Wynyard History: The Story behind Murdering Gully Road




On the road from the town of Wynyard to the top of Table Cape, a street sign ominously identifies Murdering Gully Road. The road's name recalls a murder that took place here in 1858. Nobody was ever convicted of the crime. Excerpts from newspaper clippings of the day tell the story.

Hobart Town Daily Mercury, Thursday morning, May 20, 1858

MURDER AT TABLE CAPE.

(From a Correspondent to the Launceston Examiner.)
A fearful tragedy has been enacted at Table Cape.
A small settler named Samuel Oakes was found murdered on the 6th instant, in the bush, a short distance from his home. Suspicion was excited by his not returning the previous evening to his farm, and his wife proceeded to Mr. Shekelton's, where it was known he had gone on business to enquire for him ; on the road she found his hat. An immediate search having been instituted, the body was found about thirty yards from the road in a most fearful state. The poor man had been shot, and afterwards beat about the head and body so brutally, that he was hardly recognizable. An attempt had been made by the murderer to burn the body, as the thighs were much scorched, mid a large quantity of wood and ferns were piled over it, but it seems the fire went out.

A man named Bannon was at once arrested for the murder by some special constables, sworn in for the occasion by Mr. Shekelton J.P., as many circumstances pointed him out as the assassin. It was well known that Oakes and Ban non were bitter enemies, and only a few weeks past the deceased had Bannon bound over to keep the peace to him, and since then Bannon has been heard to make use of threatening language to him. Bannon's wife has also made statements strongly criminating her husband.

A judicial investigation is now being held by the Police Magistrate of Circular Head, who with the greatest promptitude proceeded to the scene of the murder, accompanied by the Chief Constable and others. The result of the investigation has not yet transpired, but there is little doubt Bannon will be committed for trial. The unfortunate murdered man has left a wife and large family in destitute circumstances.


Murdering Gully Road

(From another Correspondent)
One of the most brutal murders that could well be, took place at Table Cape on Wednesday the 5th inst. A quiet and respectable man, with a large family, who had left, his own house on that morning to look after some work about three miles off, was most barbarously murdered on his way home in a very lonely part of the road he had to pass.

It was not until the next morning that his wife, who went to enquire after him, found his hat, which led to the discovery of the body a little way in the bush—it was covered with fern leaves and timber. An attempt had been made to burn the body, which failed from the dampness of the material used. The Police Magistrate and Police from Circular Head and police from Emu Bay were sent for, and too much praise can not be given to District Constable Holmes, of Circular Head for his un wearied exertions and judicious manner in which he conducted a search to ascertain who the murderer was. Suspicion rested on a person of the name of William Bannon, who had been long at variance with deceased, and had from time to time shown great enmity, which led to his being bound over some weeks since to keep the peace towards deceased, and who had since threatened his life.

Such clear circumstantial evidence was brought forward before the Magistrates, whose investigation lasted for some days, that it ended in his committal. As the subject will shortly be brought before the public more prominently on the trial of the prisoner, it is not necessary to enter more minutely into the circumstance—it is one which has caused great excitement in the locality where it occurred, and will be long remembered by the inhabitants.

The body of deceased was interred in the burial ground on the township (Wynyard) on Sunday morning, and was attended by all the respectable people in the neighbourhood.

Launceston Examiner, Thursday 18th July 1858

SUPREME COURT. The Supreme Court commenced its sittings at Launceston on 1st inst. The criminal calendar has been a some what heavy one, including three murders, three cases of housebreaking, two of uttering forgeries, one of highway robbery, one of rape, one of obtaining goods under false pretences. James Ringrose, charged with the murder of George Phipps, at George Town, and William Bannon, charged with the murder of Samuel Oakes, at Table Cape, were both acquitted.