The real Captain Starlight was a villain named Frank Pearson, who at various times used aliases including Dr. Pearson, Major Lacey and Gordon. He was born in England in 1837 and arrived in Australia in 1866. His immediate movements are unknown, however, in 1868 he surfaced in northern New South Wales in company with a Queensland bushranger named Charles Rutherford. They bailed up a party of travellers near Walgett, stealing some money and a revolver. However, the travellers were able to give a good description of the men to the police and soon a Queensland Police trooper named McManus, a New South Wales trooper named McCabe and a blacktracker were on their track.

On 05 October 1868 the two bushrangers stole some horses from a property about 15 miles from the Queensland border and then made for the hamlet of Eringonia where there was an inn owned by a man named William Shearer. Upon arriving on 6th October they quickly entered the building, drew their revolvers and ordered everyone inside to "Bail Up!"

As luck would have it McManus and McCabe were in the inn, obtaining fresh provisions for their pursuit. As soon as the bushrangers made their threat the two police officers grabbed their carbines and opened fire. Realising the identity of the two officers, the bushrangers opened fire simultaneously. Several shots were fired by both sides in rapid succession. Pearson was hit twice, in the wrist and shoulder, however, one of his bullets struck Constable McCabe in the left side where it did serious injury.

In the cloud of blinding smoke from the discharged gunpowder the two villains managed to make their way out of the building, followed by more shots from McManus. Quickly catching their horses they galloped off towards the border, dropping a revolver in their haste.

The seriously-wounded McCabe was carried to a sofa and a doctor was summoned. For several days his condition changed and eventually he seemed to be recovering. However, after about four weeks he suddenly deteriorated and, despite the efforts of the doctor, on 1 November he died. He is buried in Bourke Cemetery.

The police pursuit of Starlight the Bushranger turned Starlight the Murderer now swung into top gear and continued for another two months. However, Pearson and Rutherford managed to keep one step ahead of the police and committed several more robberies of both travellers and stations.

On 20 December a Sergeant Cleary of the Bourke Police received information that Starlight and Rutherford had bailed up and robbed a property about 40 miles from Bourke, taking a horse, clothing and a quantity of food. Before departing they had forced all the men on the property to "drink the health of Captain Starlight". Accompanied by a Constable and a blacktracker Sgt Cleary set out and arrived at a station named Gundabooka on the late afternoon of 23 December. The owner told him that the bushrangers had been there the night before. As they were talking the blacktracker suddenly spotted a man riding up some nearby hills. Immediately the police set out in pursuit and eventually closed to within about 30 meters of the man, who later turned out to be Pearson. Shots were exchanged and with his fourth shot Sergeant Cleary shot Pearson's horse. Pearson jumped clear and managed to escape into the bush in the darkness.

Over the next two days the police searched the area and, finally, on 25 December tracked Starlight to a cave a few miles away. Although he was armed with two revolvers he did not try to resist. He was secured and taken to Bourke where he was charged with the murder of Senior Constable McCabe and committed for trial.

Captain Starlight was tried at Bathurst on 3 May 1869. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. However, this was subsequently commuted to Life Imprisonment with the first three years to be served in irons. Pearson did not serve Life. In 1884 he was released.

Pearson seems to have remained out of trouble for a few years. However, on 11 December 1891 he was convicted in Brisbane (under the alias of Walter Gordon) of two charges of forgery and sentenced to two years' gaol. After his release in 1893 he became a confidence trickster and continued a life of petty crime until he accidentally killed himself on 22 December 1899 by drinking potassium cyanide while drunk instead of a prescribed medicine.

Meanwhile, what had become of Charles Rutherford?

He continued bailing up travellers, coaches and properties until 6 September 1869 when he bailed up the hotel of a Mr. Beauvais, near Warren. During the robbery Mr. Beauvais managed to get very close to him and suddenly grappled with him. As they did so Rutherford inadvertently pulled the trigger of his revolver which fired. The bullet smashed up through his jaw, mortally wounding him. He never regained consciousness and died the following day.

Mr. Beauvais received a reward of one hundred pounds which had been posted for Rutherford's capture and many years later also received one of the gold medals presented by the Government to people who had shown conspicuous gallantry in capturing bushrangers. It is worth noting that civilians like Beauvais received gold medals, police officers silver.

Profile prepared by Andrew Stackpool, 1998.