Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/641

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ROBBERY BY SOLDIERS. SUDDS AND THOMPSON. 613 round their ankles, they were drummed out of the garrison and marched to the gaol. Sudds was alleged to have been unwell at the time; he was admitted to the gaol hospital; his irons were removed. The medical officer reported that the poor man refused all sustenance except a little tea, declared he would never work in irons, and wished himself out of the world. He became delirious (26th Nov.), was sent to the general hospital, and died on the following day. The medical officer could find "no apparent disease" to account for the death. Thompson underwent some portion of the sentence, and Dr. Bowring (Sept. 1835) presented a petition from him to the House of Commons for redress. The Governor reported that much as the death of Sudds was to be regretted it could not be imputed to severity; "none was practised or intended." But soon he was himself accused of brutality. When other causes of difference arose the sufferings of Sudds were brought forward against the Governor. Wentworth revelled in denunciation, and threatened im- peachment. As Thompson, the surviving sufferer, was in good health, it would have been difficult to prove that the ordeal through which he passed was necessarily fatal, and the contemplated impeachment served no other purpose than to envenom the shafts of Darling's enemies. Wentworth nevertheless (March 1829), when other quarrels had occurred, wrote a letter of impeachment to the Secretary of State. The Executive Council investigated Wentworth's charges in May 1829.^® Archdeacon Scott, the Colonial Secretary, and Colonel Lindsay examined the superinten- dent of the agricultural (convict) establishment at Emu Plains; a ticket-of- leave holder who was overseer of an ironed gang ; Dr. Mitchell, the much respected surgeon of the General Hospital in Sydney; a solicitor; the Governor of the Sydney Gaol; and Captain Eobert Bobison, of the New South Wales Eoyal Veteran Company. The last- named, who was a friend of Wentworth, before signing his evidence, ** submitted his dissent as to the propriety and competency of the present tribunal to enter upon the matter." Darling sent the proceedings of the Council with a report to the Secretary of State. '• Parliamentary Paper, 18S5, >jq. -xxxvx..