Rafaello Carboni Compensation Case

Numerous accounts of wanton destruction by soldiers and police were given to the Commission of Enquiry for the loss of property of innocent bystanders.

Raffaello Carboni submitted a petition for compensation, suggesting that drunken troopers had robbed arrested prisoners of their belongings shortly after their capture.

M 55/4450 Colonial Secretary’s Office Melbourne 20th September 1855 Sir, In reference to your application of the 31st March last for the restoration of a sum Thirty-pounds, alleged to have been taken from you by the police on your arrest at Ballarat on the occasion of the riots there. I am commanded to inform you that the Governor has afforded the subject his consideration and finds that you neither represented the matter to the Magistrate before whom you were brought, nor laid your case before the Board appointed to investigate claims arising from the Ballarat riots - It also appears, from your own showing, that you allowed the money to be taken Mis G (?) L.G P a 1/4/56 G.B 1874 11875 JP 31/3/56 P.A 8/10/55 Sir Letter Mr Raffaelo 8th Oct/55 – B377 £30 Pardon, monseigneur y compris mes habillements jusqu’ a’ la chesnise, s’il vous plait, monseigner Comment parler de ma propriete, devant le ma gistrat, quand j’avais à me defendre contre un tas de mouchards qui avaient sif de mon sang!? Mon affair étai entre les mains de Mons. H.W Archer qui se disait mon ami. C’est à lui la faute, Monseigneur. Mr Carboni Raffaelo Care of WH Archer Esqr