Bushrangers: Tom Clarke and Pat Connell

CLARKE, James South 1866

Brother of Thomas and John Clarke, but not a participant in their exploits (being in gaol at the time).

CLARKE, John South 1866

Brother of Thomas and James, member of the Clarke gang.
The third offender, charged with robbing Levy's store at Micalago, and supposed to be Young Hyland ... There are reasons for believing that the offender is not Hyland, but John Clarke, a younger brother of the outlaw.

[NSW PG No. 25, 20 June 1866, p. 224]

CLARKE, Thomas & John South 1865-7

The Clarke gang comprised the brothers Tom, John and James, uncle Patrick Connell, and their friends or relations in the Jingera Mountains: other Clarkes and Connells, the Berrimans, James Dornan, James Griffin and others. It is beyond the scope of this dictionary to cover their many crimes and intricate story. There is no reliable secondary source, but John O'Sullivan's The Bloodiest Bushrangers remains the best so far, although the title (besides much else in the book) must be disputed.

 

CONNELL, Patrick South 1861/6

Associate of the Clarke gang, active in 1861 and 1866.

 

APPREHENSION OF PAT CONNELL:- Pat Connell and Kingsley, his mate, who have both been long wanted by the police in connection with the Jingera mob, were apprehended on Friday morning under the following circumstances. Constable Geeland, of the Braidwood police, having been out on duty on Thursday, received information that Connell had been to Long Flat and procured a bottle of grog, and proceeded thence to Round Flat. Constable Geelan informed Mr. Hogg on his return to Braidwood; and Mr. Hogg, in company with Constables Geelan and Brennan, left town at half past ten o'clock and and proceeded to John Connell's Round Flat, where they arrived about four o'clock, and bailing up the inmates, succeeded in apprehending the persons sought after, bringing them into Braidwood and safely depositing them in the lock-up.

[Goulburn Herald 11 December 1861].

*

Patrick Connel, against whom there was a warrant out, was apprehended at Jerrabatgully on Saturday last, by Sergeant Stapylton of Major's Creek, and was brought up at the Braidwood police-court on Monday charged with having on the 13th of November last stolen two race-horses the property of Mr. Mellon of Merricumbene.

[GHC 20 January 1866].

 

Braidwood Old Courthouse