John the Frenchman

An old miner (73) was arrested at Wattle Flat by Constable French on a charge of being of unsound mind. He was remanded from Sofala Police Court to Bathurst for medical observation, and the Bathurst bench ordered his removal to an asylum. The poor old fellow, who was well known as 'John the Frenchman,' was one of the few remaining diggers of the Eureka Stockade times. After working at many of the Victorian diggings he came to New South Wales and worked at Forbes, Lambing Flat, Hill End, and many other places. At Hill End in its palmy days, he had a share in one of the big claims and sold his interest for a large sum.