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The true account of the deaths of Constable Miles O’Grady and William Fletcher, at Nerrigundah, are reported in the following contemporary newspaper accounts.
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“Seven bushrangers [Tommy Clarke, Pat Connell, Tom Connell, William Berryman, Joseph Berryman, Bill Scott and William Fletcher] stuck up the town of Nerrigundah yesterday. They shot a Chinaman dead, and wounded a storekeeper named Emmott. Constable O’Grady was the only policeman there. He was ill, but made a brave resistance, and shot a bushranger named Fletcher, whose mate shot O’Grady through the loins. The robbers then plundered the town, and robbed the Gulf mail and made off.” (The Argus, 11th April 1866)
“Some bushrangers stuck up the township of Nerrigundah on Monday last. They shot one Chinaman dead, and wounded two others severely. One bushranger was shot.” (The Brisbane Courier, 12th April, 1866)
 “We are indebted to Mr. W. J. Clements, of the Moruya Examiner, for the following particulars of the doings of a murderous gang at Nerrigundah on Monday last : - The party of scoundrels consisted of seven, led by William Fletcher. It is supposed they were returning from Bega races. Waiting for their prey at the foot of the mountain on the road leading from the Gulph, they first seized a Chinaman, and, it is said, murdered him, retaining his horse; the mail boy was next, from whom they took the bags and his horse, giving him the Chinaman’s in exchange. Mr. John Emmott was on the road with a considerable amount of gold and cash in his possession. After receiving a wound and having his horse killed, Mr. Emmott was compelled to give in. Of course the robbers took all. We are glad to say that the wound is not dangerous, and the sufferer was removed to Mrs. Groves’. It is supposed that Mr. J. Emmott lost above L100. The robbers, as far as we can learn, next proceeded towards the Gulph, stopping at Groves’, shouting for all hands, and paying for the drink. Next we hear of them at the Gulph, where they stuck up Mr. Pollock’s store. It is well known that Mr. Pollock is the principal gold buyer on the Gulph, and, since the escort was knocked off, has been in the habit of taking his gold to Sydney at intervals of four or five weeks. On the following day, it is said, Mr. Pollock was intending to make the trip with his gold, so that at least the scoundrels must have robbed him of two or three hundred ounces. They afterwards went to Wallis’ public house, and one of them, who is positively recognised as Tommy Clarke, said, ‘Halloo, Charley, have you been to Bega races ?’ ‘Yes,’ was the reply. ‘Then fork out,’ was the return, and Charles Nash gave up 30s. Fletcher placed a pistol at the head of R. Drew, the butcher, and demanded his money. Drew had his hands in his pocket, drew them out, and placed his hands behind, a proceeding that made one of the gang call for a light. Policeman O’Grady was the only tenant of the lock-up, and he was sick at the time. He, however, rose from his sick bed, and faced the gang at Wallis’, and immediately a light was called for, he shot Fletcher dead, the bullet glancing on his arm, which it struck; it afterwards entered his body, and, it is supposed, entered his heart. The bushrangers immediately returned the fire, and poor O’Grady was shot in the hip, the ball entering in an oblique direction at the side, and coming out at the lower part of the belly. O’Grady has since died. Sergeant Hitch was on the way from Moruya at the time, and two watches were discovered on the body of Fletcher, one of which is supposed to have belonged to the sergeant, but nothing has been heard of him. On the mail boy reaching Bodalla Post-office, Mr. Clarke, the postmaster, immediately despatched his son with another youth, a son-in-law to R. Wilkins, Esq., with an express of the news of his being robbed to Moruya, where they arrived at about 1 o’clock. In the course of a few hours, about 5 o’clock, Messrs. Downey and Christy, having taken a back road through the bush, arrived with intelligence as to the Nerrigundah conflict. Our available police force stationed here, sergeant Brennan and constable Baker, within six minutes after the receipt of the first piece of news, started for Nerrigundah, and on receipt of the Nerrigundah outrages, volunteers started to render assistance. W. S. Caswell, Esq., the coroner, also started to hold an inquest. The bushrangers commenced their outrages in open daylight, about 4 o’clock p.m. Hence the conflict at Wallis’ must have been about dusk. It is said that volunteers at Nerrigundah rushed to the police station for firearms in order to assist the police, but, whilst there were arms in plenty, there were no caps. It is feared that Sergeant Hitch has been murdered on the road. Six bullets were fired at Mr. John Emmott, one of which wounded the unfortunate gentleman in the thigh. We learn from the same authority that Fletcher, the leader of the gang, who was shot, was a native of the district, having been brought up at Mullenderra, on the opposite bank of the river to Moruya. It is supposed that he joined the gang at Bega only last week, and that Monday’s work was his first exploit. He knew every hole and corner in the district, and it is a happy thing for the residents there that his career is at an end.” (Brisbane Courier, 16th April 1866)
“Five of the party engaged in the attack on Nerrigundah have been sworn to, and warrants issued.” (The Argus, 20th April 1866)
“THE NERRIGUNDAH OUTRAGE.
(FROM THE MORUYA EXAMINER, APRIL 13)
On Monday last, the vicinity of Nerrigundah was a scene of brutal violence, murder, and righteous retribution. Near the junction of two or three roads, leading down the mountain to Gulph Creek, there is a hut, formerly tenanted by a party of diggers, afterwards by the road party employed there, but since untenanted. It is now known that this hut was taken possession of by a gang of bushrangers, who remained there hid until Monday afternoon. Here, close to the Gulph Creek, they waited for their prey. A number of chinamen appear to have been first stuck up. Mrs. Groves, of Deep Creek, was on her way to a garden, or orchard, at some little distance distance from her home, when she was stopped. The mail boy, with the bags was also bailed up, and the mail bags taken from him.Mr. Sutherland and Mr. R. Jones, of Nerrigundah, were also bailed up. As the victims fell into the hands of the miscreants they were marched some distance into the bush, out of sight from the road, where they were guarded by two of the gang. It is not known what the chinamen lost. Two gold rings were taken from Mr. Sutherland. Mrs. Groves had fortunately nothing with her of value, having left her purse at home. Mr. Jones had 2s., which they told him to keep. After keeping the mail boy for a time, they allowed him to proceed to Bodalla, giving him a horse belonging to a Chinaman, one of their prisoners, and retaining the mail bag and his own horse. They dismissed him with an injunction not to look behind him. Mr. John Emmott was another victim. Just as he had crossed the Gulph Creek two armed men presented themselves, ordered him to stop, and at the same time presented their revolvers. Mr. Emmott immediately turned his horse, and made an effort to escape; after a few strides, however, he was met by two other bushrangers, one on each side of the road, who fired on him repeatedly, and killed his horse. Mr. Emmott had a considerable amount of gold with him, which, whilst endeavouring to get away, he had drawn out of his pocket with the intention of throwing it into the bush. His wounded horse, however, fell dead, and he had to disentangle himself from the falling animal, instead of accomplishing his purpose. Whilst so doing, the robbers again fired, this time wounding Mr. Emmott. The ball struck the back part of the thigh, passed downwards, and went clean through at the front, traversing the thigh for about ten inches. Under such circumstances, of course, he had to give in. The robbers then plundered him of 25oz 13dwt. gold, two L1-notes, 10s. in silver, a letter containing L30, and a gold watch with appendages. They returned his pocket book with a promissory-note for L53, scattered about other papers found on him (the greater part, however, of which were afterwards recovered), then ordered him, wounded as he was, to march to the depot where the rest of their victims were detained. Almost fainting from loss of blood, he declared himself unable to walk, when they presented their revolvers at him, ordering him to move on, but as he was clearly unable to obey, one of the gang, a trifle more humane than the rest, fetched him some water, which revived him, and enabled him to reach the point where the others were detained. The gang afterwards marched their victims to Mrs. Groves’s public-house, where they were guarded by two of the miscreants, whilst the other four made a raid on Nerrigundah. Mr. J. Emmott was assisted to Mrs. Groves’s by some of his fellow unfortunates, and taken care of until Tuesday morning, when he was removed in a spring-cart to his home at Moruya. His wound is a flesh wound only; of course the sufferer is very weak from loss of blood, but it is gratifying to be able to add that he is apparently in no danger, and is progressing favourably towards convalescence. He has also received a wound on the head from the muzzle of a pistol, pushed at him to make him move on.
“DOINGS AT NERRIGUNDAH.
“The party who departed from Mrs. Groves’s public-house for Nerrigundah was headed by William Fletcher, who had only just joined the gang. He rode a race at Mullenderree on St. Patrick’s day last, and had been working in a claim at Nerrigundah previously, for which place he returned from Moruya on the Monday after St. Patrick’s day. On reaching Nerrigundah, he said he would go to Manero and seek for a job, instead of which, however, he joined the gang of bushrangers. At Nerrigundah they stuck-up Mr. Wallis’s, the first public-house they would see in that township. Here they robbed those present of different sums of money, bailed up the passers by, ordered them into the house, where after being robbed the victims were detained. Two of the gang next proceeded to Mr. Pollock’s store; the proprietor was absent, but the miscreants ordered Mrs. Pollock to Wallis’s, and accompanied her thither, after they had plundered the store of what ready money was at hand, about L7. It is well known that Mr. Pollock is the principal gold buyer on the Gulph, and since the gold escort was knocked off has been in the habit of taking down his gold to Sydney, at intervals of four or five weeks. On the following day, it is said, Mr. Pollock was intending to make the trip with his gold, so that at least he must have had in his possession some two or three hundred ounces. On the way to Wallis’s, Mrs. Pollock was observed hiding a key - the key which belonged to the safe in which the gold was lodged. One of the bushrangers took it from her, but she recovered it in a most courageous manner. On reaching Wallis’s the thief who had the key in his hand turned his head from Mrs. Pollock to speak to some one, when she, with admirable presence of mind, snatched the key from him, and threw it over his head into the street. They, after abusing Mrs. Pollock in words, instituted a search for the key, but before they found it dreadful occurrences took place, full details of which may be gathered from the report of the proceedings of the inquest. Mr. Robert Drew was amongst those stuck-up at Wallis’s, and with a pistol at his head, he temporised with the ruffians, took his hands from his pockets, drawing out at the same time a roll of notes, L40; he then placed his hands behind him with a jerk, throwing the notes at the same time from him. Before the ruffians could proceed further, Fletcher was shot. Constable O’Grady having risen from a sick bed, and in company with Constable Smith had proceeded to the scene. Fletcher was in the doorway of the public-house when O’Grady fired. The bullet glanced on Fletcher’s arm, which it struck, and afterwards entered his body at the armpit. The bushrangers immediately returned the fire, and poor O’Grady was shot in the hip, the ball entering in an oblique direction at the side and coming out at the lower part of the belly. Fletcher lived about an hour afterwards. Poor O’Grady lingered for about three hours. The miscreants cleared off immediately after Fletcher and O’Grady were shot.
“A letter and two watches were found on the body of Fletcher. The letter, from Mr. Sutherland, storekeeper, had been posted by that day’s mail with the first of four L5 notes enclosed. There were also halves of notes to the value of L50, from the money order office at Nerrigundah, in the mail bag. No doubt the robbers meant to have the other halves of these notes from Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Hardy the postmaster, but they were stopped in their career. They but reached the entrance to Nerrigundah, so the rest were saved at the severe cost of unfortunate O’Grady’s life.
“RETURN TO DEEP CREEK.
“The robbers took the way back to Deep Creek, where, though their hands were stained with murder, they commenced to plunder. A poor unfortunate Chinaman was one upon whom they laid their hands. John did not ‘savey’ giving up his money, when they beat him with their fists, with the butt-ends of pistols, , and bored into his ear the muzzle of a revolver several times; they would probably have finished him had not Mrs. Groves interposed. They succeeded at last in robbing the poor fellow; he had but 5s. after all. This is the Chinaman said to have been murdered. At one time they attempted to take Mrs. Groves’s ring from her finger, but desisted at her earnest entreaty. They supplied themselves with rations and drink, paying for all; and whilst engaged in carrying on these measures, one of the Chinamen they had detained made his escape from the house. One of the bushrangers went to stick-up Mr. Spence’s store, on the opposite side of Deep Creek, but before he accomplished this scoundrelism his mates called for him, saying, ‘Make haste, the Gulph people are on us.’ The fellow then turned out the man at the store, locked the door, and said he would be back in an hour. It appears that the Chinaman who escaped reached his camp in safety, and aroused his countrymen. These lit a number of torches, and proceeded towards Mrs. Groves’s in a body, when the lights so alarmed the bushrangers, that they immediately decamped - thus driven away at last by an alarm caused by Chinese. The people detained were not set at liberty until the robbers went. Shortly after these events Sergeant Hitch arrived from Moruya. It was judged at Nerrigundah the robbers  would go by way of Cadgee and Bolaro. A volunteer force was accordingly formed, with Sergeant Hitch at their head, to intercept them, one of the volunteers having offered to guide the party through the bush by a nearer route than the bushrangers would take. The guide well fulfilled his promise; but just as they reached the destined point on Belimbla Creek, before the party had time to hide, the five robbers appeared with a sixth horse. The one believed to be Tommy Clark, leading the horse, was in advance of the rest, and entered the creek; the others stopped on the opposite bank to that where Sergeant Hitch and his party, who fired on the ruffians when they were so situated, at about sixty or seventy yards distance. It is said that Clark reeled in his saddle after the discharge of firearms. However, he instantly turned and joined the rest, when Sergeant Hitch fired again, the bullet striking a tree between him and the robbers. They immediately galloped off. There was no chance of a successful pursuit, for, strange to say, the ammunition was expended, except what Sergeant Hitch had, and his cartridges could be made available for no other firearms than his own; hence the party returned. It is a great pity that this excellent plan, well carried out in some items, should have been rendered abortive. Some of the firearms, it is said, would not go off, and some of the volunteers had only one charge of powder and ball. The party evidently meant well, courageously set about the business, bravely met their men, and blazed away as long as they could; but for want of foresight at the outset, certainly excusable in the excitement of the moment, they were crippled in their efforts. One good will arise, however - a caution has been administered; the gang of rascals will clearly see that others now the bush about Nerrigundah better than they, so that if they make a second venture they must look for an enemy starting up at every point.
“OTHER PARTICULARS.
“On the news of the outrages reaching Bodalla post-office by the liberated mail boy, Mr. Clarke, the postmaster, immediately despatched his son with another youth, a son-in-law to Mr. R. Wilkins, as an express to Moruya, where they arrived about one o’clock with the intelligence.
“In the course of a few hours, at about five o’clock, Messrs. Downey and Christy, having taken a back road through the bush, arrived with intelligence as to the Nerrigundah conflict. Our available police force stationed here, Sergeant Brennan and Constable Baker, within six minutes after the receipt of the first piece of news started for Nerrigundah, and two friends of Mr. J. Emmott started to his assistance. On receipt of the intelligence of the Nerrigundah outrages, Mr. W. S. Caswell, the coroner, strated to hold the inquest.
“Dr. Cooke and the Rev. P. Birch accompanied the messengers back to the Gulph, to render their assistance, in their respective vocations; but O’Grady was dead long before they could arrive.
“On arrival at Nerrigundah, Sergeant Brennan, with Constable Baker, followed the road the bushrangers had taken, but on reaching Cadgee found they had been there three hours before. Pursuit was therefore useless, and they returned, having the funerals and inquest to attend to.
“Two splashes of blood, on either side of the road at Gulph Creek, mark the places where Mr. Emmott’s horse was shot.
“The bushrangers commenced their wretched work in open daylight, about three o’clock p.m.”
“Thomas Clarke and John Connell have been proclaimed outlaws for murder and robbery, at Nerrigundah. (The Argus, 21st April 1866.)
Brennan was later to describe William Fletcher as :
Another recruit to CLARKE’s GANG at this junction was WILLIAM FLETCHER, a native of MORUYA and a pal of BILL SCOTT; he was a splendid rider, disliked work, fond of drink, but otherwise fairly respectable. Four days before the bailing up of NERRIGUNDAH, he figured prominently on the GLENDUART race course, where, seemingly under the influence of drink, he mounted a splendid horse and galloped away but being intercepted by the police, the horse was restored to the owner, who refused to prosecute. On the same day, however, the CLARKE’s GANG were seen on the ARALUEN Road, three miles from the course, and on the following morning FLETCHER had disappeared having stolen a horse from a stable at MELLENDERRE. (Source)
“.....and two of the scoundrels concerned in the late outrages and murder at Nerrigundah, have been summoned to surrender to the Chief Justice, failing which they will be proclaimed as outlaws under the Felons’ Apprehension Act.” (The Brisbane Courier, 28th April 1866)
“THE MURDER OF CONSTABLE O’GRADY.
“TOWARDS dusk on the 9th ultimo four horsemen were observed coming into the town of Nerrigundah, two abreast; they were Clarke’s gang of bushrangers; two stpped at Wallis’s public house, the first on the left as you enter the town; the other two rode on to Pollock’s store. The two former commenced operations by bailing up Mr. Wallis and all in his house; while so engaged, Clarke brought in Mrs. Pollock, from whom he took L7 in cash, and the key of the safe. While at the door talking to one of the others, observing the key in his hand, she gently withdrew it, and on his demanding it she threw it over his head into the street, and, strange to say, although they searched up and down with lamps, they could not find it. Soon after [William, aged 21] Fletcher, another of the gang, entered with Mrs. Pollock’s children, servant, and two Chinamen, inmates of the neighbouring houses, and passers by were also brought into Wallis’s and made to bail up. Mr. Pollock about this time returned from the upper town, and as he turned the corner at Wallis’s was told to dismount; he at first thought it was some practical joking and refused, they then pulled him from the horse and walked him into the bar. As he resisted, one of them put down his gun and struck him in the face, the others keeping him covered, Clarke threatening to blow his head off. Seeing that resistance was useless he became quiet. There was at one time fully forty persons bailed up in the bar at the mercy of the banditti. Mr. Drew, the principal butcher, who like others, did not at first believe that the bushrangers were in the town, went to judge for himself, and was immediately bailed up by Fletcher, whose voice Drew at once recognised; when told to ‘fork out’ he tried to temporize, edging himself towards a side door, through which he threw a roll of notes (L40) he had on him, into the tap-room. The bushrangers were just about bringing their revolvers into play, as theor patience was well nigh exhausted; before, however, proceeding to extreme measures, Clarke called for a light to see what Drew had tossed behind him, but before it could be brought, the report of O’Grady’s pistol, bringing down Fletcher, was heard. Clarke immediately rushed out, and with the others, commenced firing down the street. O’Grady and the other constable, after delivering their fire, were retreating down the street, when the former received his death wound. The bushrangers then mounted their horses and roded off to Deep Creek, a village three miles from the Gulf [Gulph], threatening to come back and shoot every person on the Gulf.
“Constable O’Grady having died of the wound received in the fight with the bushrangers at Nerrigundah and several of the gang having been identified, a summons was issued by the Chief Justice to Thomas Clarke and Patrick Connell, to surrender and take their trial on the charge of having, at Nerrigundah, on the 9th ult., wilfully murdered one Miles Grady, the summons, or command to surrender being issued under the Felons’ Apprehension Act. The culprits not having surrendered to the Governor of the Gaol at Braidwood, by the 4th inst., were outlawed. A few days after the outrage at Nerrigundah, Sergeant Hitch and some volunteers came upon the bushrangers (near Bolaro Range) who were leading pack-horses. Shots were fired, but the robbers escaped. Sergeant Creagh, one of the Sydney Police, has succeeded in capturing young Berriman, brother to one of the leading desperadoes. They were both concerned in the robbery and murder.” (The Illustrated Sydney News, 16th May 1866, p. 4)
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William Fletcher was buried in the old Nerrigundah Cemetery on the 10th April 1866, whilst O’Grady’s body was first buried at Nerrigundah but later moved to Moruya Cemetery: See Photo Gallery of O’Grady’s Grave. William Fletcher was a brother of David Fletcher, senior, a Pioneer at Yalwal.
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