CONFESSIONS

Jimmy Governor

THE BREELONG BLACKS

CROWDS FLOCK TO SEE CAPTURED OUTLAW

Jimmy Governor's Confession

POOH! THAT'S NOTHING! GO TO THE DEVIL!"

"You bushranging Blower, Come With Me!"

During, the afternoon the report goes on, there was the intensest excitement in town, hundreds of people, men, women and children, coming in from all parts, desirous of getting only a sight of the notorious criminal, and these arrivals continued up to nearly midnight. In the meantime, Sergeant Hogan arrived, and later Constable Stein, who did all their duty would allow them to gratify the pardonable curiosity of the people.

On Sunday morning; the people again began to flock in, and continued to do so throughout Sunday. But their curiosity was not gratified. The excitement all over the district was intense when it became known that Jimmy was captured. A report was circulated in Taree on Saturday that Jimmy Governor was to be taken to the Gaol at Taree on Sunday, and all day hundreds of people waited in front of the courthouse, but had to retire disappointed.

Superintendent Cotter arrived at Wingham on Sunday and took charge of the case. He had been kept busy since receiving and despatching wires. Sub-inspector Saunders and Sergeant Mayo arrived on Monday, also a number of police officers.

GOVERNOR'S CONFESSION.
The following voluntary and word for word statement was made to our reporter on Saturday, 29th September, 1900. The prisoner said:

"My name is Jimmy Governor. I was born at Talbragar River, Mudgee district. I am 25 years of age. I have four brothers—Joe, Jack, Charley, and Roy— and three sisters. My mother is living at Wollar. My father is dead. I was two years at the Cassilis police station as a tracker. I then went back to Wollar, and then to Gulgong, and was wood cutting for a man named Starr. After that I went wool-rolling at Digilabah, then back to Gulgong. At Gulgong I got married, and followed various occupations up till the time I went to work for Mawby. I took a contract for splitting fencing stuff from Mawby at 10s a 100 for splitting, and 12s a 100 for putting up. Mawby paid me in full for the work I did as far as I had gone.

During this time my brother Joe and Jacky Underwood came to Breelong. Well, when they came they asked what I was doing. I asked where they were going. They said to Coonamble. I said, "What for?" "We are going down to get Jacky Porter and the boy." I said "You might as well stay here for a month or three weeks." They said they, would, so we all went to work— they splitting, I digging post holes. During this time Jacky Underwood, Joe, myself, and Mrs. Governor were talking about bushranging at night after our work was done. Well, I said to them, "If I was a bushranger I'd take some catching." Jacky Underwood said, "Oh, no, Jimmy; you couldn't be a rider through the scrub like me. You'd have to follow me." Joe said, "I'm as good as any of you." I said to them., I don't crack myself off about being a good rider now, but perhaps I could do as well as any of you before I was married." Well, Underwood said, What you say if we go bushranging?" I said "I don't care." Then Underwood said, "I don't care either; I shot a blackfellow at Queensland." Underwood said "I don't like Joe getting shot—you had better come with me." My Missus wanted a fortune dropped on her. That is, she wanted us to rob people of their money, and leave it at Jim Watson's corner fence, two and a half miles from Gulgong. Her brother Willy was to go there and get it when it was all over.

This occurred some days before the Mawby business. Then I broke up oven, plates, cups, and everything in my camp, and was to go next day; but I didn't go. My Missus, Jacky Underwood and Joe then laughed at the idea of me bushranging. They said to me, "You are not game to go." I said, "That is forcing me to go." Joe and Underwood went away to Dubbo next day, and did not come back for eight or nine days. They brought Jacky Porter back, and the boy, my nephew. Well, during this time they had been talking about bushranging every day. I had never read any Deadwood Dick novels or any other books about bushranging at any time. That night my wife and me had a word or two about cooking, and one thing or another about the camp. With that I said, "I suppose I am in this world alone, no one to care for me. I thought you was my wife." She said, "Go to the devil." Everything I said to her She said, "Pooh, that's nothing; Pooh, that's, nothing."

With that me and Underwood cleared out, I saying I might as well die — so the Mawby murders were committed.

We left Mawbys and went back to camp. I saying to Joe, "Now, you bushranging blower, come with me, or I'll tomahawk you, or you'll tomahawk me. Are you coming?" He said "Yes," so I roused them up in camp, and told them to get out. We then all cleared, and went about half a mile into a pine scrub. Well, in the morning we got up and talked about the road we were going to strike— to Mendooran, Merrygoen, Digilbah, then to Leadville and Wollar. Well, with that my Missus struck for Dubbo, and Jacky Porter and the boy came behind us. Well so we went on from there through Mendooran, and thence to Merrygoen, where the police fired on us. Well, then, me and Joe parted from Underwood. We then went towards Cobbora, and there we shook a grey horse, and rode him to Gulgong. We stayed at Charley Wade's that night. Next day we left for Wollar, and came to McKay's. My brother killed old McKay with the intention of having his rifle. With that I struck the girl with a stone. She said, "The Lord have mercy on me." We then let her go. I asked the old woman where the horse, saddle and bridle was. Mrs. McKay brought out the saddle and bridle and she told me the horse was in the paddock. We caught the horse went over the hill— past Lockrey's and Byer's places — caught another bay horse on Reedy Creek, and rode from there to Crowe, and broke into a house there belonging to Benson Neville; From there we went to O'Brien's; called at the door, and said "Good day." He said, "what is it you want?" I said, "You speak civil surrender, or I'll shoot you." With that I fired. We then left to go down to the Goulburn River to Camery. Shook a horse there that night. The river was up, and we swam the horses across it, and slept, in the Wallaroo paddocks.

Next morning we left for Tommy Hughes'. Well, we watched, and he went out of his place down the paddock, with an axe on his back. So we slipped in and took his rifle, ammunition and made towards Wollar town. We slept in Mainey's paddock that night. Next morning we got up and went over to FitzPatrick's. With that I said to Joe. "You get behind the stump, and I'll go round the back and call him." Well, then, I went round and called him. I said to Joe, if he has got a rifle you shoot him, if he has nothing go up to him." He came out with his rifle, and Joe shot him from behind the stump. Young Fitz then arrived and we headed for the mountains. We went through the Mountains for Crowe, through Gerodgeree to Bobadeen on to the Talbragar, then from the Talbragar to Gulgong. Stayed another night at Charley Wade's.

Charlie and Susan Wade of Gulgong

Source: Daryl Pickett

With that we left for the Mudgee River, and then on towards Yamble. Some men saw us— I do not know if they were policemen. We took off through the bush towards Wyargo. We killed a sheep there and was cooking it. The police saw smoke, and came.We saw them, and cleared; and they came down and saw the leg of mutton we were cooking. We left there and went through Goolma that day. We broke into a house there, and got tea and sugar. Made off from there up to Jos. Davis'. Jos Davis and his wife are the people my Missus told me to shoot. They were not at home, so we passed up on to the Talbragar. We followed the Talbragar and came to a boundary rider's hut, and got ammunition. We made for Liverpool range. Came to a boundary rider's hut there, and took a rifle. Went into the range and camped. Next morning over the range to Rockdigel, and took from there two grey ponies, riding from there to Tambar Springs, where we stuck up a teamster. With that we left and went towards Boggabri, taking a saddle from a man at the Windmill.

We then went to Boggabri, and the horses were taken from us that night. With that we went over the railway line. Following it down we came to a house at Bamba, occupied by yellow people named Golding, where we had a feed; and they gave us some flour, meat and sugar. We then left for Narrabri. We came to a woman's place, asking for sugar and flour, which she gave us. We passed Narrabri and came to Moree. We met a teamster on the road, and took his horse, saddle and bridle, and about two pounds in silver. We then struck through the bush back towards Baradine, met a lot of people carrying rifles, thought they were police, and made towards Mullaley. We had a go in with Subinspector Morrow there. We left for Liverpool Range. On our way we stuck up a house, taking sugar and flour, tea and ammunition. We then got up into the range, and stayed there a day. Left range, went down into another empty house, and got tucker there. Left there, and kept down along the flat. Went to another empty house, took a rifle and some more tea and sugar and made back into the range. Next day struck down to Neville's; got some tucker there; stayed there that night, and got firing at the houses. We left there, came up towards the range, and camped. Next morning we burnt an empty house down, and made over the range again. That evening, came down again, and got tea and sugar out of a house. Camped that night, and next day went to Charley Bayliss', then came over to Gill Doyle's and stayed in Nixon's paddock. I fired a shot at young Nixon next morning. They galloped towards me, and I made for the mountain, followed the range, struck across towards Idaville. Saw some boys driving some cows along. With that we went back into the range. We then came into another empty house and took a quantity of tucker. We left there and were not seen for three weeks. We were hiding at Doughboy Hollow. We came out then and broke into a house there— nobody in it. Next day met the police on the range, and had, two shots at them, and ran. We came down towards Duncan, on the Peel River, and stuck a house up that evening. The police came on to us that night. We doubled back, and came right over the range which took us three days. Before we got over the range, the police chased us. We came down to the head of the river, and got some tucker from a boy. We went on a few miles and camped. Next morning some of the police saw us in the next creek; we fired for the mob. We made for the mountains. We shot over the ranges for four or five days, and came down at the head of the Paterson River. Stuck up a house there, got tucker; camped in the valley. Next day made down the river, and came to another empty place; broke in, got more tea and sugar, and then made into the mountains. Next day came across into the Allyn River; came over to within 15 miles of Dungog. Saw a young fellow, and surrendered him. Got some tea and some bread from him. The next morning camped again on the top of the mountain. Police came on to us — got 170 cartridges we left in the camp. We then made into the Allyn River, and came into a house somebody had just left, and got tea, sugar and flour. We camped on mountain that night, and next day went up the Allyn; came to two sawyers and surrendered them. Got some more tucker. We kept the range for eight or nine days, and were seen by two blacks. We doubled back and got into a mountain at the Chichester. Next day struck over mountain, and came to some teamsters and then to Cobark, where I saw a girl, and seduced her. We then ran the creek and went into a hut, where we were fired upon by the police. I had fired at them and they returned the fire. We then went up the mountain and camped.

Next day we watched the police from a hill, about 20 or 30 went past down the river. After they passed we slipped into the hut and got tucker, and made for the mountain. We ran the range for three or four days. We were, not seen till we took the rifle from the boy at Britti Flat. We run the hills, along and took blankets from Robinson's. We followed the hill till we came to the house (Breese's) where we got flour, tea and sugar. We then came to a gully where there was a tent (Barnes') from which we took tucker, tobacco, cartridge shells, cartridge belt, two razors, and other things. We then made for the mountains. We were two or three days on the mountain.
We ran the creek right up, and stuck up a hut at Nowendoc, this side of the station, and saw about 50 or 60 police. They began tracking us, and we doubled on them. We went over to the other range and came back again. We made down, past some diggers, and travelled down for two or three days, when we collared some horses; rode for two days and a half, then left the horses. We walked till we came to a house with a loft in it (Summerville's) where we got tucker.

We camped on the other side of the mountain followed it down to where the darky boy was camping (Yarnold's) where we got some bread, but did not stay, because the children seemed scared. We went on to where we took the rifle (Hanney's). Stuck Hanney up following morning, and made in towards the mountain. Kept along the mountain till we came out at a big tin house, and took some honey, and camped down at the creek that night. Then next morning, we made along the range for three days till we came to Cooper's place, and stuck him up.

 
Were watching place from before daylight, and saw a party leave. They seemed to come back about 10 o'clock, and left again, when we went down to the hut and found the old fellow there nailing up a paling over a window. Took a quantify of tucker, a rifle and a few cartridges. Then we took to the mountains, and came out at the Forbes River; ran it down, and came to a hut where, the police were.

Took two slabs out, and entered the skillion. One of us trod on a loose board, which made a noise, and the policemen jumped up, when Joe fired. When we had our shooting we went into the bush, doubled round, went down the river, and across away over into a paddock and camped. Next day made up the river, and got into an orange garden. We went away on them till we came to where Byers was and they had a shot at us, I was shot in the mouth and in the hip. The shot in the mouth took out four teeth and went out the cheek. That night we went away and camped on the other side. We were three days on the mountain. On the fourth day we came and saw a boy. Called him over and asked him to get us some tucker. He said "All right". He went to the house, but did not come back, and we left, and went up into the paddocks. Next day we crossed to where someone fired at me from a house. I was just crossing the river as he fired. The bullet fetched the water in front of me. My hat fell off. Joe was on the other side of the river. I ran back. That was the last I saw of my brother. I left then, and came across to the mountains and camped. I was then five days coming to the Forbes River. I then came to the Dingo, which took seven days, and I reached it yesterday. I came to Wallace's camp about 2 o'clock. The tucker bag was hanging on a bush. I took that, a billycan, a pot; had a drink of tea. After dusk I got some honey from the boxes there, and camped by the fire. Next morning, about half past four, I was sure rendered, and with that I took off. They fired, and fired again. I kept on going, and they kept on firing till they disabled me. I laid down, and they came up and took me prisoner. Before I reached Wallace's yesterday I had nothing to eat but honey and oranges for 11 days. I did not fire, because I was thinking of giving myself up, as I was tired of the whole thing."

GENERAL REMARKS
Jimmy said that on one occasion he crawled up to a police camp at night and was within a few feet of them for nearly an hour watching them playing euchre. He could tell who won.

He said they had no difficulty in throwing the trackers off their track, and were often within a few yard's watching the trackers trying to pick up the tracks. They used to blot out their tracks when crossing a road by throwing handfulls of earth on them.

In camping, Jimmy said that sometimes one slept while the other watched, but as a rule they both slept at once. He said that it was through Joe falling asleep that they were surprised and lost their big stock of cartridges.

Jimmy said that if he could have got a supply of food he would not have been caught so easily, and that he only, fell once when Byers shot him in the mouth.

When his camp was examined after his capture, a billy can of honey and a couple of frames of comb and a tomahawk were found. He had two threepenny bits in his pockets, when he presented to Messrs John Wallace and Green.

Jimmy said the last time he saw Joe, he only had a shirt on and a pair of blue colored trousers with the legs torn off at the knees. He believed Joe would make for Nulla Nulla, on the Macleay, as they had some relatives there.Jimmy told Pat Hanney where he planted the rifle he stole from him. He said that he left it leaning up against a corkwood tree a short distance from the house. He said Joe has a tip top rifle, and they will find Joe can use it before they capture him.

Shortly after his capture one old lady said to Jimmy, 'Poor fellow," and he replied, "Don't you trouble about me Missus. I made the bed I will have, to lay on, and don't want any snivelling over it."

Jimmy said the trackers are too young for the job. He said he was himself young, but be had a d----- old head, and knew a few points about tracking.

Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 9 Feb 1931 Page 19

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Jacky Underwood's Confession.

Jacky Underwood

A resident of Mudgee district expresses the opinion that the police should be distributed in the country centres in parties of four each, with trackers. This, he points out, would possibly enable one of the parties to be near the fugitives when their whereabouts is reported. At present the police are frequently far away when the murderers are seen, and much time is lost before the police can get on the newly-found trail. 

Jimmy Governor, he remarked, has shown great ingenuity and resource like his grand father, Wandong, and is going through the country in a circular way, Jimmy's grandfather was once known to lead a party of four, with a tracker, over 70 miles in circles. Instead of them following him, he was in reality follow
ing them. The same method is being adopted by the grandson.

With regard to the Governors being seen atTambar Spring, their whereabouts was discovered accidentally. Sergeant Borthistle, of Gunnedah, had a new rifle, and he said to a companion, 'I must try this rifle.' He fired it off in the direction of the bush, and it so happened that the blacks were in the vicinity. They were on the top of the mountain and, thinking they had been deliberately fired at, replied. The result was the interchange of seven shots by the police and four by the Governors.

The Governors were seen at Mr. Neville's, five miles from Yarraman, on Tuesday. Neville's family shifted to a neighbour's (Horan's) house half a mile distant, and at 7 o'clock 10 shots were fired into the latter house. 

Jacky Underwood was brought up at the Gilgandra Police Court on Wednesday, and charged with murdering Percival Mawbey, Mrs. Mawbey, Grace Mawbey, Hilda Mawbey and Helen Kerz. A. F. Garling, who took Mrs.Mawbey's dying depositions, said Mrs. Mawbey deposed:

'Jimmy Governor hit me with a tomahawk. I also saw Jacky with a tomahawk. I saw two of them. There were more outside. Jimmy Governor had his wife with him. I am sure it was Jacky Underwood who hit Percy.'

On being asked if he had any questions, Jacky said: 

'Jimmy hit the boy. The woman was lying on top of the boy when I came. Jimmy told me to go outside and see if anybody went outside through the windows. I saw two girls go through the window, and came back and did not tell him. George Mawbey deposed to hearing Jimmy Governor address another as 'Jacky.' Accused then made a statement, after which he was committed for trial.

Jacky Underwood made the following statement : —

 'Jimmy Governor did all the most murder. I hit one girl in the room ; She was not dead when I put her back in the room. The woman and the boy lay there, the woman on top of the boy. Jimmy told me to go outside of the house. I went outside, and I see two girls running on the road. I then came back. Jimmy said, 'Did you see anyone ?' I said, 'No.' He then went out back, I go out same way. I saw two boys — one go out of the window, and another was lying under the bed. Jimmy asked me whether any more in the bedroom. I said no, they were all gone. Jimmy asked me how many I killed. I told him I killed one. He said again he do all the most murder I think. I said, 'I think you do more.' After that he went back to the crossing, and he see one of the girls crossing the creek. He run to the creek, and the girl then fall down. Jimmy knock 'em on head. He then started back, and met the school teacher about 100 yards from the house, and killed her. He saw one girl running along with nightdress on. She laid down and tried to plant. Jimmy said, 'You can't plant there; I see you, and I'll have you.' He came back and went in to all the rooms. I put one girl under the bunk, and put the blankets over her till I see Jimmy go outside. Then the girl come out from under the bunk, and sat down on the floor. I told Jimmy I would shut the door and not let him come into the room any more. He said, 'No, I'll go down the creek.' I then went to a fire about a mile from there. I waited for him there, but he never came. He went on to camp.

When I got to the camp they were leaving camp and going across the creek, 300 yards from camp. They waited for me to come, Jacky Porter and Mrs. Jimmy Govornor would not walk that

night. Jimmy made up all about going to kill his missus and the baby. Jimmy said, 'The first railway line we come across we are going to capsize a train— I think the line running to Muswellbrook, Glen Innes, or Tenterfield.' They are going to follow up the ranges into Queensland to Toowoomba and come into the ranges there, then follow the range on to the Dawson. They can go anywhere they like then. They will follow the sea to Townsville. If they

once get into the big mountain there they will be right. Nobody knows them about there. We were going to murder a man and a boy near Mundooran who gave us tucker. Joe said, 'Come on, we must get to Merrygoen.' We got there at dark, and stopped till 9 o'clock, then went through the paddook, and Jimmy collared a draught mare belonging to Merrygoen, rode her a mile, and camped that night. Jimmy asked me how far to Digilah. I said I did not know.

Jimmy said, 'We will smash this house and go in and murder the man and woman, baby and boy. We did not do it, but went on a bit farther, and came on a bark hut. Jimmy went inside and took a cotton shirt (produced), a tin of jam, a tin of tea, a box of matches, some tobacco, socks, a cap, a tin of fish, two calico bags, and some sugar. Me and Joe told him not to kill the man and woman. That was about two miles from Merrygoen. We went on a bit further and boiled our billy of tea just before the men came who fired at us. They did not hit anyone. We split up from there. I never saw Jimmy or Joe since.

I went into a paddock and stopped there that night. I could not find my matches, so I made towards Mudgee. I went across by Redbank, and came to a house where they gave me a feed, then told me about the great murder at Breelong, and about one of the murderers being lame. That was me. I told them I knew nothing at all about it. I then seen two young fellows coming to the house; one had a rifle and the other a breach loading gun. They asked me where I came from. One of them said he knew me, and I said, 'Yes that's me.' He told me to come to the police at Cob

bora, but the other one said, 'Take him to Leadville,' and they took me to the lockup.

 

The night before the murder Jimmy had a row with Mrs. Governor, and came down to my camp, and said, 'You me are mate now, Jacky ; come on, we murder all Mawbeys.' We went down to

murder Mr. Mawbey, but were frightened when we got to the old hut.'

SYDNEY, Monday.
The Governors were seen near Jenning's Creek on Saturday morning by a man named Nixon, at whom they fired two shots, and luckily missed him. The fugitives then decamped. Jimmy Governor declares that if they are hard pushed he will shoot Joe Governor (his brother) and then shoot himself.

When they stuck-up Bayliss' place they made indecent overtures to Mrs. Bayliss, but her husband appearing on the scene they left the house. Previously they had compelled her to throw up her hands and also supply them with food. Jimmy Governor throws all the blame for the murders upon his wife, adding that if it had not been for her the murders would never have been committed.
Source: The Clarence River Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1949) Tue 28 Aug 1900 Page 2