OUR Wild Scotsman or Wild Scotchman was both celebrated and condemned in the newspapers of the time.
As the author of an excellent article on the Moreton Bay and More website writes: In outback Queensland in the late 19th century, everyone had a Wild Scotchman story … He wrote letters to editors to mock his pursuers. He interrogated the victims of his robberies about his standing in the press, and as to where he might get his picture taken. In later life, he published his poetry under the pseudonym ‘Poor Jim.’.
That pseudonym perhaps best reflected his life after capture.
And as predicted by the journalist in last week’s article, it was not the police who captured the bushranger who was like a will-o’-the-wisp – travelling seemingly impossible distances between robberies.
James Alpin MacPherson was eventually apprehended on March 30, 1866, when, according to a report in the Queensland Times and Ipswich Herald, a man answering to his description had been seen on the morning of March 30 … “inquiring for a road which he did not, it seems, intend to travel.
“He was again seen within a short distance of Monduran [north of Gin Gin] by two gentlemen living at Gin Gin, and they instantly proceeded to the Monduran head station, and reported their suspicions as to who it was to the manager, Mr Nott, who … joined them, together with another person, making in all a party of four and immediately started in pursuit.
“They overtook [MacPherson] about five miles from the station, in the direction of Port Curtis.
“When he saw them in a full gallop, and nearly upon him, he let go his pack horse, and started at full speed down a very broken range.
“Being well mounted, they followed, and were fast gaining on him, when he pulled up, and commenced to unstrap a double barrelled gun which he had with him.
“Upon his commencing to do this, Mr Nott covered him with his rifle, and told him that if he did not there and then throw up his arms and surrender, he would fire at him.
“This threat, fortunately, was sufficient, as MacPherson at once said, “I give myself up.” He added, “I knew you were not the police by the pace at which you followed me down that ridge”.”
The prisoner spent the first night after his capture at Monduran station and the next at Gin Gin, from where he was escorted by the police to Maryborough to stand trial.
His first appearance before the Magistrate attracted a large crowd of spectators
MacPherson had apparently been forthright about his bushranging escapades during police interviews.
He was taken to Brisbane to stand trial for his first crime – holding up the publican who owed him back wages. He was found not guilty of that crime and was subsequently taken back to Maryborough to stand trial for his “robbery of the mails”.
There he was sentenced to 25 years penal service by Justice Lutwyche.
He was sent to the penal colony on St Helena Island in September 1866.
Eight years later, the then model prisoner was released following the presentation of a petition for his release to Governor Phipps. The petition was signed by “many prominent members of society” including Sir Charles Lilley and David McConnel of Cressbrook station.
On his release, MacPherson was given a job as stockman on Cressbrook station.
In 1878, he married Elizabeth Hasfeldt and they would become the parents of six children.
The family subsequently moved to Burketown where MacPherson set up a haulage business.
He died there in 1895, from a fall from his horse on his way home from a funeral.
