Obituaries Australia

A selector named Johnstone reported here last night the probable murder of a selector named S. [Sydney Algernon] Barnard, on the Mosman River, by the blacks. It appears that the aboriginals came upon Barnard while he was working in company with a kanaka and a Chinaman, both of whom ran into an adjoining selection, and Barnard ran into his own house, it is believed, for his gun. Johnstone and a mate went to Barnard’s house, and on arriving there, they found the contents of the place wrecked, and in the house a large pool of blood was found, but no traces of Barnard. They traced the blood into the scrub and searched, without any result however, for the missing man. The impression is that Barnard was murdered and carried away. It is reported that all the native troopers are to leave the Johnstone River today. The blacks are bad all through the district. The Fraser and Mitchell Vale stations have suffered severe losses during the week. The public are indignant at the total removal of the native police from the district, as outrages have been of frequent occurrence lately. Sub-inspector Garroway and the native troopers left the Mosman at 3 o’clock this morning.

March 16