Remembered... Trooper Robert Dowker CODRINGTON Shot Bathurst 22 December, 1857 On 22 December, 1857 Trooper Codrington rode out to meet the gold escort from the Turon Valley. His duties included escorting the gold and mail being carried either by coach or packhorse down the steep Wyagdon Hill and into Bathurst. After he was reported missing a search was conducted and his body, shot through the heart, was found off the side of the Bathurst-Turon Road in a ravine at the top of Wyagdon Hill. Bushes were found nearby piled on the roadside and it is thought that the bushrangers who probably killed the trooper had hidden at that spot to await and rob the escort. No other satisfactory reason could be found for the murder, although the escort passed the spot unmolested on that day. The Maitland Mercury of 5 January, 1858 reported the murder. BRUTAL MURDER OF AN ESCORT TROOPER NEAR WYAGDEN. Intelligence has just reached Sydney to the effect that a murder of the most cowardly nature was committed on the 22nd instant, on the high road near Wyagdon. The victim is, or rather was, a trooper named Robert Codrington, who had for some time past been attached to the gold escort force on the Western road. From all that we have been enabled to glean in reference to the tragedy, the circumstances appeared to be as follows: Deceased had left the police quarters at Wyagdon for the purpose of meeting the escort, as is usually the custom, and accompanying it into Hartley, or some other township situate between Bathurst and Penrith. On leaving the station he was fully armed and mounted on a good horse; and it was the return of this animal, alone, some hours subsequently, that gave rise to suspicion of some mishap having befallen Codrington, who, it appears, was a sober and well-conducted man. From indications noticed on the animals trappings, it was concluded almost immediately that foul play had taken place, und a search was at once set on foot. Before proceeding many miles along the road, the man sent out to prosecute the enquiry came upon the body of the unfortunate man, who was lying quite dead in the highway. On examination of his person it was discovered that he had been pierced by five bullets, and that his pistols, sword, and carbine had been taken away. From the position of the body (which lay with the feet uppermost, and the arms outstretched over the head) it is assumed that the murderers tired upon their victim from behind a tree as he approached their place of ambush. No clue exists at present which could lead to the discovery of the assassins, or reveal the motive or circumstances which attended the commission of the deed. Captain Battye, of the mounted patrol, however, is scouring the country in pursuit, and it is to be hoped that ere many days elapse, the perpetrators of the foul crime will be brought to justice. In late 1860 John Higgins (alias John Davis) appeared before the Albury Police Court charged with “having, on the 22nd day of November [sic], 1857, shot one Robert Codrington, a mounted trooper, in the District of Sofala, Bathurst”. He was found not guilty. An alleged witness to the murder was Richard Henry Mills Sampson, who was a man known for giving false evidence in a previous, unrelated trial. His statement, which may or may not be truthful, was as follows: At that time I was going from Louisa Creek to Bathurst to spend Christmas. I there met the prisoner with three other men, two of them were travelling with the deceased trooper. I rode up sharply, and was immediately covered by a gun by one of the men. The prisoner, whom I now distinctly recognise, shot the trooper Codrington, and afterwards proposed to shoot me. A man named Cole, whom I have known for years, was one of the party [and he] said I would not blab. The murder took place about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I was about 50 yards from them when I first saw them. The prisoner said several times, “Shoot him,” and called the others cowards. He then shot Codrington himself, and was the only one of the party who had a gun. I did not see what they did with the body. The constable was aged 25 at the time of his death and joined the Gold Escort at Ophir on 13 March, 1854. At the time of his death he was stationed at Cheshire Creek Barracks (Bathurst/Peel area). His widow, Louisa (nee Kershaw), was granted a pension of eighteen pounds, five shillings per annum. She died on 4 September, 1905. The couple had one child, Robert William.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:00:30 +0000