Lands Commissioner has Encounter with Bushrangers

The Argus

1 August 1857

On Wednesday the 22nd ult. Mr. Lockhart, the Crown Lands Commissioner of the Tumut, was riding into Albury, in company with two native policemen, when he was met near Mullengandra by two powerful swarthy men, armed with guns, who ordered him to stand.

One of the men seized the bridle of Mr. Lockhart's horse, but the Commissioner made use of his spurs, and the fellow was compelled to let go his hold, on the horse's crossing a creek.

Mr. Lockhart had with him two pack horses, otherwise he would most probably have made an attempt to capture the highwaymen.

It appears these men had previously "stuck up" Mr. Robertson of the Woodonga Saw Mill, and had left him tied to a tree without food for thirty-six hours. They had also surrounded him with boughs, to prevent his attracting the attention of passers by.

The villains had robbed him of £7 10s. and he overheard them declare their intention of taking his horse to proceed to Braidwood.

He also heard them say that they wanted another horse, and that they would take Mr. Macleay's horse, as they expected him to traverse that road.

Fortunately Cr. Macleay passed in a gig without attracting their notice, and it is supposed that they bailed up Mr. Lockhart for the sake of obtaining his horse.

Poor Robertson's hands were much swollen with the cords which bound his wrists, and he was considerably weakened by his efforts to free himself.

Being some distance away from the road he endoavored to attract attention by cooeying, and his cries were ultimately heard by a bullock driver, who released him from his unpleasant position.

The two bushrangers have been skulking about the neighborhood for some time in company with a third individual, and one of the men has been recognised as a person who formerly filled the post of hangman in Hobart Town.

Immediately on the information reaching Albury, Chief Constable Ringwood proceeded to Mullengandra with some police assistance, and on Thursday Mr. Heyward Atkins, police magistrate, deemed it necessary to accompany the mail-cart personally as an escort.

Up to the time of our going to press neither Mr. Atkins nor Mr. Ringwood, had returned. T

he Sydney mailman who came in this (Saturday morning, saw nothing, either of the police or the bushrangers.

Border Post.