Tantanoola Tiger 1911 page 3

Millicent, January 18

On the arrival of the Mount Gambier train, here to-day, the hearing of the case against Robert Charles Edmondson in connection with the sensational discovery in the teatree bush at Tantanoola was begun. An enormous crowd gathered outside the court, but they were not admitted until all the witnesses had been accommodated.

Mr. C. L. Spehr, instructed by the sheep-owners, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. E. P. Little for the defence. On the bench were Messrs H.F.L. Holzgrefe and S. J. Stuckey. The Stockowners' Association was represented by Mr. George Riddoch, who was accommodated with a seat at the solicitors' table.

The Charge.

The accused is a tall man, of spare build with grey hair, moustache, and mild expression. The previous information was withdrawn and replaced by a charge, on the information of James Chant, sheep farmer, of Tantanoola, of having on or about and between September 3 and December 3, in the hundred of Benara, killed, with intent to steal, the skins of 76 sheep, the property of the said James Chant.

Case for the Prosecution.

Mr Spehr, in outlining the case for the prosecution said the chief witness for the prosecution, David Bald, had made an astounding confession which had since been verified in all details. Edmondson had induced the young man Bald to go with him and establish a camp, and on various occasions rounded up, the sheep into yards. Edmondson had previously prepared yards in the tea-tree, where Bald skinned the sheep after Edmondson had shot them. Bald took the wool and skins to Snuggery consigning them to George Wilcox & Co., advising the firm by printed postcards. He filled in the name "H. Fisher." Edmondson, also wrote to Wilcox and Co., signing himself "Fisher," and asking why money had not been sent. While in Adelaide with a rifle club he told a friend he was going to call and see a skin firm and ask why money had not been remitted. Subsequently he received a cheque, which was cashed at the Tantanoola hotel. Bald received a remittance while Edmondson was in Adelaide and cashed it.

Fifty-seven Dead Sheep.

James Chant said he owned three thousand acres on the Lake Bonney flats. Edmondson had a camp close to his boundary. In consequence of information he received he went into the yards in the tea- tree and found 57 of his sheep dead, also 13 skins,

several bags of plucked wool, a file, dungarees, and wire netting. In another yard the witness found 19 carcases and five skins. He identified the skin and bags of wool produced.

Bald's Confession.

David Bald, laborer, of the Bluff, Tantanoola, said, he had known, Edmondson for eight years. Last August he was helping Edmondson to put together some tanks when Edmondson asked him to go trapping. Edmondson said he wanted money and was going to yard so sheep in the.tea-tree. The witness knew what he meant as Edmondson had previously approached him several times, when he always refused. On one occasion, twelve months ago, the accused said, "I can put you on to £20. All you have to do is get a cart and shift it." Six months ago the accused told him, "You are a fool to work for 7/ when you could make £4, or £5 a day. There is a fortune to be made on the Lake Bonney Flats. All you have to do is watch with a rifle while I pack the skins." About the end of August they borrowed a cart and took a tent, rifle, axe, snips, a shotgun, and 20 rabbit traps, and pitched their tent in Nitschke's paddock. There they established themselves for the next three or four months. Edmondson took him round and showed various flocks of sheep, the farthest eight miles away towards Coola.

"Three for a Start."

They only trapped a few rabbits for the dog and hung the skins near the tent as a blind. Edmonson borrowed a cart, took bags of skins into Millicent one evening. When he returned to camp from Tantanoola, which township they frequently visited, Edmondson shot three sheep, saying, "There is three for a start, anyhow.' They carried the carcases [???] the tea-tree. The witness skinned them, Edmondson keeping watch with the rifle. Another day the accused shot 11, and the same night, five more. Of these fourteen skins were sent away from Snuggery siding by Bald, consigned to George Wilcox & Co., the witness filling in the consignment advice card and tying on the printed label the next morning. The bale was left at the siding after dark. The goods were consigned in the name of H. Fisher. The witness received a cheque, while the accused was in Adelaide on September 29, which he cashed at Mohr’s Tiger Hotel, Tantanoola, paying £1 deposit on a bicycle, and giving Edmonson the balance of the money when he returned. Edmondson told him that he enquired at Wilcox & Co. while in Adelaide, and was told the cheque had been sent on.

Two Shots as a Warning.

They went back to the camp three days later, and used the wire-netting as wings to the race leading into the yard. They cut a new yard with the accused's axe, which he said was for shearing the sheep he meant to bring from Coola. A few days afterwards they drove fifty sheep into the yards, and Edmondson told him to kill twenty and turn the rest out. Edmondson kept watch while the witness killed, the arrangement being that Edmondson should fire two shots if anyone approaded. Bald then hid in the scrub till dark. Before leaving the camp for Tantanoola they put sticks at the entrance to the race to screen it. A few days afterwards Edmondson told him to go to the camp and bag the skins. He

helped to put in the cart.

Sending Off the Skins.

They drove to Snuggery, when the same procedure followed as to the consigning next day, which was the first day of the Millicent show, and a bale was sent away. A few days later the accused gave him a telegram to send from Millicent, asking about the cheque, but he was frightened to send it, fearing that he would be caught. On the following Monday the accused went into Tiger Hotel at Tantanoola, telling him he was writing to Wilcox & Co. about the cheque. The accused then went to the post office. A few days afterwards the witness got a letter from Wilcox & Co., addressed "Fisher" and containing a cheque, which he gave to Edmondson, who opened it behind a shed and cashed the cheque at the Tiger Hotel. He gave the witness £1.

Another Fifty.

They again went to the camp and yarded fifty sheep, of which, the witness killed thirteen. They then returned to the township, as Edmondson was going with the rifle club to Tantanoola. When they went to the camp three days later all the rest of the sheep were found dead in the two yards. They took their dinner wrapped in a copy of "The Advertiser," of which a part was left in the race and the other part in the tent. Edmondson told him to pluck the dead sheep's wool while he watched. They then rolled up the wire netting and left it in the scrub.

"Blow His Brains Out."

The tweed and dungaree trousers produced were his, which he used in killing. The dungarees were patched with the piece of cloth which he found in the tent. He went back to Tantanoola, worked at

his uncle's place, and then went home to his father's. Edmondson told him someone had found the yards, and asked him to keep his mouth shut; if not, he would blow his brains out. The accused also said that if Mowbray (meaning the constable) came, and asked him anything he was to tell him to go to hell. During this period the accused frequently visited and warned him. The witness got a butcher's knife at Mutton's store, the accused filing the back so as to cut the sheep's throats more easily. They sharpened the knife with Edmondson's stone. The accused told him he had been to the camp and got the labels, tickets, cart-note, and rifle. The accused burnt the papers in his shed at Tantanoola. The tomahawk, lantern, and blankets were Edmondson's. Between the time he sent the last bale of skins and the last killing he was working with the accused at the cheese factory. He had never heard of anyone named Fisher in the district. He did not owe Edmondson any money.

"Taken Off by an Amateur."

Sidney Louis Kinham, storeman, in the employ of Wilcox & Co., of Adelaide, deposed to having received consignments of skins on September 27 and November 3 and having noticed the latter lot sweating. They were sent green and meaty, and evidently had been taken off by an amateur. They appeared to have been dried in the open.

Ernest Wilfred Franklin, clerk, of Compton, employed by Wilcox & Co., formerly at the head office, gave evidence of having received the advice cards and posted the cheques for two consignments of skins. He identified the portion of the account sales on, which Edmondson had written "93, Currie-street," as part of the account sales sent to "Fisher." He also received a letter signed "Fisher." That was not received on account of the sheepskins sent on October 27.

Hotelkeeper's Evidence.

Samuel Mohr, manager of the Tiger Hotel, Tantanoola, deposed that Edmondson and Bald were often together during the last few months. They said they were trapping rabbits. On September 29 Bald cashed the cheque produced after endorsing it. On November 7 Bald and Edmondson came to the hotel. Edmondson was given a pad of writing paper of peculiar make, corresponding exactly with the paper of the letter previously referred to. On November 10 Edmondson and Bald had drinks. The former cashed a cheque of Wilcox & Co. for £4 1/3 made payable to a number, which he said was payable to him. The accused remarked - "It's as good as gold. It's one of Wilcox & Company's cheques we got for skins." The witness paid the cheque to the secretary of the Tantanoola show.

Catherine Ryan, widow, of Tantanoola, said she lent the accused a horse and cart on October 25, which was returned at 10 o'clock at night.

A Rifle Club Trip.

Herbert George Mutton, storekeeper, of Tantanoola, said Bald paid him £1 on a bicycle and another pound on November 11. Edmondson asked if Bald paid anything on his bicycle, remarking that it was queer, as they generally got their returns in about a week. He also said he would pay his account when he received the skin money. The witness, with other members of the local rifle club, went to Adelaide at the end of September, when the accused, who was also a member, said he had seen Wilcox. The accused bought sacks from the witness on August 29 and October 7.

Alexander McCall, farmer, of Tantanoola, deposed to the accused

asking for the loan of a cart to bring in rabbit skins. He lent him a cart that afternoon, and it was returned the next morning.

"No Good to Him."

Roy Hawke, formerly employed by Chant, said he saw Edmondson's tent, where he told the witness he was trapping. He sawa few skins, and the accused said he was drying skins in Chant's hut, which the witness subsequently visited, but found no signs of any being dried there. Ha saw Edmondson on another occasion, when he told the witness he had a narrow escape, as he had just fired two shots in his direction at a crow. He advised the witness that it was dangerous going through Witschke's paddock. He saw a few rabbit skins near the tent, which were still there. About a year ago Edmondson said he could lay him on to a good job at which he could make 50 or 80 “quid" easily. As Hugh McCallum was going to Carpenter’s Rocks prospecting, he would give the witness £3 per week. The accused asked if he knew what it was, and allel, "---- sheep," and McCallum wanted a man to drive sheep out of the paddocks and away. The witness said it was no good to him. Edmondson told him to say nothing about it.

Two Guineas a Week for Watching.

William Geo. Bald, brother of David Bald, deposed to Edmondson asking for Dave on more than one occasion. The witness asked the accused what he and Dave were doing, being told that they were clearing ground in Nitschke's for potatoes. Two years ago the accused asked him if he wanted a job. He said a man named Black was down at the lakes trapping, and squatters' and farmers' sheep were dying along the Lake Bonney edge, and a man was drying skins, throwing the carcases into the lake. He would give him two guineas a week to watch. All he would have to do was to stand with a gun and fire it off if anyone appeared.

William McRostie, laborer, of Tantanoola, agent for Wilcox & Co, said he gave accused a supply of the firm’s labels and advice post-cards, but never bought or sent away any rabbit-skins for him.

James and Alexander Arthurson both deposed to visiting the camp on October 19 and 20, when they asked what Bald and Edmondson were doing. They were told “Trapping." They remarked that it was a funny time of the year to be trapping, and that only a few skins were there. The accused said he was drying them at Chants hut, but there were no sign of skins there.

Charles Francis Burchard, farmer, Tantanoola, said on Sunday December 4, he was with his brother and Frank Osborne in Chant's on Lake Bonney Flats. He noticed a strong stench, and found an opening blocked by boughs stuck in. He found the yards as shown in the photographs, with plucked wool, skins, and carcases. The majority of the sheep appeared to have been dead four days.

The Detective's Story

Herbert Allchurch, detective, of Adelaide said on January 4, at Chant's, he saw the yards in the tea tree, and in another belt of scrub eleven carcases which had been skinned. He found a lamp, a rug, a towel, trousers, and a stretcher in the camp, and also a piece of dungaree. On January 5 he saw Edmondson in the Tiger Hotel and asked him into the parlor, where Constable Mowbray was. He told him they were police officers, and that a large number of sheep had been killed and skinned at Lake Bonney Flats and that on or about December 1 57 sheep belonging to James Chant had been killed and some of them skinned. The accused said he had heard it was 157. The witness said, "I have heard you have been selling skins which are believed to have been

taken from sheep killed at the Lake Flats." The accused said “I never owned a sheep or sold a skin in my life. Bring the man here who says I did and I will kill him.”

He arrested the accused and with Mowbray brought him to Millicent where he cautioned him and told him the charge. He said "Not guilty." On Saturday, January 7, the witness visited the tent with Mowbray and found snips in the tent and a piece of an account sales outside. Bald showed three skins on a wire in the ti-tree about 200 yards from the tent, also in another place 19 skeletons and two skins. He also found in the yards two knives and a turkey stone. Later on Bald showed them a new yard with a small hut, also in axe.

Mounted Constable Mowbray gave corroborative evidence.

Committed for Trial.

The hearing lasted all day till 9.45 p.m. The bench was satisfied a prima facie case had been made out and committed Edmondson to the next sittings of the Circuit Court at Mount Gambier. The accused reserved his defence Bail was refused.

ADELAIDE, Wednesday.

Extraordinary interest is being evinced in the police court proceedings against Robert Charles Edmondson who was charged to-day before Messrs H. F. L. Hotzgrefe and S. J. Stuckey that, on or about and between September 3 and December 31, 1910, in the hundred of Benara, he killed, with intent to steal, 70 sheep the property of James Chant, Tantanoola. The information was laid by Jas. Chant, under section 141 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act, 1876.

Mr. E. P. Little (of Messrs. Ward and Little) appeared for the accused, and Mr. C. L. Spear, tor the prosecution and the Crown.
Mr. G. Riddoch represented the Pastoralists Association. Sub-inspector Rumball is seated with counsel. The township was crowded an hour before the trial began, and many had to remain outside the court. 20 witnesses were called.

In outlining the case for the prosecution, Mr. Spehr said the Bench had probably gleaned sufficient from the newspaper reports to understand the nature of the discoveries at Tantanoola. He briefly described what he characterised as a story of the most reprehensible crime committed in Australia for many a long day. The chief witness for the Crown, David Bald, had made an astounding confession, which had since been corroborated in

every detail. He was a youth, only 20 years old, and had been gradually inveigled into an astonishing crusade against the sheep owners. Bald had been a fool, who had done all the dirty work, but Edmondson had been the scheming brain and skilful hands which had designed the killing yards, and had arranged the details of extensive operations. It had been his strong, criminal, masterly influence that had made Bald participate in crimes which had startled the conscience of all Australia.

James Chant, sheepfarmer, of Tantanoola, made a lengthy deposition. He said he owned 3000 acres in hundred of Benara, of which a portion, near Lake Bonney, was covered with dense scrub. All the boundaries were netted. He had 2000 sheep there between August and September last year. He knew Edmondson, who had a tent close to witness's boundary fence in Nitschke's paddock. Witness described the nature of the plant in the tea-tree, which he inspected on January 8 in company with the police. There were 57 dead sheep. Some had their throats cut, others had been suffocated in slush. All bore his brands and earmarks. Besides the dead sheep and lambs there were 13 skins on wires, and three bags of wool drying on heaps of tea-tree. He also saw a coil of rusted wire-netting and a bundle of stakes hidden in the bushes, which had been used to construct a race in the yard. There were also a pair of dungaree trousers and a file. Wire-netting had been removed from the boundary fence 10 chains away. He inspected

on January 8 in company with the police. There were 57 dead sheep. Some had their throats cut, others had been suffocated in slush. All bore his brands and earmarks. Besides the dead sheep and lambs there were 13 skins on wires, and three bags of wool drying on heaps of tea-tree. He also saw a coil of rusted wire-netting and a bundle of stakes hidden in the bushes, which had been used to construct a race in the yard. There were also a pair of dungaree trousers and a file. Wire-netting had been removed from the boundary fence 10 chains away. He inspected another yard near Edmondson's tent and saw 19 carcases and 55 skins. The value of 76 sheep would be £62. That was only a drop in the ocean, though. (Laughter )

WATCH WITH A RIFLE

David Bald, labourer, residing at the Bluff, Tantanoola, deposed: “I have known Edmondson for eight or nine years I saw him towards the end of last August. He said he was short of money and was going out to yard some sheep in the ti-tree. I know what he meant, because he spoke about the same matter several times previously. The first occasion was 12 months ago when Edmondson said, "I can put you on to £20. All you have to do is to get a cart and shift it six months later. Accused called at my father's house and said "You are a fool to work for 7s a day when you can make £4 or £5 every day. There is a fortune to be made

on Lake Bonny flats. All you have to do is watch with a rifle while I pack skins." Edmondson repeated the suggestion a fortnight afterwards when we went rabbiting, and pitched the camp in Nitchke's paddock. We established ourselves there for three or four months near Coola station, nine miles away. Accused pointed out several flocks of sheep. We had 20 rabbit traps but during the whole stay at the camp we trapped only 19 rabbits. We hung skins where the people passing the camp could see them, they were only a blind. Accused showed me yards in the tea-tree in Chant's paddock. A week after arrival I saw Edmondson driving a cart from the direction of the yards. On the cart was a load of bags of skins which we took into Millicent. Edmondson walked into the scrub near the camp and shot three sheep with a rifle. When darkness fell we carried them into a little yard some distance from the big corral. Next morning Edmondson gave me a knife and ordered me to skin the sheep while he watched with a rifle. I removed the skins and hung them over the wires in the yard.

The same day Edmondson shot 11 other sheep, and five more on the following evening. These were carried into the tea-tree in the usual way at night, and skinned in the morning. Each lot was in a different yard. Edmondson had plants all over the tea-tree. Accused always watched with a rifle while I skinned. After killing 19 in this way we returned to Tantanoola and some days afterwards Edmondson borrowed a cart and drove me back to the camp. On the way down we met William M'Rostie who is local agent for Wilcox and Co. Arriving at the camp I made a bale. I put 14 skins into this bale and drove the cart containing them to the Snuggery Railway Station. Acting on Edmondson's instructions, I despatched them under the name of H. Fisher, to Wilcox and Co., Adelaide, and later received a letter addressed to Fisher containing Wilcox's cheque for £2 6s 7d. Edmondson took part in the rifle matches In Adelaide, and on his return we revisited the camp. The accused then removed a long strip of wire netting from

Chant's fence. This was used outside the race leading to the big corral. We occupied the daylight cutting a new yard in the tea-tree. Edmondson said this yard would be used for shearing sheep to be brought from Coola. We built a shed in the yard to store wool. One evening we put netting up and ran in a mob of sheep. We drove them through the race and into the yards without trouble. Next morning Edmondson ordered me to kill 20 of them and let the others go. While I killed them Edmondson watched outside, his instructions being that if I heard two shots fired I was to steal into the tea-tree and hide until night I killed and skinned 20 sheep, and stretched the skins on the wires."

The evidence is not concluded.

MILLICENT, January 18.

Extraordinary interest is being evinced in the Police Court proceedings against Robert Charles Edmondson, who was charged to-day before Messrs. H. F. L. Holzgrefe and S. J. Stuckey that on or about and between September 3 and December 31, 1910, in the Hundred of Benara, he killed, with intent to steal, 76 sheep, the property of James Chant, Tantanoola. The information was laid by James Chant under section 141 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act, 1876. Mr. E. P. G. Little, of Messrs. Ward and Little, appeared for the accused, and Mr. C. L. Spehr for the prosecutor and the Crown. The Hon. G. Riddoch represented the Pastoralists' Association. Sub-Inspector Rumball was seated with counsel.

—Rush for Seats.—

Vehicles began to roll into Millicent as early as 6 o'clock this morning, and by 9 o'clock the township was crowded. There were visitors from Lucindale, Robe, Beachport, Penola, Kalangadoo, Mount Gambier, and intervening centres. A large gathering witnessed the arrival of the morning train, by which the accused, Edmondson, was brought down in charge of Constable G. E. McDonald. The Court opened shortly afterwards, and a tremendous rush for seats followed. No fewer than 20 witnesses

work, but Edmondson's had been the scheming brain and skilful hands which had designed the killing yards and had arranged the d tails of their extensive operations. It had been his strong criminal, masterly influence that had made Bald participate in the crimes which had startled the conscience of all Australia.

—Accused Calm.—

Witnesses were then called. The taking of depositions was very tedious. Edmondson evinced a calm and intelligent interest in the proceedings.

—Seventy-six Dead Sheep.—

James Chant, sheepfarmer, of Tantanoola, made a lengthy deposition. He said he owned 3,000 acres in the Hundred of Benara, of which a portion near Lake Bonney was covered with denes scrub. All the boundaries were netted. He had 2,000 sheep there between August and September last year. He knew Edmondson, who had a tent close to witness's boundary fence in Nitschke's pad-dock. Witness described the nature of the plant in the teatree, which he inspected on January 8 in company with the police. There were 67 dead sheep. Some had their throats cut; others had been suffocated in the slush. All bore his brand and earmarks. Besides dead sheep and lambs, there were 13 skins on

had to be accommodated. Scores of people were unable to get in, and officials were kept busy driving curious spectators from the windows of the Courtroom. The building resembled a shearing shed camp with utensils, dozens of sheepskins, and bags of wool heaped up in front of the bench.

—Original Charge Withdrawn.—

Mr. Spehr asked for permission to withdraw the original information in respect of 57 freshly killed sheep found on December 4 by the party of snipe shooters. Counsel for accused agreed, and the information was withdrawn.

—"The Criminal, Masterly Influence."—

In outlining the case for the prosecution Mr. Spehr said the Bench had probably gleaned sufficient from newspaper reports to understand the nature of the discoveries at Tantanoola. He briefly described what he characterized as "a story of the most reprehensible crime committed in Australia for many a long day." The chief witness for the Crown, David Bald, had made an astounding confession, which had since been corroborated in every detail. He was a youth only 20 years old, and had been gradually inveigled into an astonishing crusade against sheepowners. Bald had been the fool who had done all the dirty

wires and three bags of wool drying on heaps of tea- tree. He also saw a coil of rusted wirenetting and a bundle of stakes hidden in bushes which had been used to construct a race in the yard. There were also a pair of dungaree trousers and file. The wirenetting had been removed from the boundary fence 10 chains away. He inspected another yard near Edmondson's tent, and saw 19 carcases and five skins. The value of the 70 sheen would be £62. That was only a drop in the ocean though. (Laughter.)

—Lost 1,400 Sheep.—

On an average witness had been losing 200 sheep every year during the past seven years. He had seen Edmondson at the teatree towards the end of November.