All kinds of men were employed in the construction of the railway section between Nairne and Murray Bridge. Some were good and some bad; some whose failing was drink, but on the whole a decent lot of men; some when under the influence of liquor were obstreperous and pugnacious. The police were kept busy in keeping these turbulent people under control, as it necessitated, more especially after paydays, firm and tactful measures. The hotels were kept open until 11 p.m., and it was often long after midnight be fore the police had them, cleared out of the townships to their various camps.

A certain ganger had a reputation among the men as being a bully and a regular 'nigger-driver.' It was said that unless the men in his gang kept him liberally supplied with beer, he would sack them, and keep their shovels, selling them to he next man who came along and asked him for a job. He made few friends, and was detested and feared by most of the men. He kept aloof from them in camp; and had pitched his tent 600 yards or more in a gully away from any of the other tents.

One early morning as the men in the various camps were astir, getting their breakfast before turning to work, it was noticed that this ganger was not about. On looking in the direction of his tent, they noticed that it was down and on going to see the cause of it, found that the tent and contents had been burnt to the ground during the night, and the dead body of the ganger was lying among the debris.

The matter was reported to me, and I got a medical man to examine the body. The result of his examination was that a bullet was found to have penetrated through the body on the right of his chest. Everything possible was done to find the bullet, but without success. No firearms of any description were found in he debris of his tent.

An inquest was held, and a verdict returned—that the deceased ganger had come to his death by a gunshot wound through the body, but that there was no evidence to show how or by whom it was inflicted— practically an open verdict. An experienced detective officer was sent from the Detective Office to assist me in my investigations.

Searching enquiries were made, but not the slightest clue was obtained as to who fired the fatal shot. No one was found in possession of firearms or to have possessed any in the various camps. No one heard any gunshots fired during the night, or saw any fire in the direction of his camp. No doubt, the setting on fire of the tent was with the object of incinerating the body, so that there would be no suspicion that he had been murdered, for murder, with out a doubt, had been committed, and the mystery remains unsolved to this day.

A Depraved Sailor.

Criminal offences on women and children, deeply regret to say, are too prevalent. While at Nairne I had several of these cases reported to me.

One day at about 5 p.m. a local resident came to me in a greatly perturbed state of mind and informed me that his little daughter, aged nine years, had been assaulted by a man. The child had been sent to fetch a cow from the parklands, when a man had enticed the child to a quarry and there had behaved in an indecent manner towards her. The child screamed, and the man cleared off in the direction of Mount Barker Springs.

Having obtained as good a description of him as I could, I immediately saddled my horse, and went in pursuit of him, but as the night was setting in I deemed it expedient to return to my station. That part of the country was thickly timbered, and with numerous furze hedges, the man on seeing me would conclude that I was a police officer in search of him, and would hide himself. The next morning before daybreak I saddled up, and went off. Having been a number of years at Nairne, I was thoroughly acquainted with the district and the people. I proceeded on the route the man had taken, and enquired at the first farmhouse I came to if they had seen a man of the description I gave them, and was informed that he had called on the previous evening, and asked them if he could have a shakedown in their stable. He had been told that they did not allow any one to camp there for fear of fire, but that he no doubt, could get one at the next farmhouse, for they had a shearing shed. He then left in that direction. I proceeded to the farmhouse mentioned.

On arrival I dismounted and walked up to the kitchen door, which was open. One of the daughters of the house was preparing breakfast. In front of the fire warming himself was the man I recognised as the one I wanted. On the table was a large butcher's knife and a dishful of mutton chops. Miss — looked round and saw me, and was about to make an exclamation, but I immediately placed my finger on my lips, and motioned her to take the knife away. I then pounced on my man, who was in a crouching position, and before he realized what was the matter, had him handcuffed. I arrested him, told him the charge, cautioned him, and locked him up.

On the following morning I brought the prisoner to Nairne, and there had him charged before a Magistrate's Court. He was committed for trial at the criminal sittings. The prisoner was a sailor— one of the waifs and strays of the London streets, and had been trained board one of the Dreadnought training ships in the Mersey. He had been working for some time with farmers in the Nairne district. I received numerous complaints from parents that he had indecently interfered with their children. He had been in the habit of giving them money and lollies.

Scoundrel of the Worst Type.

Little more than a week had elapsed after the arresting of this man when I received about 7 p.m. an urgent telegram from Callington that I was wanted there to arrest another who had committed a serious offence. I immediately saddled up, and, as I had a splendid horse, was not long in arriving there. Numbers of the townspeople were waiting for me. I was then informed that a man had given a boy, eight years of age, sixpence to show him to one of the powder magazines at the mine, as he said he wanted to camp there. After the boy had taken him there he had committed an abominable offence on him. They informed me that they had kept him under surveillance, that he was still in the powder magazine, and that I could arrest him in the morning.

I told them I could not possible rest while a scoundrel like that was at large, and that I would go and arrest him at once. I got one of the men to procure matches and a candle and to come and show me where he was camped. On arriving there I got them to light the candle, and I saw the man asleep on his swag. Before he realized it I had him handcuffed. I arrested him, charged and cautioned him, and took him to the Callington Police Station and locked him up in a cell.

On the following morning I asked him his name. He gave me one, but in his swag I found a number of letters addresses to him, and then saw that he had given me a false name. On my telling him so he replied, 'Shoot me do what you like with me, but for God's sake do not charge me under that name I have an aged mother at home in England, and if she hears of this it will mean the death of her. I acceded to his request, and handed over to him his letters. Rightly or wrongly, I leave it to my readers to judge me whether in the circumstances I did right in doing so. The letters disclosed that this offender, who had been educated at one of the universities in England, was of a good family, had an aged mother and a brother, a major in the British Army, and that a first-class passage would be paid to any of the shipping companies if he would return home. Yet, in the face of this, there was he tramping about the country with a swag.

He and the previous offender were charged at the same criminal sittings. Needless to say, they were found guilty. The learned Judge sentenced these prisoners to a term of imprisonment and also ordered a flogging. In addressing the prisoner charged with the offence against the boy, he told him that the greatest scoundrel at the stockade would be ashamed to associate with him. These two cases were the worst and most revolting committed by sexual perverts that had peen brought under my notice.

Serious Assault on a Woman.

Another serious assault committed on a married woman residing in a lonely part of my district was reported to me by her husband. This man was a cattle dealer. His business necessitated his being away from his home a great deal, and therefore his wife and little children were often left unprotected.

A tramp had been in that part of the district in which they resided, asking for work, but, like many of, his class, praying that he would not find it. Often they would pitch a pitiable tale of not having had any food for the whole day, and when, told to cut a little wood while the good wife of the house went to get them some food would clear away.

This tramp had called at a farmhouse about half a mile from where the complainant lived, and had been given food. Upon being informed by the farmer that he was not in want of help the tramp asked if he was likely to get a job at the house he had passed on his way He was informed that this man was only a dealer, and did not employ any one, and further that he was away from his home— very unwise thing, I thought, to have told him. This was done innocently in the course of conversation, but it proved afterwards a serious thing for this poor woman.

Escape of the Miscreant.

About 10 o'clock that night this tramp called at this woman's house and knocked at her door. She had retired for the night, and asked who was there? The man replied that he had been given a note by her husband to deliver to her, and wanted an answer. She told him to wait while she dressed herself. She then got out of bed, partly opened the door, and asked for the note when this scoundrel forced the door open. He made improper overtures to her, and before she was aware struck her a violent blow, knocked her down, and attempted to criminally assault her. He threatened to kill her with an iron bar which he had in his hand if she did not consent. She resisted determinedly, and screamed for help.

Her seven-year-old son, and other little ones came to her help, caught hold of the villain, and cried out, "You will not kill our mummie." It was not until he had torn off her clothes and the woman and children screaming that he desisted and cleared off, no doubt afraid by then that their cries had been heard. Had it not been for her resistance and the aid of her little ones she would have been violated by this inhuman brute.

A description of this offender was forwarded to all surrounding stations, and also inserted in the Police Gazette. Although unceasing efforts were made by myself and the police to capture him, our efforts proved unsuccessful. Unfortunately for us the Onkaparinga Races were held a few days after this occurrence, and no doubt this criminal mixed up with the crowd and got away from the district, but the police did not relax their vigilance in their search for his apprehension.

For about six months after a man answering his description was arrested by the police in the Magill district, and was brought to Nairne for identification before the complainant woman. She said that he somewhat resembled him, but she would not positively swear that he was the man. The police were therefore unable to prosecute or take any further action.

Some months after this she informed me that she was morally certain that he was the man who had assaulted her, but that she had suffered so much in mind that she did not want to go through it all again by having to give evidence in Court. She felt her state of health would not permit her, and that she wanted to think of what she had gone through on that terrible night, as a dreadful nightmare, rather than a reality.

And so this unmitigated sexual pervert escaped the punishment he so richly deserved, and this poor woman, like many other cases reported to the police, would rather suffer the great wrong which had been done to her than face the ordeal of having to give evidence in a Police Court.

Sly Grogselling.

During the construction of the interstate railway line sly grogselling was rampant all along the line. There was then some stirring and exciting times, for the police in detecting and suppressing this illicit traffic. The police from the surrounding stations would swoop down upon these offenders, at all times and hours and make raids upon them, with a result that good hauls were obtained. Trollies had to be secured to cart the beer and spirits seized to Mount Barker. The State derived large sums from the fines and costs inflicted and the amount realized from the sale of the liquor. All kinds of methods were adopted by these illicit traders to circumvent the police detecting them. The following is a case in point:—

In consequence of numerous complaints received that a storekeeper in a certain district was flagrantly carrying on sly grogselling in connection with his legitimate business, a certain member of the police force, who had recently joined— but had previously served in the constabulary at home, and I am pleased to relate after an honourable career in the South Australian Police Force retired with the rank of inspector— was told off to ascertain if there was any foundation for these complaints. Constable X. went to the district and obtained work on a farm for several weeks. In the meantime he took observations and casually visited the store keeper, where he witnessed that the complaints were well founded, for spirits were obtained and consumed on the premises. He made at times a few purchases, and afterwards bought a bottle of whisky of a well-known brand, and took it back with him to the farm, and marked on the label the date, hour, and price paid, and where obtained, and hid the bottle in the chaff-shed. He stayed at the farm for a week or so, and kept the storekeeper under surveillance.

By this time a rumour was current that Mr. 'B.,' the farmhand, was not what he was thought to be, but a detective, as some one had said that he had been seen in Adelaide at the Police Court. The farmer, a good sort of a man, informed Mr. B. of the rumour, and, being asked what he thought about the truth of it, he replied, 'I don't believe a word of it, for no detective could have done farmwork as you have done.'

Not Whisky, But Cold Tea.

Constable X, having accomplished the duty required of him, informed the farmer that he would shortly be leaving. The farmer than said, 'I'll be very sorry if you go because you suit me; but perhaps it will be just as well, because some of the fellows about here have a set on you, and there is no telling but what they might do you an injury.' He thanked the farmer. Constable X. then went to the chaff-house, picked up his swag and also the bottle of whisky, and proceeded to the police station, where he was to make his report.

Upon arriving there, and looking at the bottle of whisky he saw to his astonishment that the capsule had been tampered with, and, on a closer examination, that the contents of the bottle was of a different colour to when he purchased it. His suspicions by now were fully aroused. He drew the cork, and poured some of the contents into a glass, smelt it, and found it to be weak, cold tea. He was satisfied that some of the farm hands had played a hoax on him.

Constable X., a 'braw' laddie from the Land o' Cakes, was not to be outwitted, for he immediately went to the nearest hotel, purchased a bottle of the same brand of whisky, returned to the station, emptied the cold tea from the bottle he had purchased from the store keeper, and refilled it from the one he had just bought, carefully corking it, and placed the capsule on the top.

In due course the case against the storekeeper came on for hearing. He was ably defended by two eminent lawyers, the Courthouse being crowded by the defendant's friends and others, who had been informed that a big rise was to be taken out of the constable. The evidence for the prosecution having been given, and Constable X. having produced in Court the bottle he had purchased from the store keeper, he was cross-examined by one of the lawyers, who asked him if he would swear that the bottle produced in Court was the one he had purchased from the defendant storekeeper and that it contained whisky. Constable X. replied emphatically, 'Yes, I will.'

The case for the prosecution closed, and the lawyer for the defence got up, and, raising himself to his full height, turned slowly towards the spectators in Court, his face wreathed in smiles. Seeing that he had made an impression, he turned and addressed the Bench. 'Your Honor,' he said, 'my client will admit that owing to the persistency of Constable X. to be supplied with a bottle of whisky he did supply him with the bottle produced in Court. I will ask your Honor to have the bottle opened, and will prove to the satisfaction of the Court that it is not whisky but tea diluted with water.'

Loud laughter from the defendant and others in Court was at once suppressed. The order having been given, a corkscrew and two glasses were dexterously produced. The cork was drawn from the bottle, some of its contents poured into the glasses, and one handed to the Special Magistrate. Counsel retained the other. His Honor smelt it, and placed the liquor to his lips. He looked at the astonished counsel, who by this time had also smelt and tasted the liquor in his glass, and said to him. 'I, too, am prepared Mr. — to say that it is whisky. The expressions of astonishment on the faces of the lawyers and the defendant were, something to witness, and can better be imagined than described by me. The man was found guilty, and the usual penalty followed. He and his friends left the Court, but not as jubilant as they had entered.

Irish Wit.

At the hearing of another, of these sly grog cases the chief witness for the prosecution was a young constable, a recruit and a recent arrival from the Emerald Isle, with no previous police or Court experience. The lawyer for the defence was severely cross-examining him, and repeatedly saying to him, 'Now on your oath, constable. Will you swear to that?' He was plying him with one question after another in this strain. Upon the lawyer again telling him, 'Now, constable remember you are on your oath. Will you swear to that also!' the constable who by this time had realized that the lawyer was trying to entangle him in a mesh, as it were, replied, 'Sure, I can't swear to that, but Sgt. McInnerny has been a long time in the force, so he has, and I know he will swear to that, or any other question you would like to swear to.' Needless to say, he was not further cross examined. This was not the Irish constable who, on being asked by a man that was about to commit a breach of the law, if he placed a half-crown over his eye whether he could see him replied, 'Sure, and I could out of the other eye, but place another half-crown, your Hanor over that eye, too, and the divil a bit could I see you, at all—at all.'