Mosgiel-born Wayne Martin examines the horrendous deeds of the Burgess Gang in his book published to mark the 150th anniversary of the crimes.
A narrative history of the Burgess Gang and their greatest crime
Canterbury University Press
Murder most foul. Make that murders if you have the stomach to read Mosgiel-born Wayne Martin’s latest take on the horrendous deeds of the Burgess Gang, published to mark the 150th anniversary of the crimes.
To acquaint readers unaware of the Maungatapu homicides, I quote a relevant summary provided by the publisher.
"In June 1866, five men were murdered by the gang on the Maungatapu track, which connects Nelson and Marlborough in the upper South Island. Motivated by greed during the gold rush, the four notorious bushrangers left a trail of devastation and destruction through the surrounding communities."
Martin, who says the crimes were unparalleled in colonial New Zealand for their scale and cold-bloodedness, has delved deeply in his researches into the lives of Richard Burgess and his savage accomplices, Thomas Kelly, Phillip Levy and Joseph Sullivan.
He seems to have overlooked no detail in portraying the lives of these conscienceless bushrangers and gold-fossickers.
Nor is the reader spared accurate accounts of the trio’s last many minutes facing the Nelson hangman (Sullivan, branded by Burgess as informer, escaped the rope).
The book is strong gruel, with horrific fact the norm.
The cliche is accurate yet again: truth is stranger than fiction.
I must admit to having a particular interest in this book.
John Nash, the great-grandfather of my wife, Diane (nee Cooper), born in Killarney, Ireland, was registered as the first non-commissioned member of the newly formed New Zealand Police Force on September 1, 1866.
He had the number 1 displayed prominently on his headgear.
As Sergeant Nash, in Nelson, he was awarded a gold watch for his work in the hunt for those responsible for the five murders at Maungatapu.
Murder on the Maungatapu generously includes 32 pages of relevant monochrome illustrations.
- Clarke Isaacs is a former ODT chief of staff.
