I am, Sir.
Chapter LXI.
Ab Initio Usque Ad Finem Horribile Dictu.
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Avanit Il Tuo Cospetto, Dio Potente! Grida Vendetta Il Sangue Innocente.
I. Document.
As I want to be believed, so I transcribed the following document from 'The Argus' of Friday, December 15th, 1854.—Gordon Evans, one of H.M. Captains in the Eureka massacre, now acts in the capacity of magistrate!—
DEPOSITION OF HENRY POWELL.
The deceased deposed to the following effect:—My name is Henry Powell, I am a digger residing at Creswick-creek. I left Creswick-creek about noon on Saturday, December 2nd. I said to my mates, 'You'll get the slabs ready. I will just go over to see Cox and his family at Ballaarat.' I arrived at Ballaarat about half-past four, or thereabouts. I saw armed men walking about in parties of twenty or thirty; went to Cox's tent; put on another pair of trousers, and walked down the diggings. Looked in the ring (the stockade). After that, went home, went to bed in the tent at the back of Cox's tent, about half-past nine. On Sunday morning about four or half-past, was awoke by the noise of firing. Got up soon after, and walked about twenty yards, when some trooper rode up to me. The foremost one was a young man whom I knew as the Clerk of the Peace. He was of a light, fair complexion, with reddish hair. He told me to "stand in the Queen's name! You are my prisoner." I said "Very good, Sir." Up came more troopers. I cannot say how many. Believe about twenty or thirty. I said, "Very well, gentlemen (!) don't be in a hurry, there are plenty of you," and then the young man struck me on the head with a crooked knife, about three feet and a half long, in a sheath. I fell to the ground. They then fired at me, and rode over me several times. I never had any hand in the disturbance. There, that's all.
Ballaarat, Dec. 11, 1854.