Henry Powell
Contents
Background
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
The only inquest found was that for Henry Powell who resided at Creswick and was visiting a friend. He was wounded outside the Stockade and died six days later as the result of his injuries. His dying declaration, which was disallowed in the trial of Akehurst , the perpetrator of the deed, states: "I am very unwell but I think I will recover - at least I hope so - On Saturday I came over to Ballaarat for the purpose of visiting Mr. Cox and remaining until Sunday evening. When I arrived at Ballaarat I saw people going about in armed bodies, I came home and changed my trowsers(sic) and went down and looked into the ring. [ The stockade] I then went to bed in the tent where I now am, the tent is the property of Mr Cox. About 5 o'clock the next morning, Sunday, I heard the report of a pistol, I got up and went towards the place where the firing was. I had gone about forty yards when the police came up to me, the Clerk of the Peace, a young man about twenty years of age was with them, he said, in the Queen's name you are my prisoner. I said, very good, he struck me a blow and the troopers rode over me, the blow was struck with something like a sheath knife about three feet and a half long." In his deposition George Pobjoy declared that he "saw a trooper fire at a man who was running away. The man fell and four troopers attacked him, thrusting at him with their swords as he lay on the ground." Henry Powell was unarmed and offered no resistance. Dr. Leman's cook, Joseph Ash testified that he heard one trooper shout: "Ride the b...... down." Powell was the only injured miner taken to the Albion Hotel. Of Powell's injuries, Dr. William Wills gave this information in his evidence. " I am a properly qualified medical practitioner. I was called to see the deceased last Sunday morning December 3rd. I found him on the stretcher on which the coffin now is. I examined the body. The first wound I saw was that on the abdomen. The ball entered just near the floating ribs on the right side, it made its exit above and beyond the navel on the left side. The second wound was through the right shoulder from before backwards. A third ball had gone thru the left arm just above the wrist. He had received a severe sabre cut on the left parietal bone indenting the bone. Two other wounds were on his head, one on the frontal bone another on the upper part of the occipital bone, both penetrating to the bone. There was a wound on the left elbow joint penetrating to the humerus and a wound in the finger on the same hand laying open the tendon of the third finger. Deceased made a statement to Captain Evans in my presence. I visited deceased twice a day during the week and dressed his wounds and attended him generally administering all proper medicines." Despite all efforts, Henry Powell died and later at the trial for his murder, the evidence of his dying statement was not permitted and so Akehurst not only walked free but went on to a notable career in the public service.
Post 1854 Experiences
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
External links
