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== Recollections of a Victorian Police Officer by Sup John Sadleir ==

Before leaving the subject of the Dargo High Plains, a story may be related here showing how a solitary constable may be called upon to undertake at times a very serious piece of business. The remains of a miner were found in the hut of another miner who was known as the Cranky German. The body had been hacked to pieces and placed in various kerosene tins in the German’s fireplace. None of the residents dared to approach the murderer, who wandered about threateningly, carrying a long handled shovel. Constable Lloyd, known in later years as orderly sergeant in Melbourne to the Chief Secretary, came on the scene. The Cranky German had taken to the plains, and when Lloyd approached, ‘went’ for him with his shovel. The constable might have used his revolver, but he preferred to capture his man alive. Jumping aside, he avoided some downward blows delivered by the German, then a sweeping horizontal blow meant to cut the constable’s head off was dodged, and when the swing of the long handled shovel brought the German round with his back to Lloyd the latter quickly had him down and the handcuffs on. The accused when tried for murder was defended by a local solicitor and, although manifestly quite insane, was hanged, while a man who was also convicted of a very deliberate murder about the same time, at Moe, was reprieved. One curious thing about this latter case was - that the reprieve was announced in the Melbourne press almost before the sittings of the Court were closed.