In the Myall Creek massacre of June 1838, a group of armed stockmen rounded up 40 - 50 Aboriginal women, children and elderly men at Myall Creek Station, near Bingara in gold-bearing country of northern New South Wales. 28 Aborigines were murdered.
An employee of Myall Creek Station, a man named Anderson, was the only white to give evidence against the white men who committed this awful slaughter. Although present when the massacre occurred, he had no part in it.
Those who went to trial included:
It was never really determined what caused the Myall Creek massacre, but it was believed the slaughter was payback for the killing of several colonists in the area. There is considerable doubt about this as most of those massacred were women and children, and at least one harmless elderly man.
Evidence was uncovered pointing to an illegal society called the Association of Squatters which conspired to protect anybody's right to kill Aborigines. It seems it was a general prevailing attitude that whites had the right to kill any blacks found on their property. The odd thing is, though, that the owner of Myall creek station was an upright and decent man who had absolutely no issues with the aboriginal people at all. It was his employees who gathered other supporters for this planned kill.
The first trial was held on 15 November 1838, and twelve white settlers were charged with murder, but acquitted. This was a clear miscarriage of justice. Some of the men in the district who held no sympathy towards the aboriginal people rounded up support and enough funds to hire the best legal counsel to get the perpetrators let off. Squatters from all over NSW gathered at the trial to defend their right to kill any Aborigines found on their land. Another Magistrate, Mr Robert Scott, told the killers in gaol exactly what to say, and he also used his money and influence to persuade the jury to return a "not guilty" verdict.
The following were brought to trial, but acquitted.
While initially many people celebrated, the judge to whom the "not guilty" verdict was given ordered all the accused to be arrested again. A second trial was held on November 26, and this time the twelve men were charged with the murder of just one Aboriginal child. They were found guilty, and seven of the men were hanged in December under the authority of Governor George Gipps.
Those hanged were:
Detailed information about both the event and the trial can be found at the related link below.
There were believed to be a dozen armed stockmen involved in the Myall Creek massacre, as twelve men were brought to trial.
The best sites for information on the Myall Creek Massacre are found at the related link below. The second link is a Word document detailing both the event and the trial.
The men who were hanged following the second trial into the Myall Creek Massacre were:Charlie KilmeisterJohn RussellWilliam HawkinsEdward FoleyJohn JohnsonJim Oates (nicknamed Halls Jemmy)James ParryThe leader, John Fleming, was never recaptured.
The Myall Creek Massacre occurred on 10 June 1838, and the first of the trials occurred on 15 November 1838. This was just over five months later. The jury gave a verdict of "not guilty", so the judge ordered the arrest of all the accused again, and a second trial was held on 26 November.
The first trial was held on 15 November 1838, and twelve white settlers were charged with murder, but acquitted. A second trial was held on November 26, and this time the twelve men were charged with the murder of just one Aboriginal child. They were found guilty, and seven of the men were hanged in December under the authority of Governor George Gipps.An employee of Myall Creek Station, a man named Anderson, was the only white to give evidence against the white men who committed this awful slaughter.Those who went to trial included:Charlie KilmeisterJohn RussellWilliam HawkinsJohn BlakeJohn JohnsonCharles ToulouseCharles LambEdward FoleyJim Oates (nicknamed Halls Jemmy)James ParryGeorge PalliserJohn Fleming
The Myall Creek massacre, in which a group of armed stockmen rounded up 40 - 50 Aboriginal women, children and elderly men at Myall Creek Station in New South Wales and murdered 28 of them, was followed by a series of trials. The first trial was held on 15 November 1838, and twelve white settlers were charged with murder, but acquitted. A second trial was held on November 26, and this time the twelve men were charged with the murder of just one Aboriginal child. They were found guilty, and seven of the men were hanged in December under the authority of Governor George Gipps. At the time, the colonists were angry at the retribution the government handed to the settlers, and there was a huge backlash against Governor Gipps. General opinion of that time was that the Aborigines were pests who should be exterminated. On 10 June 2000, a memorial was dedicated to the victims of the massacre. An annual memorial service has been held on 10th June at the site ever since.
The Myall Creek massacre was one of Australia's more shameful events in history. On 10 June 1838, a group of armed stockmen rounded up 40 - 50 Aboriginal women, children and elderly men at Myall Creek Station, near Bingara in gold-bearing country of northern New South Wales. 28 Aborigines were murdered.The massacre was thought to be payback for the killing of several colonists in the area. However, most of those massacred were women and children.The first trial was held on 15 November 1838, and twelve white settlers were charged with murder, but acquitted. A second trial was held on November 26, and this time the twelve men were charged with the murder of just one Aboriginal child. They were found guilty, and seven of the men were hanged in December under the authority of Governor George Gipps.At the time, the colonists were angry at the retribution the government handed to the settlers, and there was a huge backlash against Governor Gipps. General opinion of that time was that the Aborigines were pests who should be exterminated.On 10 June 2000, a memorial was dedicated to the victims of the massacre. An annual memorial service has been held on 10th June at the site ever since.
The Myall Creek massacre is symbolic of the massive injustices perpetrated against Australian Aborigines since European settlement in Australia. It was one of Australia's more shameful events in history, and involved the murder of 28 Aboriginal women, children and elderly men at Myall Creek Station, near Bingara in gold-bearing country of northern New South Wales. The massacre was thought to be payback for the killing of several colonists in the area. However, most of those massacred were women and children. The first trial, held on 15 November 1838, further highlighted the injustice when twelve white settlers whi were charged with murder were acquitted. A second trial was held on November 26, and this time the twelve men were charged with the murder of just one Aboriginal child. They were found guilty, and seven of the men were hanged in December under the authority of Governor George Gipps. It is important to note that, at the time, local sentiment favoured the murderers. At the time, the colonists were angry at the retribution the government handed to the settlers, and there was a huge backlash against Governor Gipps. General opinion of that time was that the Aborigines were pests who should be exterminated. On 10 June 2000, a memorial was dedicated to the victims of the massacre. An annual memorial service has been held on the 10th of June at the site ever since, and this is important to both Aborigines and non-indigenous Australians to remind them that such a chapter in history should never be repeated.
No
the british were stupid and got in trouble caz they shot 5 colonists
The massacre was thought to be payback for the killing of several colonists in the area. However, most of those massacred were women and children.The first trial was held on 15 November 1838, and twelve white settlers were charged with murder, but acquitted. A second trial was held on November 26, and this time the twelve men were charged with the murder of just one Aboriginal child. They were found guilty, and seven of the men were hanged in December under the authority of Governor George Gipps.At the time, the colonists were angry at the retribution the government handed to the settlers, and there was a huge backlash against Governor Gipps. General opinion of that time was that the Aborigines were pests who should be exterminated.
Peter Oliver was one of the trial judges.