Kilmore Free Press at KellyGang 26/9/1878
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A GOOD STORY
A very good story is being circulated through the North-Eastern district just now concerning two itinerant shanty-keepers, who, when they hear of any large contract which is being carried on, immediately go and pitch their tent, and carry on a system of sly-grog selling, to the detriment of the health, as well as the pockets of the unfortunate navvies employed there. These two individuals migrated from Victoria over the border, to where the railway line from Albury to Wagga Wagga is being constructed, but, as the sequel shows, they were not the first, in the field, there being already a vendor of liquors on the scene-one Mrs. - O'C--. Nevertheless, they, nothing daunted, "opened shop," and soon established a very fair business, which in a short time obliged them to send for stock, where with to supply their customers.
But alas ! with all their success, they were not exempt from feelings of jealousy towards their rival; so, to get rid of her, as well as ingratiate themselves into the good opinion of the guardians of the law, they went to the police, and informed them of the whereabouts of Mrs O'C--'s shanty, and also that she was deliberately violating the law by selling without a license. Immediately the troopers mounted horse, and proceeded to put a stop to such nefarious practices. They found the fair offender, also her stock in-trade which they thereupon confiscated, and joyfully turned their horses home wards, but, in returning, they happened to pass the shanty of the aforesaid informers (whose stock which had been ordered the week before) had just arrived, and which they were unloading as expeditiously as probably they could. "Hullo!" quoth one of the troopers, "what have we here?" They dismounted examined the contents of the various casks and demijohns, asked for the license of the vendors, but no license was forthcoming.
Oh, sad to relate, after so honorab'y doing their duty in informing on their neighbor, their own stock, upon which they were calculating to make such a handsome profit, was taken from them in order to uphold the justice of an outraged law. There is not much fear of their turning informers for the Police again.-- Benalla Standard .
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