More Sticking-Up in The Tumut District

Wagga Wagga Express and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser

4 August 1866

The depredations committed by bushrangers in these districts are on the increase.

No sooner have the rascals helped themselves in one locality than we hear of their plundering in an opposite direction. Within the past four months we have had as many cases of robbery to record, and so successfully have the robbers eluded the vigilance of the police that they have gained additional courage, and now fear not to enter the privacy of any household in broad daylight, and without disguise.

The last case we reported was their raid at South Gundagai; now we have another instance of their outrage at Talbingo.

On Sunday afternoon last news was received in Tumut that Mr. Lampe's dwelling house at Talbingo had been visited on the previous afternoon by two men who, upon alighting from their horses, enquired if it was an accommodation house; being answered in the negative, one of them said he would quickly make it so, and presenting a brace of pistols at Mr. Lampe told him to go inside and sit down quietly. Following him inside the house, Mr. Lampe was asked for his money, and after some parleying they got between £2 and £3. Believing that more money was obtainable the fellows threatened to burn down the house if they could not find it, and after ransacking the place without success they purloined a gold-watch and chain, two rings, a brooch, a blue silk purse containing some old German coins in gold and silver, a lady's riding whip, and some tea and sugar.

No violence was offered to any of the inmates, and after carefully pocketing the jewellery, they quietly took their departure, having remained a terror to the ladies for about three hours. As these two men were not masked, their features were well scrutinised, and from their description no doubt is entertained as to their being the same who committed the other robberies in this quarter. One is represented as a stoutish elderly, man, with sandy whiskers; the other as a tall young fellow, fair complexion and lightish whiskers. The horses they rode are said to be a light bay with bald face, and a dark bay.

It is strange that these men are never seen by anyone except their victims, and although our police have an accurate description of' them, still they are not to be found. One thing is certain, they must have food, and the question arises where do they obtain it? they cannot live solely on tea and sugar, and. we have not any record of their carrying away meat or bread from any place. If such characters are harboured in this neighbourhood by any of the settlers we trust the police will succeed in finding out who they are, and have them awarded the punishment they so richly deserve.

Tumut Times.