Shocking Murder in Gippsland.—12th October, 1847.
John Healey, alias "Pretty Boy," James Francis, and George Savage were indicted for the wilful murder of James Ritchie, at Tarraville, in Gippsland, on the 27th May, viz, Healey as principal, and the others as aiders and abettors. T h efirst-namedwas defended by Mr. Stayvell, and the others by Mr. Sidney Stephen. About half-past seven o'clock on the morning in question Henry Sherwin, a resident of Tarraville, noticed blood marks and signs of dragging on the roadyvay. O n looking over a fence he perceived the dead body of a man, and he forthyvith repaired to a tavern known as the Royal Hotel, and informed the landlord of the circumstances. It was not more than 200 yards from where the corpse lay, and Neilson, the landlord, Shenvin, and two or three other persons, recognized in the dead m a n one James Ritchie, yvho was well known to them. T h e throat was cut, and the head battered, whilst the dog of the deceased was dead in his arms, the creature's throat gashed in a horrible way. Ritchie's coat, saturated yvith blood, was thrown beside him, seemingly as if drayvn over his head, with its pockets turned inside out. During these revelations Francis and Savage joined the group, and actually assisted in lifting the body on to a cart. It soon transpired that the prisoners and the deceased had been seen more than once drinking together on the preceding day. Early in the afternoon they were at a public-house kept by one Fitchett. Ritchie was drunk when they separated; he yvent his way, and the others m a d e for the Royal. Later in the evening they again turned up at the latter place, where they resumed their drinking, and were quite jolly over the rum bottle until about nine o'clock, when all save Ritchie left. H e soon after folloyyed, but subsequently returning, asked to be supplied yvith rum, yvhich yvas given to him in a lemonade bottle labelled "J. M . Chisholm." With this he left, and nothing yvas seen of him there again. About one o'clock next morning Healey knocked up the hotel people, and purchased a bottle of rum and a loaf of bread, yvith yvhich he went ayvay. It yvas noticed at the time that when the bar door yvas opened he did not enter, but standing some distance off, and beyond the reflection of the lamp-light, called out for the supplies, yvhich yvere taken outside and handed to him. T h e discovery of the murder caused m u c h consternation in the small township, and Chief-Constable Cornelius O'Sullivan arrested Healey at the house of H a n n a h Wilson, a person of more than doubtful reputation. Francis and Savage were also arrested, and the three committed by Mr. Tyers for trial in Melbourne.
It was shoyvn that the four m e n had been knocking about the toyvnship together, drinking, and that they consorted occasionally with tyvo or three disreputable w o m e n . T h e publican, Fitchett, deposed to having once heard Healey declare " he would serve out Ritchie because he had befriended a female relative of Healey's, w h o had been ill-treated by her husband." Fanny Hughes testified to more than once hearing Healey say he would take Ritchie's life. O n the evening of the 26th M a y she saw them all drinking at the forge of a Mr. " T o m the Tinker," the village blacksmith, where they played cards for grog. Healey was so drunk that he went to bed there, and did not leave till about ten o'clock, after the others had gone. She let him out and he was hardly able to walk. John Maynor proved to having heard a cry or scream from the direction of Neilson's paddock after nine o'clock on the night before the finding of the body.
Michael Bradly, an acquaintance and drinking mate of the prisoners, yvho was let into the Alberton watchhouse whilst Healey was detained there, evidently to trap him, detailed a conversation which passed between them one night. They spoke from cell to cell, and Healey, referring to the murder, said " I'm guilty, and willing to die for it sooner than be in the state I'm in." This viva voce confession was corroborated by a constable placed in a favourable position to hear the dialogue. Hannah Wilson (under a commitment for harboring him, possibly a legal ruse to secure her evidence), yvas next brought up on a writ of habeas, and her testimony admitted as that of an approver. She declared that about eleven o'clock on the night of the murder, Healey visited her house, and some time after she accompanied him to Neilson's Hotel to procure some rum. After returning they commenced drinking, and he showed her a purse and a clasp-knife he had. H e remained all the night, which he passed in a restless and sleepless state, and when asked what was the matter replied that "the horrors" were on him. This witness swore that about a week previously she had killed a goose with the axe found on the premises. A written statement m a d e by Healey to Mr. Tyers was put in, but the only evidence in it affecting Healey was his admission that he had left at Wilson's a purse, produced, which corresponded in description with one seen in Ritchie's possession
