John Sadlier

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Background

John Sadlier was born in Ireland.

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Post 1854 Experiences

In The News

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. - Sir-I think that any person knowing Mr. Oddie would know he would not exaggerate about the Eureka Stockade. I wish to inform Mr. Sadlier I am the person who conveyed the bodies of Gittens and O'Neill to Ballarat Cemetery on that memorable 3rd of December, 1854, and on the body of one of those there were 10 wounds. I will let the public of the present day judge for themselves whether that was butchery or not.
Yours. &c., . M. BOLGER.[1]
A Digger Hunt, University of Ballarat Historical Collection (Cat.No. 4170)
THE EUREKA STOCKADE. - TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir, – My friend Mr. Lavater makes my letter of the 17th inst. the occasion of some warmth. The name Dr. Ewes was a mis-print for Dewes or D'Ewes. I never knew before that this officer served at Geelong. The police officer Armstrong, mentioned by Mr. Lavater, left the public service 15 rmonths before the outbreak ; and as early as January or February, 1854, the police – I am speaking of those at Ballarat only – were forbidden to carry any weapon but their baton. What happened at Smythsdale in March, 1854 (see Mr. Cane's letter), I cannot say.
Mr. Bolger, another correspondent, says that at the last "digger hunt" the police carried arms, but he does not explain that this was the time when the diggers were nightly "sniping" the Government camp as admitted by Mr. Lavater, and while they held in forced imprisonment Commissioner Amos, "one of the beloved of the diggers" according to the same authority. The Eureka outbreak from every point of view, was a stupendous folly. It would be well if the whole affair could be forgotten. —
Yours, &c., J. SADLEIR.
June 23.[2]


OLD COLONIAL DAYS. - There is a growing interest in the early annals of Australia, which many writers have sought to gratify, the latest being Mr. John Sadlier, late inspecting superintendent of police in Victoria. Born in Ireland, he sailed as a lad for Melbourne in 1852 and soon afterwards joined the police cadets, a force of about 250 men, recruited from all classes. There was then great need for their services, especially at night, when Melbourne was badly lighted and the streets swarmed with criminals from Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales. After months of hard drilling, our author was drafted with some of his companions to Ballarat. At that time there was no lock-up and prisoners were tethered to a tree, which exposed them to all climatic conditions. Subsequently they were given the protection of a log hut. One of his earliest prisoners was a fellow-passenger, who had been caught stealing potatces. He pleaded want, but the law had small pity on starving men. Another fellow-passenger our author encountered under more tragic circumstances. He was rolling about, covered with blood, in a dry-watercourse. and when asked his name could only articulate "Mossell."' To a question as to his assailant his reply invariably was, "You did; you did, " suggesting that be still thought himself in the company of the criminal, probably a familiar acquaintance:- The marks on the ground all round showed signs of a fierce struggle. The unfortunate fellow's face and hands were covered with congealed blood. Conveyed to Ballarat, he was washed and his wounds examined. He resisted every attempt to remove his trousers. I thought I recognised him as young Maunsell, a fellow-passenger in the Great Britain: but his face and head were so battered and disfigured that his most intimate friend could not make sure of his identity. Maunsell. who was the son of a clergyman, lived but a day or two, and was buried in the clothes in which he was found. A week or so later it transpired that Mannsell. with a man named Sexton, had left for Ballarat, having a considerable sum in notes sewn into his pocket, with the intention of buying gold. The body was disinterred and the notes found in the trousers. Sexton made away to some South American port and was there lost sight of. ... [3]

See also

James Oddie

Police

Further Reading

Blake, Gregory, To Pierce the Tyrant's Heart,Australian Military History Publications, 2009.


References

  1. The Argus, 20 September 1913.
  2. The Argus, 24 June 1909.
  3. Adelaide Advertiser, 20 September 1913.

External links



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Caption, Reference.