William Brookman is another classic example of a bush youth lured by the false glamour of bushranging. However, one must wonder why. For bushrangers the tally was looking decidedly unhealthy by 1867 when young William turned out. Ben Hall, John Gilbert, Fred Lowry, Mickey Burke, John O'Mealley and a few others had been shot and killed. John Dunn, John Peisley, Henry Manns, John and Tom Clarke hanged (the Clarkes only a few weeks earlier), Frank Gardiner, Cotterell, Alexander Fordyce, John Bow,John Vane, Mount, Dunleavy and a host of others had been incarcerated for long gaol terms. Popular support had waned markedly and the police were a far superior organisation to what they had been only a few years earlier.

Brookman was born in Tumut, New South Wales in 1851. He had light brown hair and blue eyes, weighed 10st 11lb and was 5'9" tall. He had a scar between the eyes. He was a carpenter by trade, could read and write and was baptised into the Church of England. His family are described as 'respectable'. Nothing is known of his life (although it can be surmised) until October 1867 when he joined up with John Williams, alias Jeremiah Duce, Edward Kelly (no relation to the other Edward) and John Payne to form a gang known as The Riverina Bushrangers. Williams had been Robert Cotterell's (Blue Cap) lieutenant and decided to strike out on his own after Cotterell was captured.

In a short time the gang bailed up several travellers. They also robbed the pub and store at Willanthry, Haine's station, Kennedy's pub and Uabba Station. They also bailed up and robbed the township of Redbank.

Emboldened by these successes the gang decided to go one better. On 24 November 1867 they bailed up about 50 shearers at Whittacker's store about a mile from Mossgiel Station. The shearers had been intending to hold a race meeting and were carrying a reasonable amount of money for betting on the races. This money was now lost to the four bush villains. Leaving Kelly and Payne to deal with the shearers Williams and Brookman rode on to Mossgiel, presumably intending to repeat their activities. It happened that as the two men approached, Constable Michael McNamara, the trooper stationed at Booligal, was at Mossgiel. Apparently he was looking for grog carts (possibly sly grog carts) in the area. This gives an idea of the wide range of duties which troopers were required to undertake in addition to chasing bushrangers. As the two bushrangers approached he was on the homestead verandah talking to a Mr Dobbins. He was dressed in plain clothes because he was on duty in the bush.

Seeing the two men the bushrangers drew their revolvers and, presenting them at the men, asked Dobbin if he was Constable McNamara. Presumably they had information he was in the area. Dobbin replied that he wasn't, so Brookman asked the same question of McNamara. The reply was again "No". As he spoke Williams' and Brookman's attention was diverted by something. Immediately the brave Constable rushed Brookman and and instantly the two men were involved in a violent struggle. During this Brookman's revolver discharged, wounding the Constable in the hand. Brookman now yelled for Williams to assist him, however, at the same moment Mr Peerman, Overseer of Mossgiel and another man, Mr Crombie, arrived on the scene. With Dobbin they rushed Williams and Brookman, quickly overpowering. Unfortunately during the struggle Brookman's revolver discharged again. This time the ball struck Constable McNamara in the back of the head.

The captured bushrangers were quickly searched. Among other possessions they had five revolvers, fully capped and loaded, and nearly one hundred and twenty pounds, probably their cut of the money taken from the shearers. The two bushrangers were secured and then placed under guard in a hut. As this occurred Kelly and Payne arrived at Mossgiel with about thirty horseman they had bailed up on the road to the station. Presumably they expected the station to have been secured by their colleagues so they could conduct further robbery at their leisure. Their shock at seeing their colleagues taken was quickly evident. They wheeled around and, setting spurs to their horses, galloped away. Williams and Brookman were transferred to Deniliquin while the police set out after the other two gang members. Payne was caught after some smart work by Constable Harper at a pub near Booligal on 05 December while a sick Kelly was arrested two days later in the bush by the same Constable.

It should be noted that neither the wounded McNamara (who recovered from his wounds) or Harper were rewarded or received any of the medals issued by the government to people who had shown bravery in capturing bushrangers.

The four bushrnagers were arraigned at Deniliquin Central Court on 16 January 1868. Brookman and Williams were charged with Wounding with Intent to Kill Constable Michael McNamara in the Execution of His Duty, a swinging offence. Found Guilty they were both sentenced to death. Payne and Kelly were both charged with Robbery Under Arms and found Guilty. Kelly copped two sentences of 15 years each; Payne 10 years.

Although normally mandatory for such offences the Administration once again demonstrated clemency and the death sentence against Brookamn and Williams was commuted to 15 years' gaol. This created an outcry in the Riverina/Lachlan areas with angry letters printed in local papers and at least one Editorial criticising 'false sympathy shown to Brookman because he was a mere boy.' This may seem harsh to some, however, a 17 year-old was considered a man in colonial days. Also, he had committed major crimes like a man, it was fitting he be punished as one.

However, fate had more fortune for Brookman. In 1874 there was considerable interest and Parliamentary debate about the fate of some two dozen bushrangers in gaol. The prevailing mood was that they represented an older period and should be released. This mood was not shared in the bush. Parliamentary debate aside, Brookman became the test case debated in the parliamentary debate of 03 July 1874. The full details are to be found in Boxall Chapter 24. As a result Bookman was recommended to be released along with all the others on 08 July 1874. However, it was not until 08 March 1875 that he finally saw freedom.

It would appear Bookman learned his lesson for he dropped out of history's eye and nothing more is known about him. No doubt his death record is held somewhere in the Archives for anyone interested to dig out.

This article © Andrew Stackpool, 1998.