The Valet's Tragedy, and Other StudiesLang, Andrew
History
The Valet's Tragedy, and Other Studies
Lang, Andrew
History; World history
That date shall now be given. Frederick Fisher was murdered by George
Worrall, his overseer, at Campbelltown on June 16 (or 17), 1826. After
that date, as Fisher was missing, Worrall told various tales to account
for his absence. The trial of Worrall is reported in the ‘Sydney
Gazette’ of February 5, 1827. Not one word is printed about Fisher’s
ghost; but the reader will observe that there is a lacuna in the
evidence exactly where the ghost, if ghost there were, should have come
in. The search for Fisher’s body starts, it will be seen, from a spot
on Fisher’s paddock-fence, and the witness gives no reason why that spot
was inspected, or rather no account of how, or by whom, sprinkled blood
was detected on the rail. Nobody saw the murder committed. Chief-Justice
Forbes said, in summing up (on February 2, 1827), that the evidence was
purely circumstantial. We are therefore so far left wholly in the dark
as to why the police began their investigations at a rail in a fence.
At the trial Mr. D. Cooper deposed to having been owed 80 pounds by
Fisher. After Fisher’s disappearance Cooper frequently spoke to Worrall
about this debt, which Worrall offered to pay if Cooper would give up to
him certain papers (title-deeds) of Fisher’s in his possession. Worrall
even wrote, from Banbury Curran, certifying Cooper of Fisher’s departure
from the colony, which, he said, he was authorised to announce. Cooper
replied that he would wait for his 80 pounds if Fisher were still in the
country. Worrall exhibited uneasiness, but promised to show a written
commission to act for Fisher. This document he never produced, but was
most anxious to get back Fisher’s papers and to pay the 80 pounds. This
arrangement was refused by Cooper.
James Coddington deposed that on July 8, 1826, when Fisher had been
missing for three weeks, Worrall tried to sell him a colt, which
Coddington believed to be Fisher’s. Worrall averred that Fisher had left
the country. A few days later Worrall showed Coddington Fisher’s receipt
for the price paid to him by Worrall for the horse. ‘Witness, from
having seen Fisher write, had considerable doubt as to the genuineness
of the receipt.’
James Hamilton swore that in August 1826 he bluntly told Worrall that
foul play was suspected; he ‘turned pale, and endeavoured to force a
smile.’ He merely said that Fisher ‘was on salt water,’ but could not or
would not name his ship. A receipt to Worrall from Fisher was sworn to
by Lewis Solomon as a forgery.
Samuel Hopkins, who lived under Fisher’s roof, last saw Fisher on June
17, 1826 (June 16 may be meant), in the evening. Some other people,
including one Lawrence, were in the house, they left shortly after
Fisher went out that evening, and later remarked on the strangeness
of his not returning. Nathaniel Cole gave evidence to the same effect.
Fisher, in short, strolled out on June 17 (16?), 1826, and was seen no
more in the body.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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