Foster

I was a Police magistrate and coroner and dealt with many of the cases against the sympathizers Links to the KellyGang below , Early Years , Teenage years , First run in with the law , Fitzpatrick Incident , Gold Mining , Murders at Stringy Bark Creek , Escape North , Euroa Robbery , Mass arrest of sympathizers , Jerilderie Robbery , August 1879 , Nicolson in charge , Spring 1879 Early 1880 , Hare takes charge agian , Death of Aaron Sherritt , Glenrowan Siege , Aaron Sherritt's inquest ,Ned Kelly's Trial, Royal Commission , Family ,

Early Years I was born on 25th April 1832 in Jamaica to John Fredeick & Caroline nee Bagshaw

Soon after I arrived in North Eastern Victoria I had dealings with the Kellys and Aaron Sherritt. (RC13339)

Photograph Mass arrest of sympathizers January 1979 Com Standish had a policy that involved arresting sympathizers. These people where brought before the court in Beechworth and they were kept in Gaol on remand. They came before me to extend the time they spent in custody. See also (RC2257)

As far as the sympathizers were concerned, during the time they were there, there was scarcely any evidence taken at all. It was merely sufficient to justify a remand in the first case, and then that was repeated from time to time for three or four months, I think. (RC13339)

The Royal Commission asked me, "Do you know if there were very strong feelings of hostility evoked towards the Government by the sympathizers being brought up in the way they were-that is, among that class?" I replied, "There must have been some feeling of the sort, but to what extent it prevailed I do not know. I know the sympathizers themselves were very indignant at their detention; one of them threatened me in this court." (RC13355)

At this time I was trying to relocate my family from Sale in Gippsland to Beechworth (RC2260)

My style of justice was contrasted with that of one of my colleagues (OMA11/2/79)

See also (Argus13/1/79) (Argus20/1/79) (Argus27/1/79) (OMA20/2/79) (Argus3/2/79) (OMA27/2/79) (OMA13/3/79)

I presided at the case brought by Mrs Byrne Aaron Sherritt for horse stealing (OMA15/7/79) (OMA17/7/79) (OMA24/7/79) (OMA26/7/79) (OMA29/7/79)

Spring 1879 Early 1880 I conducted the inquest into the death of Jack Lloyd (Argus30/4/79)

One of Mrs Sherritt's daughter's worked for us in domestic service (RC13777)

Death of Aaron Sherritt 26/6/1880 On the evening of the day before the Glenrowan Siege I visited the site of Aaron Sherritt's murder.

I then held the inquest into Aaron Sherritt's death. I went out to the scene as soon as I could (Argus 28/6/80) (OMA1/7/80) (FH)

It was on the Sunday, about a little before one o'clock, Mr. Cheshire, who was then in charge of the telegraph station here, came to me. He was very much excited, and said,

"The Kelly gang have shot one of the watch party down at Sebastopol,"

He called me out first and said this privately, and I said,

"One of the police?"

He said, "No, a man who is helping."

I said, "Would you know his name if you heard it?"

He said "Yes."

I said, "Aaron Sherritt,"

He said, "Yes, Aaron; that is the name."

I knew he was operating with the police, and it occurred to my mind he would be the man. I enquired where it was, and immediately ordered a vehicle, and took down the clerk with me and my papers, and got to the spot as quickly as possible. When I got there, I found a crowd of about 100 or 120 men, women, and children about, and the hut closed. I demanded admission. I announced that I came there as coroner, and was admitted by the police, and went into the hut, and found it in darkness or almost dark.

I asked for a light-no, first the question I asked was, "Who is in charge?"

One of the constables said, "I am."

At that time I could not make out one man from the other.

I said, "I want a light."

He said, "Well, we do not care much about a light here, sir."

I said, "Well, you must get it."

A light was then procured. While the light was being got I said, "Where is the body?"

One of them said "You are almost standing on it."

I turned round, and by this time my eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, and I saw the corpse close to me. I distinguished the man's teeth, and one of his eyes, all the rest was blood. I then interrogated the men there, two or three of them, and I also spoke to Mrs. Barry, made such enquiry as I could. I cannot remember exactly what questions I put, but they were with the object of ascertaining how the thing occurred, and how it came that the police had not made any attack upon the Kellys. I should like to explain that-I drew this sketch of the building just now. I would like to explain the position of parties.- I then continued my evidence (RC13363)

Glenrowan Siege 28/6/1880

I thought that we would see the KellyGang after the trackers were withdrawn (OMA1/7/80)

There was a loud rap on the door. I jumped to the conclusion that the house had taken fire, and ran down stairs just as I was, and there met, in my own room, Mullane and Ward, who told me of the KellyGang being at Glenrowan. (RC13368)

I wanted the armour for the Bourke Museum (OMA1/7/80)

Ned Kelly's Trial I sat on the bench for Ned Kellys committal which started in the Beechworth House on Friday 6/8/1880.

We heard from most of the witnesses who were called at Ned's trial. See the record of the committal hearing. (Herald6/8/80) (Herald8/8/80) (Age9/8/80) (Argus9/8/80) (Argus11/8/80) (Argus12/8/80) (JJK)

I gave evidence to the Royal Commission on 20/7/1881

How did the press report my evidence. (Argus22/7/81)

wife Catherine McLean Paterson (married 1858 in Victoria) children ?.... home ?..

I died on 8th March 1894 in Ballarat and I was buried at the New Cemetery '

KellyGang