Memory Minder

Hanged with Moonlite
Born Thomas Baker, he changed his surname after running foul of the law. After the battle at Wantabadgery, Rogan was found hiding under a bed with fully loaded weapons. He had a nervous disposition for unknown reasons he was the only one of Moonlite’s gang to hang although he had not been involved in killing anyone. After appeals, the sentences of Williams and Bennett were reduced to “hard labour for life” because they were under 21 years of age. Rogan, who was the most innocent of all the bushrangers, was to hang with Scott. By every account, he did not fire a shot. He hid under a bed during the siege and was found there the next morning. However, as he was 21 years of age, he too had to pay the ultimate penalty.

It will be remembered that a number of petitions were presented on behalf of the prisoner Rogan. The fact that the petition from the relatives of the prisoner, and the petition said to be from the inhabitants of Melbourne, were written in the same hand-writing, on the same kind of paper, and composed in the same way, appeared to the Government a curious circumstance, and it was thought strange that a few persons in a particular part of Melbourne should interest themselves in the case of a capital offender in New South Wales, With a view, therefore, to ascertain how this extraordinary interest arose, the police authorities in Melbourne were communicated with by telegram, and requested to inquire into the matter, and ascertain the nature of the signatures to the Melbourne petition. The result of their inquiry is the following report, forwarded from the detective office of the Victoria Police Department. The report will give our readers a valuable insight into the manner in which signatures are obtained to some petitions, and at the same time enable them to understand what amount of importance is sometimes to be attached to documents of this character.

Victoria Police Detective Report 16/4/1880
"I have the honour to report for your information that I have seen Mr X, X street, X. He states that he knew nothing of the above named or his antecedents. He signed it (the petition) because he does not believe in capital punishment. X, a bailiff of the court signed it because X, an agent and assistant bailiff, requested him to do so. He knows nothing of Rogan or his antecedents. I saw X at the Rainbow. He signed the petition in the hotel, and gave as his reason for doing it that as the two younger prisoners were reprieved he thought Rogan should be also reprieved. X and X of the X Hotel, signed it because it was presented by X, a customer. They knew nothing of Rogan before signing the petition. Some seven or eight persons present signed the petition at the bar; X, a bailiff, and X ditto, and a lot of people who hang about the courts. I have seen Mr X, who states that he wrote all the letters to the papers for Mrs. Baker, who is stated to be mother of the bushranger Rogan, and that she paid him for his work; that it was he who carried round the petition, and that the petition was made out by Mr X (a well-known member of the Victorian Legislature).

Hanged with Moonlite
Born Thomas Baker, he changed his surname after running foul of the law. After the battle at Wantabadgery, Rogan was found hiding under a bed with fully loaded weapons. He had a nervous disposition for unknown reasons he was the only one of Moonlite’s gang to hang although he had not been involved in killing anyone. After appeals, the sentences of Williams and Bennett were reduced to “hard labour for life” because they were under 21 years of age. Rogan, who was the most innocent of all the bushrangers, was to hang with Scott. By every account, he did not fire a shot. He hid under a bed during the siege and was found there the next morning. However, as he was 21 years of age, he too had to pay the ultimate penalty.

It will be remembered that a number of petitions were presented on behalf of the prisoner Rogan. The fact that the petition from the relatives of the prisoner, and the petition said to be from the inhabitants of Melbourne, were written in the same hand-writing, on the same kind of paper, and composed in the same way, appeared to the Government a curious circumstance, and it was thought strange that a few persons in a particular part of Melbourne should interest themselves in the case of a capital offender in New South Wales, With a view, therefore, to ascertain how this extraordinar... More