The official launch of local author, Peter Smith’s new book, The CLARKE GANG, Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten will be on Saturday 23rd May, at 2.30pm at the Braidwood Services Club.
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The book details the events that led to the worst outbreak in bushranging history leading to the setting up, in Braidwood, of the first Royal Commission in New South Wales in January 1867. The Commission followed the murder of four special police at Jinden after which police appeared powerless to bring the culprits to justice.
The previous year Tommy Clarke and Pat Connell had been declared outlaws, following the murder of Constable O’Grady at Nerrigundah.
The Outlawry Act meant they had lost the protection of the law and could be shot on site by police or civilian alike, but still they continued to terrorise the district, supported by numerous relations and sympathizers.
After the horrific execution style murders of the special police the Government offered the biggest reward in bushranging history, £5,000, which was more than a police constable could earn in a life time.
The murders brought about a hardening in public attitude and closer to home, a loss of support for the bushrangers. By this time other than their hard core sympathizers everyone was sick of bushrangers. Their harbourers were living in fear of being dealt long gaol terms and some were tempted by the big rewards.
The end came in April 1867. By that time the gang numbered just the brothers, Tommy and John Clarke. They were betrayed by their cousin and captured at a hut near Jinden after a six hour gun battle with police.
Their trial, in Sydney, lasted just one day. They were convicted of the attempted murder of a police constable at the time of their capture. Four weeks later, on 25th June 1867, they were hanged.
In the days before their execution the brothers protested their innocence of the murder of the special police, but no-one was especially interested as most believed they received their just desserts.
The Clarkes were arguably the most troublesome bushrangers of all time but unlike Ned Kelly, Ben Hall and Thunderbolt they have been all but forgotten. The author has some interesting theories on why that is the case.
Interested parties are welcome to attend the book launch. On display will be some of the types of firearms used by the bushrangers and police, including an actual revolver used by a party of special police and an original pass issued by Superintendent Orridge to protect the ‘specials’ against interference by the regular police under his command.