.  

Jane Edmondston, married woman, Fifield, stated:" I remember the 16th February; I saw a man named James Cameron on that, day; He had a bag on him, it being over his head and half down his legs ; the bag seemed to be loose ; he asked rne to undo him, and was using very bad language ; I told him to clear off; McNamara took him away and said " I will undo it" he went away quietly ; I said no more to him.

Edward Young, laborer, Forbes, stated:" I remember the 16th February and was in Fifield that day at my brother s store ; I remember two men coming to the store but cannot recognize the men present ; they were supplied with a needle and twine by my brother ; they left the store after they were supplied and I went to the front of the hotel and saw Jimmy, Bob the mailman, and some others there; knew a man named James Cameron ; I saw him under the verandah, and he had a bag on him ; it appeared to me that it was slipped over his head ; his hands were inside it and it reached over his knees; I could  not say whether the bag was fastened or not; later on I saw Cameron in a wheel-barrow; Jimmy Bourke and Bob the mailman were wheeling him up the Platina road; I do, not know how Cameron got out of the barrow ; I went to dinner and some time afterwards heard someone singing out " fire" I ran up to Mrs Watson's and saw Cameron lying close to where the fire was on the ground."

To Mr Mcintosh : "I was one of the first at the fire ; there was no row, the men were just amusing themselves ; I know Edward Bourke and I did not see him among them at all."

John Goonan, public school teacher, Fifield stated : "I remember the 16th February, and remember going to the hotel for lunch about half past twelve or one; I saw Cameron in the back yard of the hotel; He had a bag on him, a hole was cut through the bottom and the bag just pulled down over his shoulders ; When I next saw him some of the lads were wheeling him down the road, but I cannot say who it was ; It might have been any one of three Bob, Jimmy Bourke, or McNamara ; I cannot swear as I did not take much notice of them ; I saw Cameron placed, in the barrow : I believe three of them had a hand in it, that is James Bourke, McNamara and Bob Hempson ; They wheeled him about two or three hundred yards and tipped him out, and stood him up on his feet; one of them wheeled the barrow back and I went   into the hotel and had my lunch ; I then went, back to my school and returned to the hotel about four ; I saw Cameron lying in the hotel on the floor on some sheets ; I noticed that he was badly burnt; I did not hear him speak ; I saw him placed in the buggy about half past four, it being a double buggy with two horses; I saw Constable Ferris and Edmond Bourke with it; It is about 35 miles to Condobodn; Ferris and Bourke returned with the dead body and it was left in an out shed ; I remember a magisterial inquiry being held by Mr Tout at the hotel on the 16th and I took the depositions. Constable Ferris did not call me as a witness and did not ask me anything concerning Cameron's death."

To the Bench—"I saw Bob the mailman, McNamara and James Bourke, but I did not see Ferris."

To Mr Mcintosh—"I did not see Edward Bourke there ; I remember that Constable Ferris asked the magistrate at the inquiry if he wanted further evidence; Mr Tout said he did not as he was satisfied ; Mrs Cameron was also asked if she was satisfied, and said " yes". I swear positively that Hoskins who was acting on Mrs Cameron's behalf was asked if he wanted to call any evidence, and he said " no."

Isabel Hutchins, married woman, Fifield, stated : "I remember the 16th February, and saw a man named James Cameron on that day ; When I saw him first he was getting wheeled in a barrow ; Jimmy Bourke was walking by the side of the barrow; They wheeled him across the street on the Platina road and put him on his feet ; They brought the barrow back; He had a bag on, and as far as I could see it was tied round his neck; It reached to his knees ; The next I saw of him he was being wheeled down the Platina road by Bob the mailman and Mr McNamara close to my place; Cameron then went towards Watson's and had the bag on ; The barrow was brought back towards the hotel, and Hempson and McNamara went up together ; I saw Cameron last half way between my own house and Watson's.

Albert Hulchins schoolboy, (15) stated—"I remember the 16th and saw James Cameron that day about half past twelve; He was going down the Platina road in a wheelbarrow; Bob Hempson was wheeling it; Mr McNamara walking alongside; I first saw him at the hotel and saw two or three put him in the barrow, but could not say who they were ; I saw Constable Ferris at the bar door; . There was nothing to prevent Ferris from seeing them; Cameron had a bag on that came down below his knees ; It appeared to be tied, and his arms were inside the bag; When coming from school I was with a boy named Harry Watson aud saw Cameron in the street near Mrs Edmondston's; He asked us to come and cut him out, but we did not ; That was before we saw him in the barrow second time; I did not notice whether the bag was tied round his neck, I did not see how it was fastened round his legs."

To the Coroner—"Cameron was drunk, and was staggering about while his arms were in the bag."

Henry Watson, schoolboy (14), stated: I knew James Cameron, and remember the day he was burnt; I saw him that day in front of the hotel and he had a bag on ; it was over his head and reached down to his knees, his arms being' inside the bag ; I next saw him in the barrow with McNamara wheeling him down the Platina road to a box tree; I never saw them take him out ; I next saw him coming up to our place and saw him go into a w.c. He sat down on the floor; he   had the bag on when he came there."

To Mr Mcintosh : "I saw him about half past one and he then had no bag on; I am sure of that; I saw him from the kitchen, and he was about 30 yards away; the w.c. is built of boards, the door facing the kitchen ; he was sitting up, and I am sure he had a bag on."

Jack Hall, schoolboy (12), stated : I remember the 16th February, and saw Cameron that day about half past twelve in a bag in a wheelbarrow in the street, not far from the hotel; I remember Constable Ferris calling at the school about two o'clock ; Teddy Bourke was with him and someone else; he asked me when I saw Cameron last, and I told him I saw him in Watson's w.c.; he asked me if Cameron was burning then, and I told him no."

To Mr Mcintosh: "I was up at Watson's that morning, and went to school after dinner; I have spoken to my mother about the case, and I know my mother had to apologise to the Bourkes through the papers ; Harry Watson and Mrs Watson and the baby all looked for a while and shut the door again."

Charles Watson, 10 years, Fifield, stated: "I knew a man named James Cameron and remember the day he was burned at Fifield; I was at school on that day, and on returning home saw Cameron on the pub verandah ; I saw Jimmy Bourke, Bob Hempson, Billy MacNamara and Constable Ferris; Cameron had a bag on with a   hole in the top for his head; his arms were in the bag and it reached down near his knees ; the bag looked like as if it had been sewn; Jimmy Bourke put him in the wheelbarrow, and he and Hempson wheeled him down the road. Jimmy Bourke stood Cameron up on his feet and he went round to Edmondston's; I next saw Cameron going into our w.c.; he was alone, and had the bag on him then, he laid down on the floor; he tried to get up, but used to sit up and fall down again ; I saw Cameron before I left for school, and he still had the bag on."

Mrs Sebbriall Elizabeth Hall, residing at Platina, stated: "I remember February 16th last, and I knew a man named James Cameron ; James Bourke came to my place that day and told me that Jimmy Cameron was severely burned and asked me would I tell his wife ; he said they were taking him away to the hospital and perhaps she would like to see him; I asked him how it happened, and he said, " none of us know" he said it happened near Mrs Watson's ; I informed Mrs Cameron and accompanied her to the hotel at Fitield; I saw Cameron lying on the floor in a bedroom, rolled up in white cloths; I asked Cameron how it happened, and he said, " It got away from me" I saw Constable Ferris at the bedroom door, and heard him say something about Cameron not having had much drink at the hotel that morning; something was said about him drinking sour beer from a cask that morning; Cameron was put on a   bed in the buggy; I heard of Cameron's death the next day and told his wife and came with her to Fifield that day; I heard Mrs Cameron say to Mr Tout that she heard that there was a bag on her husband, and asked him to see about it at the inquest ; Mr Tout asked how it happened, and then he said, "Through drink, I suppose;" Constable Ferris then passed by and Mr Tout walked away with him; I went with Mrs Cameron to the hotel before the inquiry and saw Jimmy Bourke there ; I heard Mrs Cameron say, " You murdering " something ; I can't say what it was, and something like ' If it wasn't for you and Bob the mailman, Cameron wouldn't be dead ;" no one replied to her.

To Mr Mcintosh : "When Mrs Cameron was coming into Fifield with me she said Cameron had threatened the day before to kill himself; I heard Mrs Bourke say, "Here's Dolly," and he said, " B----- Dolly,"

Mary Watson, married woman, residing at Fifield, stated : "remember February 16th last, and saw James Cameron at Fifield on that day ; I first  saw him with the bag on him between 12:30 and 1 o'clock on that day; he was in a barrow crossing the street, but don't know who was wheeling it; James Bourke lifted him out of the barrow and he walked across to Edmondston's . I saw him next in the w.c. in our yard during the dinner hour, and he was lying on the floor; I did not see his body, only his legs up to the knees ; I could not say whether he had a bag on ; he was using dreadful language; while we were having dinner he called out" Teddy " a couple of times ; the next time I saw him he was walking towards the house in flames; I was inside and heard him make a peculiar noise, so I went out; when I saw him I ran to him and then ran back and got a blanket; he was walking at the time, and I put the blanket round him and pressed it into him; he was moaning and fell down in the grass, which was burning; he said, " The woman saved my life;"   I gave the alarm and a lot of people came up; I said to Constable Ferris, " I wonder if the bag was on him ?" and he said, " No, it was taken off on the roadway;" he said, "Bob and Billy took it off;" I said, " Harry saw   it;" I saw Constable Ferris later on in the afternoon with Bob Hempson and Teddy Bourke; they came across to me from the direction of the public school; I said something to Mr Ferris, but can't say what it was; he said, "Your Frank is as much in it as anyone;"  "I said, " You wont frighten   me, Mr Ferris;" He said, "No one wants to frighten you;" then they left; when I first ran to Cameron he had his left hand up to his head ; he appeared to have his shirt over his trousers and had his belt undone."

To Mr Mcintosh—"I did not see the bag on him after I saw him in the barrow ; I did not see the remains of a burnt bag near where Cameron was."

Mabel Irene Pender, 15, Grassdale, near Murrumbogie, stated- "I was at Fifield on 16th last ; I knew a man named James Cameron and saw him that day in a wheelbarrow ; Bob Hempson. MacNamarra, and James Bourke were about, but I cannot say which one was wheeling the barrow ; they tipped Cameron out and he went to Watson's ; he could walk very well; the men went back to the hotel."

Constable Matheson, Fifield, stated —"On May 10th last a parcel now produced was handed to me by Joseph Johnson of Platina. It contains a pair of moleskin trousers, which are burned on the outside from the seat to the bottom of the leg ; in the bottom of one leg there are cuts, which appear to have been cut with a sharp instrument; There are two pockets, one of  which contains matches ; there is also portion of a shirt, the collar part ; there is also a handkerchief and a pair of cotton socks ; these are split up the sides."

To Mr Mcintosh—"Johnson lives 3 miles from Fifield, and I understand he is Cameron's father-in-law. "

Joseph Johnson, laborer, Platina, stated—"James Cameron, deceased, was my son-in-law ; I was at Orange Plains on February 16th last and came to Fifield on April 12th and went to Mrs Watson's residence and she pointed out some burned clothes; the ones produced are the ones she showed me ; I found them lying on the ground about 12yds from the kitchen ; I took possession of the clothes and handed them to Constable Matheson at Fifield."

To Mr Mcintosh—"There was no other rubbish about where I got the clothes ; they were lying where the body was supposed to have been burned ; I took the clothes home first and had them three or four days before I handed them over; I put them in a bag and kept them there; I handed them to the police ; there were no police at Fifield exempt Ferris when I got the clothes, and I had a talk about the matter and came back to look into the thing ; I asked Mrs Watson if he had a bag on and she said she did not know whether it was a bag or a shirt; she said these things were the ones she pulled off the burnt man"

Mary Watson, recalled, stated—"I couldn't say that I saw anyone cut the trousers off Cameron ; the clothes were left lying in the yard until Joe Johnson took them ; When I left Cameron his trousers were on him, pulled down to his boots, and I put a bucket of water on them; his boots and socks were on ; I did not cut his socks or trousers;   someone else took them off; I couldn't say that the clothes were in the same state when Johnson  took them away as they were when taken off Cameron ; I could not say if they were cut when Johnson took them."

To Mr Mcintosh—"The clothes were taken off after the people had gathered there; I did not see any cuts on the trousers ; when Johnson examined the trousers in my presence he did not draw my attention to any cuts on them; the trousers were badly burned."

Harriet Dorothy Cameron widow of the deceased James Cameron, Fifield, stated—"I remember February 26 last and on that day received certain information and came to Fifield ; I saw my husband in a bedroom at the pub, but I did not speak to him ; that was the last time I saw him alive ; I did not see his dead body; I saw Mr Tout who held the inquiry and told him that I heard my husband had been sewn in a bag ; Constable Ferris came past and he and Mr Tout went up to where the body was ; I afterwards saw James Bourke in the hotel yard and said to him, "You murdering brute, if it wasn't for you and Bob the mailman, Cameron would be alive now" ; he made no reply ; I then went into the hotel parlor and Const Ferris came in ; I don't remember saying to Constable Ferris that my husband said he was going to shoot himself ; my husband left home on the 15th in his usual health ; he was wearing drab moleskin trousers (those produced are them) and blue socks similar to those produced; my husband used to drink a good deal when he had the money."

To Mr Mclntosh-—"Joe Johnson is my father and he came from Orange Plains to sift this matter out; he let me see the clothes when he took them out; my husband often threatened to commit suicide when he was drinking. I knew it was larks; people were   everlasting playing larks with my husband."

Thomas Low, recalled, stated —"I saw the bag on Cameron on the 16th; the were some stitches in the neck of the bag ; I couldn't say if the bag was stitched at the sides, only at both knees."

To Mr Mcintosh—"I never thought about this yesterday ; Francis Watson is in my employ ; I never spoke to him about the case ; I drink a considerable amount at times ; I swear I was not drunk on this occasion; I wouldn't swear the stitches were not where there were patches on the bag or not ; it was a dirty looking bag."

Robert Arthur Wilson, constable, stationed at Trundle, stated—" remember Saturday, April 14th, and saw Constable Ferris at the Police Station, Trundle , that day ; he said he was going through to Sofala, and asked me if I had seen an old fellow going through on foot to Forbes ; he said the man was going to have him arrested for burning his son-in-law Cameron ; I asked him how it happened and he said, "Cameron was on a beer cask with a bag on his shoulders with a hole cut in it for his head to go through and was amusing all hands, as he was a hard case; He jumped off   the cask and ran away into a w. c.; I went home to dinner, and when dining my wife looked out and saw Cameron on fire" ; I asked him how he got on fire and Ferris said " he poured kerosene over his clothes and set fire to it" ; later on I was speaking to Ferris and he said " I don't think Bool could stop a man unless the old fellow took a warrant out ; I may be back soon again"

Constable Tully, Forbes, stated : "On   the 12th May last I saw Constable Ferris at the Forbes Police station ; he told me he was from Rylestone and was suspended ; I said "What is that for " he said, " They say I burned an old fellow named Cameron at Fifield  last February " ; he said " When you were at Trundle recently did you have a trip to Fifield ?" I said " Yes I stayed a night at Fifield when returning from Condobolin "; he then asked me if I had heard anything about the burning of Cameron; I said "No," and   he said " I don't think you would, the morning he was burned I told him (Cameron) to go home, but he sparred  up to me and I gave him a hiding, Jim Bourke and Bob Hempson are the  culprits, they sewed him up in a bag, put him in a barrow, wheeled him to a gully and tipped him out; Teddy Bourke and I were standing up at the hotel when they wheeled him away ; I afterwards kicked his backside and told him to go home; he went to Watsons w.c. ;"I said to Ferris,"" Did you kick him when he was in. the bag?" he said, " Yes, and I went home to dinner after leaving him, and the wife looked out and saw him on fire; I was the last seen with him, and Low saw me and if he speaks we are settled; I wish I could get some wires through to tell them not to answer any of Kenny's or Byrne's questions; I know the answers I will give them if they ask me; Cameron struck a match to burn a hole in the bag to get out and the fire got away from him."

To Mr Mcintosh; "No one was present at the conversation".

This concluded the evidence, and the finding already published was recorded by the Coroner.

Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW 1881 - 1940) Tuesday 16th October 1906

THE FIFIELD TRAGEDY. Bathurst, Saturday.-The hearing of the Fifield case, which ex-Constable John Ferris, William James McNamara, Robert Hampson, Edward Stanley Bourke, and Jas. Ivers Bourke were charged with having at Fifield on February 16th last, assaulted James Cameron, and beaten and otherwise ill-treated him, was continued at the Circuit Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Cohen.

At the conclusion of the Crown case, his Honor, on the application of Mr. F. S. Boyce, counsel for the defence, ordered the discharge of Edward Bourke, as there was no evidence against him. Mr. Boyce submitted that no assault had been committed, and that the sewing up of Cameron in a bag was a jest which he enjoyed as much as accused. "Ferris is the bird they want to shoot," added Mr. Boyce, "and I think you'll agree with me that if it were not for Ferris there would not have been a word heard in this case."

The jury, after a retirement of nearly four hours, returned to the Court with a verdict of not guilty against McNamara, Hampson, James Bourke, and a verdict   of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, against Ferris. Mr. Boyce said Ferris had borne a good character, and was a member of the Australian rifle team which visited England. His Honor took into consideration the recommendation to mercy, and the fact that Ferris had lost his position in the police force, and imposed a fine of £10, which was paid.

Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW: 1870 - 1907)

Wednesday 20 June 1906

The Fifield Tragedy.

At. the re-opened inquiry concerning the . death of James Cameron, at Fifield, near Condobolin, on February 16, the coroner returned the following verdict:-"I   find that James Cameron was, on February 16, 1906, at Fifield, placed In a bag against his will by William James McNamara, Robert Henry Hempson, Edward Stanley Bourke, James Ivors Bourke, and John Dabinett Ferris, the said bag being sewn round the neck and legs of the said Cameron; the said Cameron was In a state of intoxication when being placed in the bag, and, further, I find that while Cameron was in the bag in efforts to extricate himself he Ignited some matches that were In his pocket, and set fire to his clothes, by reason of which his body was so badly burned that he died; and I further find that the above mentioned accused did feloniously and wilfully kill and slay the Said James Cameron."

Bail was allowed, Ferris in £150 and the other £100.

The Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agriculture and Pastoral Gazette (NSW: 1900-1928)   Friday 9 March 1923

FORBES QUARTER  SESSIONS                                   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108626392     

At the Quarter Sessions on   Tuesday, Allan S. Vagne was acquitted on a charge of obtaining money by means of a false cheque. John Barren was charged with   stealing a cheque for £27, was found guilty and remanded for sentence.

Charles Barnett Watson, on a charge of arson, was acquitted.

Ernest Wright, for stealing a cheque of £9, was found guilty and sentenced to 7 months. He was released under the first offenders provisions of the Crimes Act

Wedding.

MacALISTER— WATSON.

A very quiet but pretty wedding was celebrated at ' The Manse, ' on Thursday evening last, the Rev. Cruikshank  officiating, when Mr. J. (Cap.) MacAlister of "Dunolly", Ooma, and Miss Bella Watson, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Feeney, of "Bristol Park", Ooma, were united in the holy bonds.

The bride was unattended and attired in a gray travelling costume. Mr. E. Sullivan gave the bride away and the whole ceremony was marked by a desired simplicity. After the wedding the happy couple left by train for Orange, where it is their intention to spend portion of the honeymoon.

Federal Capital Pioneer (Canberra,ACT:1924 - 1926) Monday 20 July 1925

'AUSTRALIA'S CROWNING HOUR' We have received a copy of a stirring song under the above title.   The music by Mr. Chas Davis, of the N.S.W. Conservatorium, and the words by Mr. John F. Macallister. It is copyrighted. Messrs. Nicolson and Co., Sydney, are the publishers. The price 2/- should enable it to find a worthy place in homes.

Here is a link to the song:

http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an843807

The West Wyalong Advocate (NSW: 1928) Tuesday 27 November 1928

ACCIDENT WEEK    

Forbes in the Wars  

Mrs. J. Feeney, of Ooma, while trying to crank her car had her wrist badly broken when the engine backfired.

The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW: 1892 - 1954) Friday 22 March 1929

Western Children Cured.

WORK OF THE FAR WEST SCHEME.

Twenty children and six mothers are   in Sydney undergoing treatment under the Far West Children's Health Scheme.

Arthur Andrews, Of Cobar, suffering from a rare type of eye disease, was operated on before members of the Royal College of Surgeons, during their conference in Sydney. He is progressing satisfactorily.

Connie Baldock, of 'Dremore, Wilcannia, a girl of six, suffering from dislocated   hips from birth had them replaced without incision on the 15th instant, by one of the Hon. Orthopaedic surgeons to the Children's Scheme. This is undoubtedly a triumph for modern manipulatory surgery.

Emmie Amey, of Tottenham, suffering from serious spinal defect, is making rapid progress towards a full recovery.  

Frank and Harry Watson, twin brothers from beyond Tottenham, who have been suffering for two months from abdominal infections by some unknown germ, are now convalescing.

Little Jim Thompson, of Warren, who has been under operations and treatment for an unusual type of eye trouble for over four months, returned home this week after appearing before members of the Royal College of Surgeons for purposes of demonstration.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954) Friday 24 November 1933

CLAN MACALISTER SOCIETY.

A number of members of the ancient clan of Macalister, resident in this State, have combined to form a Clan Macalister Society of New South Wales, and to celebrate the event It has been decided to hold an inaugural dinner on Wednesday next. The Rev John F Macallister, M A , of Habelfield Is acting as president and secretary pending the election of office bearer

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954)   Tuesday 31 July 1934

IT IS THE INTENTION of The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, Limited, to issue, on or after the 31st August, 1934, a SPECIAL POLICY in lieu of Policy No. 332679 (3489) in the name of JOHN JESTYN PETRIE which is declared to have been Lost.

J. ANDERSON. Acting Manager for N S.W.

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954) Friday 16 September 1938

REV. J. F. MACALLISTER.

The Rev. John Ferguson Macallister, of Chatswood, who died in the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, on Monday, was born on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, in 1861.

He finished his education at Glasgow University, where he gained his M.A. degree. He came to Australia as a young man, and entered the Presbyterian ministry, as a member of which he travelled in most of the States of the Commonwealth and to New Zealand.

He resigned from the ministry to enlist In the war with three of his sons. On his return he devoted himself to assisting unemployed returned soldiers until ill-health, caused by disabilities suffered during the war, forced him to retire.

The Rev. J. F. Macallister is survived by Mrs. Macallister and two daughters-the Misses Ruth and Laurel (Chatswood) and three children by a previous marriage, Captain Andrew Macallister (Southport, Q.), Mrs. E V. Elliott (Forbes), and Mr. J. F. H. Macallister (Sydney). His remains were privately interred in the Presbyterian portion of the Northern Suburbs Cemetery.

The Farmer and Settler (NSW: 1906 - 1957) Thursday 26 January 1939

SONGS WANTED.

Rosabell Mary Watson (Mogille Plains, via Tottenham, c/o J. Lindley), would like the words of the following songs:   "Red Rose Valley" and "Mother, Queen of my heart" In return she is willing to supply "Black Sheep", "Mother", "Yellow Rose of Texas", "Cowboy Heaven", Yodeling Cowboy", and Trail of the lonesome pine".    

The Muswellbrook Chronicle (NSW: 1898 - 1955) Tuesday 25 November 1941

PERSONAL PARS

Private Frank Watson, of Tottenham, who has been spending his leave as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. Petrie, returned to Tamworth camp last night.

Wellington Times (NSW:1899-1954) Thursday 13 November 1947

Sentencing an elderly Derriwong resident to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour on charges of indecent assault on two young girls, Judge Shortland at the Bathurst Quarter Sessions last week, said the case before him was "foul", and the behaviour of the two victims was hardly understandable. On trial was Charles Barnett Watson who had pleaded not guilty to the charges. On the direction by the judge, the jury acquitted Watson on the first charge but found him guilty on the second after a retirement of only 12 minutes.

The Biz (Fairfield, NSW:1928 - 1954) Thursday 6 July 1950