This is the story about an Aboriginal named Butcher Knight, His Aboriginal name was Numandaral, The description below of the murder which was on Marrakai Station near the
Mary River, NT, is 99.9% as printed in the files by a witness Harry Stewart. Marrakai used to adjoin Mt Bundy. Butcher was given the death penalty but was then commuted to life imprisonment. It was during the bombings of
Darwin the gates were thrown open and prisoners told to get out, so it happens Bucher Knight spent many years working for a previous Mt Bundy owner by name of Bill
Ross, Bill sold the Station way back in 1967 to the American Company W. R. Grace. I met Bill last year when he visited and in touch with him often, he lives in SE Queensland.
To read the whole story please click the link at the bottom, You will find some words in the files as downloaded words not used today , I give you my apologies for that but that was the way it was in and out of a court of law.
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At a guess I would think the murders would have taken place somewhere withing the red circled area.
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The examination of Witness Harry Stewart, of
Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, taken on the nineteenth day of June 1934, at
Darwin In the said Territory, before the undersigned, one of the coroners for the said Territory, on an inquisition there and then taken touching the death of William
Jennings.
This deponent being duly sworn says as follows.
My name is Harry Stewart. I am a dog-trapper now residing at
Darwin. I remember the morning of 1st June last when I was at Corroboree
Camp. Bill
Jennings, Jack Gaden. myself, two lubras - Ruby & Copper, and Butcher were in the
camp. A big paper bark tree was about is the centre of the
camp, Bill
Jennings had one end of his net tied to this tree. Copper was in the net with him. The first night we camped at Corroboree
Camp my net was rigged a couple of yards from the fire and Copper had her swag rolled out at the fire. She had no net. I woke up three or four times during the night and saw Copper sitting up killing mosquitoes. The next morning I said to Bill why don’t you let Copper get in your net, She had no sleep last night with the mosquitoes. Bill said She can go in if she likes, Bill did not fancy the idea. for the next coupla of nights she got in his net. My net was rigged about ten yards from Bill's. Ruby was in my net. Jack was camped about five yards from Bill in another direction from
mine. Butcher was camped about five yards from Bill in the opposite direction to
mine. Early next morning I was awakened by a rifle shot. Close after there was another shot. After the second shot I sat up in the mosquito net I sang out "What are you shooting at?" or words to that effect. There was another shot fired I saw the flame of that and by the height it was it must have been fired by someone standing. It was slanting towards the ground. It was fired from about right angles to my net. I got outside the mosquito net and I was in a sitting position looking towards the tree. My dog stood up alongside me. I saw Butcher fire a shot from the tree. It was pointed in my direction. I saw the dog drop dead beside me. I knew then the shots must be meant for someone they were coming too close. I realised something was wrong. I got up and made a run at Butcher and as I was going over I noticed Jack Gaden getting out of his net. Jack Gaden said "What's up?" I replied "That bastard of a butcher" When I got to the tree I picked up my rifle which was standing against the tree,I had a look,it was empty. Butcher was about by his net five yards away when I examined my rifle.When I looked up again I never saw him. By that time Jack Gaden had got up and gone to boxes where things were kept. I asked him to give me some cartridges. It was some little time before he gave them to me, I was not sure where Butcher was I put a shot through his net to try & make him show himself He was not there. When I first got to the tree I called to Bill a couple of times and got no answer I heard Copper crying for a couple of seconds & then all was quiet. The crying was not loud. Ruby called out to me, "I been get shot". I sang out "All right, Ruby, in a minute" I pulled down one end of Bill's mosquito net. I could see that they were dead. I made no examination of the bodies at that time. I at no time examined the bodies of the deceased. Jack did.
Butcher was all right with Bill and Jack as far as I know. I never did have any time for him. I was not actually bad friends I had nothing to do with him. I have never heard Gaden or
Jennings having a row or fight with Butcher. The two lubras would have nothing to do with Butcher. He tried to get Copper to go in his net several times and even asked Jack or Bill to make her go in. They said "She can go in if she likes". she would not go. The belt. Exhibit G. was on Butcher when he was arrested. The rifle. Exhibit D. is the one Butcher used to use. I was in Constable Littlejohn's company when Butcher was arrested. 1 heard Constable Littlejohn caution Butcher about talking about the matter. I heard Butcher say, "I killed my boss". Constable Littlejohn tried to shut him up but he insisted on saying he killed him. I think he said "I shot him". Butcher also said "The rifle went off accidental". By the report I would say it was a .303 rifle fired at me. Butcher can write his name He is too civilised. He kids the other blacks he can read and write.
The shooting took place about four o'clock in this morning. It was aclear night and a couple of days after full moon. I could see any objects close very plain. I definitely identified Butcher as the one who fired the shot that killed the dog and wounded Ruby who has since died.
then I pulled the net down Bill was laying on his side facing Butcher’s net. The net was partly underneath him. Copper was lyin’ on her back on the opposite side of the net. She was fully dressed.
Jennings had a flannel on. I never threw the net right back. I do not know if he had anything else on. There was about eighteen inches between them. There was a hole in each side of the net pretty low down. There was a hole in the top end of the net near the tree. There was one hole in the calico underneath. The hole in the calico was the size of a bullet. Those in the net were a little bigger.
M.C. Koop asked for an adjournment until Friday 22nd. June. Mr. Gaden, a witness,was still in hospital and would not be fit to attend until then. Mr. Partridge (for Butcher) raised no objection. Adjourned until Friday June 22nd. at 2 p.m.
V,L. Lampe
Coroner
H. Stewart
Resumed 2.0 p.m. Friday June 22nd.
Please click the link to read the full story
Murders at Marrakai
.