Mr. Hamilton Hume Sets Out in Search of John’s Murderers

The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser

31 January 1840

Extracts from a letter from Yass, dated the 24th instant.

As soon as the intelligence of assassination of Mr. Hume had reached here, his elder brother (Mr. Hamilton Hume,) set out for Collingwood; in the mean time, that active magistrate, Henry O'Brien, Esq., collected a party of gentlemen to whom the lamented deceased was personally known, together with their servants, all mounted on fleet horses, and well armed, set out in search of the murderers, who were now known to be the Mounted Bandits.

Having extended their force they proceeded, and from inquiries of the stockmen and others, they came into the track of horses which led them in a direction that was not known to be inhabited; this track they followed until they arrived in the vicinity of the rocky ravines to the South of Yass, and it is with pleasure I write, the party came upon the villains - when called upon to surrender, they refused, and an engagement was the inevitable consequence - the first that was shot dead was the Captain of the gang - and another most determined ruffian was shot in the breast; and as soon as he saw he was likely to fall into the hands of his captors, he very deliberately put a period to his existence by blowing out his own brains, thereby saving the public executioner the trouble of hanging him.

The rest of the murdering gang, as soon as they saw their "leader" and their "bully" fall, took to the rocks for shelter, from whence they were speedily dispersed - when all of a sudden they totally disappeared; they were sought after by the party, who with pistols and fowling pieces cocked in their hands for fear of surprise, traced them to a large, and deep cave - wherein they are besieged, and if they do not surrender, they will be either shot, or starved to death - for the party have surrounded the recess, where they will be strictly guarded until they surrender, or meet their sure doom.

Letters have been sent to Yass for a conveyance to take them to gaol dead or alive.

Mr. Hume has left a widow and eight children to lament his loss.

PS The attack [on John Hume] was not at Grosvenor's Inn on the Yass Road; but at his Stores lately erected at "Gunning" - the Inn is fourteen miles, and the Stores but three miles from Mr. Hume's.