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Bushranger – James Alpin McPherson aka “The Wild Scotchman”

Image Source: State Library of Queensland, 2016. Available: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/wild-scotchman-queensland-bushranger-james-macpherson-pt1

On the 27th of November 1865, a postman by the name of John Hickey was carrying mail to and from Gayndah when he was robbed by the Wild Scotchman.

At the court in Maryborough, in September the following year, Hickey recounted: “I got the mail bags from the Gayndah Post Office between 7 and 8 o’clock, when I got about 26 miles on the road, near Mr Irwin’s public-house, a man rode up to me and presented a revolver at me; the prisoner is the man; he said “Pull off the road, I want to see if there is a letter in that bag for the Wild Scotchman.” I went off the road about 200 yards when he told me to take the bags off. I did so, when the prisoner opened the large bag and took out the letters, opened them, and took the money and cheques out. He gave me some cheques back and kept some. The prisoner was kneeling on one knee, with his revolver close to him and his gun behind him. I collected the letters, he left and put them in the bag.  The prisoner left and I went on to [the] Golden Fleece and telegraphed to the police. I saw the prisoner again the next day, about four and a half miles on the Gayndah side of Mr Irwin’s. He was arrested. I was carrying the mail by then.” (The Queenslander, 1866).

The Queenslander newspaper article about the Trial of the Wild Scotchman from Saturday 22nd of September 1866. Available: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20309636?searchTerm=wild%20scotchman%20maryborough%20assizes

On the 13th of September 1866 (almost a full year later) during his court trial in Maryborough, The Wild Scotchman was charged for this robbery near Gayndah. He made no defence beyond saying that the gun found on him was a common fowling piece, which every traveller in the bush carried. And the two pistols were only small pocket pistols, which it was common for bushmen to carry (The Queenslander, 1866).

During this trial, he was also charged with a second robbery, which took place on the 28th of November 1865 (the day after the first robbery had occurred).  This second robbery was of a similar nature to the first, with the Wild Scotchman stealing mail from the mailman on the Gayndah to Maryborough mail run (The Queenslander, 1866).

The Wild Scotchman begged the jury to reflect on the evidence and give him the benefit of the doubt, if they had any.  However, despite this, the jury found the Wild Scotsman guilty of all charges (The Queenslander, 1866).

Image source: Moreton Bay and More Blog Post, 2024. Available: https://moretonbayandmore.com/

The Chief Justice stated he could not see anything in either of the cases that would allow him to pass a light sentence. He said that the Wild Scotchman had “entered upon the most dangerous course- one affecting vitally the welfare and prosperity of this country and had committed an offence which called for a severe example.” (Miller, 2024).

The Wild Scotchman was then sentenced to 25 years in prison for each offence (for a total of 50 years imprisonment) which was to be served on the St. Helena Island- Penal Colony (Miller, 2024).

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