TIMELINE: 1884-1886
1884:
After his release from Darlinghurst Gaol, Pearson was assisted by the Sisters of Charity for a time. He was then rumoured to have done some stock work and possibly helped with the re-decoration of a church in Orange. Sometime during the following 2 years he travelled
north to QLD.
1886:
Dec 8: obtained the sum of £12 from James McCall, Thargomindah, by means of a false cheque (using the alias 'Dr Lamb'
Dec (before Christmas): 'Dr Lamb' stayed at Ridley Williams’ Fairleigh Station
After his release from Darlinghurst Gaol, Pearson was assisted by the Sisters of Charity for a time. He was then rumoured to have done some stock work and possibly helped with the re-decoration of a church in Orange. Sometime during the following 2 years he travelled
north to QLD.
1886:
Dec 8: obtained the sum of £12 from James McCall, Thargomindah, by means of a false cheque (using the alias 'Dr Lamb'
Dec (before Christmas): 'Dr Lamb' stayed at Ridley Williams’ Fairleigh Station
TIMELINE: 1887
1887
Jan (early): Pearson, under the name of ‘Dr Lamb’ of Thargomindah, was trapped by floodwaters near Norley, QLD
(Brisbane Courier, 6 Jan 1887, p.6)
Jan 24: Charged with obtaining the sum of £12 from James McCall (actually McColl), under the name of William Lamb, alias Doctor Lamb. Supposed to have gone to Windorah or Birdsville riding a black mare and leading a pack horse (QPG 29 Jan 1887)
Feb 7: Arrived in Springsure. Passed a false cheque for £11 to Martin T. Burke at Hinton Bros store, using the name Frank Gordon
Feb 26: Martin Burke reported the false cheque to the Springsure police and a warrant was issued for Frank Gordon
March 7: Frank Gordon was charged with obtaining money to the value of £11 8s from Messrs. Hinton Bros on the 7th Feb, by means of false pretences. It was noted that the offender was the same man as William Lamb
March ?: Stayed with Owen Charles Joseph Beardmore at his station ‘Tooloombah’, north-west of Rockhampton.
April 3: Arrived at Apis Creek and stayed with Charles Ranald and Augusta Aimée Wilsone. He was using the name Edwin F. M. Waller
April – about a week later, Lamb/Gordon/Waller:
April 14: Near Westwood he met Thomas Charles Mackay and introduced himself as the agent of the de Salis Brothers of Strathmore Station.
‘Waller’ stayed the night at Mackay’s Queen’s Hotel, promising to engage Mackay’s young son as a stockrider at a salary of 10
shillings per week
April 15: ‘Waller’ left the hotel and rode to Calliungal (Mt Morgan) then through Rannes to Biloela. He stayed the night at the home of William
Nott: Greycliffe Station
April: Police in Rockhampton received a letter from someone describing Waller/Lamb/Gordon and his movements; Constable Edward
Barry of the Rockhampton Mounted Force rode to the vicinity of Westwood, where he and Senior Constable Williams of Marlborough
hunted Starlight
April 16: Senior-constable Glackin and Constable John Mallon saw Starlight at Banana but failed to recognise him. Starlight camped about 9 miles out of town. He was reported to have been using the name ‘Ernest Lacey’.
April 17: Starlight travelled to Camboon where he stayed a few days.
April 19: Senior Constable John Joseph Williams of Marlborough received word that he was in the vicinity and he set out in pursuit
April 20: Williams and F.W. Beardmore followed the trail through Gogango and Westwood to Camboon
April 23: Constable Glackin and an Aboriginal tracker set out from Banana and travelled via Camboon to Cockatoo, thirty miles east of Taroom. There he came upon Starlight and arrested him and charged him with obtaining money to the value of £11 8s from Messrs. Hinton Bros on 7 February by means of false pretences. He also charged him with obtaining £12 from James McColl under false pretences. As they prepared to return to the police station, Starlight swallowed a bottle of medicine and cried “I have done it! And no human skill can restore me!” Glackin enlisted the help of the station owner, Mr Lord, who gave him an emetic. The bottle was later found to contain croton chloral and possibly morphia. Glackin took Starlight to Taroom.
April 25: W. Lamb alias Dr Lamb alias Gordon alias Mead alias Waller faced the Police Court at Taroom; the prisoner was remanded while awaiting the production of the warrants. During this time someone had made the discovery of a possible connection between the prisoner and the notorious bushranger ‘Dr Pearson’; papers from NSW were forwarded to Inspector Stuart and the connection was made.
May 18: Starlight was returned to Springsure to face the court. Since two witnesses were unable to attend, and since the facilities at Springsure
were unsuitable for long-term detention, the Police Magistrate decided to send Pearson to Rockhampton for trial
May 20: Starlight travelled to Rockhampton on the mail train
May 21: ‘Frank Gordon’ faced the Rockhampton Police Court. Since the court awaited the arrival of a witness from Cunnamulla, court was
adjourned and Gordon remanded
June 4: Gordon faced the Rockhampton Police Court again. The witness was still unavailable and court was adjourned again, to Gordon’s
distress
June 28: Gordon faced the Rockhampton Police Court again. The police magistrate was Mr Lukin, the crown prosecutor was Mr Patrick Real
and Mr Charles Sydney Dick Melbourne acted for Gordon’s defence. At last Gordon was committed to face trial at the District Court to
be held in Rockhampton on 14 July
July 14: Gordon’s trial was held in the Central District Court at Rockhampton before Judge Granville George Miller. Gordon was found guilty of
forging a cheque in the name of Ridley Williams. Miller was unaware of Gordon’s past deeds as Captain Starlight and sentenced him to
a mere fifteen months of hard labour in Brisbane Gaol
July: Gordon was admitted to Boggo Road Gaol in Brisbane
Aug 4: Gordon was transferred to St Helena Island, where he befriended Patrick Edward Pelly Back to top
Jan (early): Pearson, under the name of ‘Dr Lamb’ of Thargomindah, was trapped by floodwaters near Norley, QLD
(Brisbane Courier, 6 Jan 1887, p.6)
Jan 24: Charged with obtaining the sum of £12 from James McCall (actually McColl), under the name of William Lamb, alias Doctor Lamb. Supposed to have gone to Windorah or Birdsville riding a black mare and leading a pack horse (QPG 29 Jan 1887)
Feb 7: Arrived in Springsure. Passed a false cheque for £11 to Martin T. Burke at Hinton Bros store, using the name Frank Gordon
Feb 26: Martin Burke reported the false cheque to the Springsure police and a warrant was issued for Frank Gordon
March 7: Frank Gordon was charged with obtaining money to the value of £11 8s from Messrs. Hinton Bros on the 7th Feb, by means of false pretences. It was noted that the offender was the same man as William Lamb
March ?: Stayed with Owen Charles Joseph Beardmore at his station ‘Tooloombah’, north-west of Rockhampton.
April 3: Arrived at Apis Creek and stayed with Charles Ranald and Augusta Aimée Wilsone. He was using the name Edwin F. M. Waller
April – about a week later, Lamb/Gordon/Waller:
- Visited the Tookers at Leura station and then
- Owen Beardmore’s nephew Francis John Wathen Beardmore of Balcomba Station, near Duaringa. Beardmore distrusted ‘Waller’
- travelled south to Duaringa, where he sent a telegram to the Wilsones regarding stock purchase
- Caught the train to Gogango and asked for accommodation at the home of Mr John Thomas Bartholomew but was refused
- Travelled to Westwood and tried to buy stock from a German selector
- Continued to the home of William Lawrence and asked for accommodation and a cattle sale but was refused
April 14: Near Westwood he met Thomas Charles Mackay and introduced himself as the agent of the de Salis Brothers of Strathmore Station.
‘Waller’ stayed the night at Mackay’s Queen’s Hotel, promising to engage Mackay’s young son as a stockrider at a salary of 10
shillings per week
April 15: ‘Waller’ left the hotel and rode to Calliungal (Mt Morgan) then through Rannes to Biloela. He stayed the night at the home of William
Nott: Greycliffe Station
April: Police in Rockhampton received a letter from someone describing Waller/Lamb/Gordon and his movements; Constable Edward
Barry of the Rockhampton Mounted Force rode to the vicinity of Westwood, where he and Senior Constable Williams of Marlborough
hunted Starlight
April 16: Senior-constable Glackin and Constable John Mallon saw Starlight at Banana but failed to recognise him. Starlight camped about 9 miles out of town. He was reported to have been using the name ‘Ernest Lacey’.
April 17: Starlight travelled to Camboon where he stayed a few days.
April 19: Senior Constable John Joseph Williams of Marlborough received word that he was in the vicinity and he set out in pursuit
April 20: Williams and F.W. Beardmore followed the trail through Gogango and Westwood to Camboon
April 23: Constable Glackin and an Aboriginal tracker set out from Banana and travelled via Camboon to Cockatoo, thirty miles east of Taroom. There he came upon Starlight and arrested him and charged him with obtaining money to the value of £11 8s from Messrs. Hinton Bros on 7 February by means of false pretences. He also charged him with obtaining £12 from James McColl under false pretences. As they prepared to return to the police station, Starlight swallowed a bottle of medicine and cried “I have done it! And no human skill can restore me!” Glackin enlisted the help of the station owner, Mr Lord, who gave him an emetic. The bottle was later found to contain croton chloral and possibly morphia. Glackin took Starlight to Taroom.
April 25: W. Lamb alias Dr Lamb alias Gordon alias Mead alias Waller faced the Police Court at Taroom; the prisoner was remanded while awaiting the production of the warrants. During this time someone had made the discovery of a possible connection between the prisoner and the notorious bushranger ‘Dr Pearson’; papers from NSW were forwarded to Inspector Stuart and the connection was made.
May 18: Starlight was returned to Springsure to face the court. Since two witnesses were unable to attend, and since the facilities at Springsure
were unsuitable for long-term detention, the Police Magistrate decided to send Pearson to Rockhampton for trial
May 20: Starlight travelled to Rockhampton on the mail train
May 21: ‘Frank Gordon’ faced the Rockhampton Police Court. Since the court awaited the arrival of a witness from Cunnamulla, court was
adjourned and Gordon remanded
June 4: Gordon faced the Rockhampton Police Court again. The witness was still unavailable and court was adjourned again, to Gordon’s
distress
June 28: Gordon faced the Rockhampton Police Court again. The police magistrate was Mr Lukin, the crown prosecutor was Mr Patrick Real
and Mr Charles Sydney Dick Melbourne acted for Gordon’s defence. At last Gordon was committed to face trial at the District Court to
be held in Rockhampton on 14 July
July 14: Gordon’s trial was held in the Central District Court at Rockhampton before Judge Granville George Miller. Gordon was found guilty of
forging a cheque in the name of Ridley Williams. Miller was unaware of Gordon’s past deeds as Captain Starlight and sentenced him to
a mere fifteen months of hard labour in Brisbane Gaol
July: Gordon was admitted to Boggo Road Gaol in Brisbane
Aug 4: Gordon was transferred to St Helena Island, where he befriended Patrick Edward Pelly Back to top
TIMELINE: 1888
1888
July 29: Gordon was released from St Helena Island and re-arrested by Detective John Henders and charged for his crime against James
McColl, committed in Thargomindah back in December 1886. Gordon was taken back to Thargomindah
Aug 6: Frank Gordon was brought before the Police Court at Thargomindah and charged with passing a valueless cheque. The Police
Magistrate ordered that he be removed to the Roma Gaol and from there be taken to Cunnamulla to be tried at the District Court. This
was later changed to Toowoomba
Aug 14: Gordon was admitted to Toowoomba Gaol
Sept 3: Gordon was taken to face the District Court Judge, Mr George William Paul. Gordon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months’
imprisonment with hard labour at the Toowoomba Gaol.
Dec 1: Gordon was released from Toowoomba Gaol Back to top
July 29: Gordon was released from St Helena Island and re-arrested by Detective John Henders and charged for his crime against James
McColl, committed in Thargomindah back in December 1886. Gordon was taken back to Thargomindah
Aug 6: Frank Gordon was brought before the Police Court at Thargomindah and charged with passing a valueless cheque. The Police
Magistrate ordered that he be removed to the Roma Gaol and from there be taken to Cunnamulla to be tried at the District Court. This
was later changed to Toowoomba
Aug 14: Gordon was admitted to Toowoomba Gaol
Sept 3: Gordon was taken to face the District Court Judge, Mr George William Paul. Gordon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months’
imprisonment with hard labour at the Toowoomba Gaol.
Dec 1: Gordon was released from Toowoomba Gaol Back to top
Sources 1884-1888
Newspapers
(1887, Jan 6). Brisbane Courier, p.6
(1887, May 11). Morning Bulletin, p.4.
(1887, May 18). Morning Bulletin, p.5.
(1887, May 21). Morning Bulletin, pp. 4,5.
(1887, May 23). Morning Bulletin, p. 4, 5.
(1887, May 28). Morning Bulletin, pp. 4, 5.
(1887, May 30). Morning Bulletin, p.4
(1887, July 16). Morning Bulletin, pp. 4,5.
(1888, Aug 25). The Queenslander, p.309.
A notable Individual. (1887, April 30). The Capricornian, pp. 23,24.
A notable individual. (1887, May 2). The Morning Bulletin, p.5.
A notable individual. (1887, May 7) The Brisbane Courier, p.3
A notable individual. (1887, May 21). The Queenslander, p.823.
A Notable Individual. (1887, May 24). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
A notable individual. Arrest after a rapid ride. (1887, April 27). Morning Bulletin, p.5.
A notable individual: further details. (1887, April 28). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
A sensational story: Starlight the bushranger a civil servant. (1900, Nov 27). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p.38, 39.
An impostor caught. (1887, April 28). The Brisbane Courier, p.6.
An impostor caught. (1887, April 28). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser
Brisbane. (1888, July 28). The Singleton Argus, p.2.
Central District Court. (1887, July 15). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
Charge of uttering valueless cheques. (1888, Sept 4). Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser.
False pretences. (1888, Sept 5). The Darling Downs Gazette.
Local news. (1888, Sept 3). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, p.2.
Rockhampton Police Court. (1887, June 29). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
Taroom. (1887, May 5). Brisbane Courier, p. 2.
Taroom. (1887, May 7). The Queenslander, pp. 738, 739.
Thargomindah. (1888, Aug 11). The Queenslander, p.224.
Toowoomba (1888, Sept 4). The Brisbane Courier, p.5.
Toowoomba. (1888, Sept 8). The Queenslander, p.448
Police Gazettes
(1887, Jan 29). Queensland Police Gazette, p.69
(1887, March 12). Queensland Police Gazette, p.114
(1887, May 7). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 176.
(1887, May 28). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 200.
(1888, July 7). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 243.
(1887, July 30). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 263.
(1888, Sept 22). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 328.
(1888, Dec 8). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 407.
Queensland State Archives
Item ID823155, Watch-house Charge Book
Item ID278878, Register – warrants. [26 Feb 1887: Frank Gordon]
Item ID867870, Register - depositions [Regina vs Frank Gordon alias Dr Lamb]
Item ID2945, Register - prison admissions [Description book (males) - HM Gaol, Brisbane (Boggo Road) - 1887 Frank Gordon, no.642]
Item ID 92274, Register – prisoners. Register of prisoners with allocated gaol/cell numbers - H. M. Penal Establishment, St Helena. Film 2038;
Frank Gordon gaol no. 187 Patrick Pelly gaol no. 124
Item ID92276, Letterbook; letter 13, 17 August 1887.
Item ID104860, Index - prisoners. Index to male and female prisoners admitted - HM Gaol, Toowoomba/HM Prison, Toowoomba. Frank Gordon
1887, No. 172
Item ID104859, Register - court cases. Court Book - HM Gaol/Prison, Toowoomba
State Library of Victoria
Starlight Captain (1887). Papers. Unpublished manuscript
Books
McCarthy, P. (1972). Starlight: the man and the myth. Melbourne: Hawthorne Press.
Penny, L. (2010). St Helena Island Moreton Bay: an historical account . Brisbane: Inspire Publishing.
Back to top
Newspapers
(1887, Jan 6). Brisbane Courier, p.6
(1887, May 11). Morning Bulletin, p.4.
(1887, May 18). Morning Bulletin, p.5.
(1887, May 21). Morning Bulletin, pp. 4,5.
(1887, May 23). Morning Bulletin, p. 4, 5.
(1887, May 28). Morning Bulletin, pp. 4, 5.
(1887, May 30). Morning Bulletin, p.4
(1887, July 16). Morning Bulletin, pp. 4,5.
(1888, Aug 25). The Queenslander, p.309.
A notable Individual. (1887, April 30). The Capricornian, pp. 23,24.
A notable individual. (1887, May 2). The Morning Bulletin, p.5.
A notable individual. (1887, May 7) The Brisbane Courier, p.3
A notable individual. (1887, May 21). The Queenslander, p.823.
A Notable Individual. (1887, May 24). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
A notable individual. Arrest after a rapid ride. (1887, April 27). Morning Bulletin, p.5.
A notable individual: further details. (1887, April 28). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
A sensational story: Starlight the bushranger a civil servant. (1900, Nov 27). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p.38, 39.
An impostor caught. (1887, April 28). The Brisbane Courier, p.6.
An impostor caught. (1887, April 28). Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser
Brisbane. (1888, July 28). The Singleton Argus, p.2.
Central District Court. (1887, July 15). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
Charge of uttering valueless cheques. (1888, Sept 4). Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser.
False pretences. (1888, Sept 5). The Darling Downs Gazette.
Local news. (1888, Sept 3). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, p.2.
Rockhampton Police Court. (1887, June 29). Morning Bulletin, p. 5.
Taroom. (1887, May 5). Brisbane Courier, p. 2.
Taroom. (1887, May 7). The Queenslander, pp. 738, 739.
Thargomindah. (1888, Aug 11). The Queenslander, p.224.
Toowoomba (1888, Sept 4). The Brisbane Courier, p.5.
Toowoomba. (1888, Sept 8). The Queenslander, p.448
Police Gazettes
(1887, Jan 29). Queensland Police Gazette, p.69
(1887, March 12). Queensland Police Gazette, p.114
(1887, May 7). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 176.
(1887, May 28). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 200.
(1888, July 7). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 243.
(1887, July 30). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 263.
(1888, Sept 22). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 328.
(1888, Dec 8). Queensland Police Gazette, p. 407.
Queensland State Archives
Item ID823155, Watch-house Charge Book
Item ID278878, Register – warrants. [26 Feb 1887: Frank Gordon]
Item ID867870, Register - depositions [Regina vs Frank Gordon alias Dr Lamb]
Item ID2945, Register - prison admissions [Description book (males) - HM Gaol, Brisbane (Boggo Road) - 1887 Frank Gordon, no.642]
Item ID 92274, Register – prisoners. Register of prisoners with allocated gaol/cell numbers - H. M. Penal Establishment, St Helena. Film 2038;
Frank Gordon gaol no. 187 Patrick Pelly gaol no. 124
Item ID92276, Letterbook; letter 13, 17 August 1887.
Item ID104860, Index - prisoners. Index to male and female prisoners admitted - HM Gaol, Toowoomba/HM Prison, Toowoomba. Frank Gordon
1887, No. 172
Item ID104859, Register - court cases. Court Book - HM Gaol/Prison, Toowoomba
State Library of Victoria
Starlight Captain (1887). Papers. Unpublished manuscript
Books
McCarthy, P. (1972). Starlight: the man and the myth. Melbourne: Hawthorne Press.
Penny, L. (2010). St Helena Island Moreton Bay: an historical account . Brisbane: Inspire Publishing.
Back to top
