Patrick and James (Jimmy) Kenniff

The Kenniff  Brothers, Patrick and James, are often referred to (not entirely accurately) as "Australia's Last Bushrangers". They grew up in New South Wales and came to the Mitchell area in the 1890s living  at Morven originally Saddlers' Waterhole on the Warrego River. It was not long before they were involved in horse stealing and cattle duffing.

In March 1895, Patrick Kenniff was sentenced to 4 years gaol for horse-stealing, whilst Jimmy received a 3 year sentence. They served their time at St Helena Island in Moreton Bay. After their release in 1897 they took up a large grazing lease, "Ralph". When 1000 cattle went missing from the neighbouring property, "Carnarvon", suspicion fell on the Kenniffs.

They sold "Ralph" to the owners of "Carnarvon" and began a nomadic existence, and often were seen riding armed. The brothers camped near Kenniff Cave, a famous Pleistocene site at Mt Moffat, Carnarvon National Park, Qld. In December, 1897 they stole 40 horses in the Carnarvon region and set for Yuelba planning to ship the horses to Toowoomba by train. They distracted the police by holding up the Yuelba General Store and lead the police down a false trail out of town, then circled back to load the horses. In Toowoomba they sold the horses and went on a spending spree but made the mistake of cashing a cheque stolen form the Yuleba store.

Over the next two years they were involved in horse and cattle stealing from Carnarvon to Augathella, and were eventually captured. Patrick was convicted in Roma on 22 August 1899 for the theft of a cheque from Hunter's Store, Yuleba and was sentenced to 3 years. He was released on 12 November 1901.

On 21 March 1902 the Roma police took out a warrant against the Kenniffs for the theft of a pony in October 1901. (It is interesting to note that the warrant for the theft of a pony on or about 25 October 1901 was issued when Patrick Kenniff was still in gaol, serving his sentence for the robbery at Yuelba. He was not released until 12 November 1901!) A police posse set out to search for them. In charge was Constable George Doyle, and with him were Christian Dahlke, manager of Carnarvon and aboriginal tracker, Sam Johnson. On Easter Sunday, 1902 the posse surprised the Kenniffs camping at Lethbridge's Pocket. Doyle and Dahlke caught Jimmy but Patrick apparently escaped.  Johnson went after the party's packhorse and returned to find Doyle and Dahlke gone. When the Kenniffs galloped towards him, Johnson fled for help.

Later investigations found evidence of a gun fight (bullet marks in trees, three small fires under which clotted blood was found, a large stained rock and bone fragments). When the Doyle's packhorse was found it's saddlebags contained about 200 pounds of charcoal, later identified as human remains and personal belongings of Doyle and Dahlke.

The Scene of the Kenniff arrest near the Maranoa R, south of Mitchell. Sketch from the Sunday Truth, 6 July 1902.

A reward of £1,000 was posted and a massive manhunt took place over 3 months, until they were arrested at a camp near the Maranoa River just south of Mitchell. They gave up without a fight. They were transported to Rockhampton and committed for trial in the Supreme Court at Brisbane for the wilful murder of George Doyle and Albert Dahlke. The key witness was the tracker Samuel Johnson. Both were found guilty. Patrick Kenniff was hanged in Boggo Road Gaol on 12 January 1903. Jimmy's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and he served 16 years in gaol. After his release, Jimmy returned to Central Queensland and worked as a stockman, and later as a miner. He died in 1940.  

The trial of Australia's last bushrangers by Anthony Morris, LLB (Hons), QC at Lex Scripta gives further details of this interesting case.