John Lang's book, 'Botany Bay'
(about 1840), where the yarn is much dressed up; and in Mr.
Montgomery Martin's 'History of the British Colonies,' vol. iv.
(1835). Nowhere is a date given, but Mr. Martin says that the
events occurred while he was in the colony. His most intimate
surviving friend has often heard him tell the tale, and discuss it
with a legal official, who is said to have been present at the trial
of the overseer.* Other living witnesses have heard the story from
a gentleman who attended the trial. Mr. Martin's narrative given as
a lowest date, the occurrences were before 1835. Moreover, the yarn
of the ghost was in circulation before that year, and was accepted
by a serious writer on a serious subject. But we have still no date
for the murder.
*So the friend informs me in a letter of November 1896.
That date shall now be given. Frederick Fisher was murdered by
George Worrall, his overseer, at Campbelltown on June 16 (or 17),
1826. After that date, as Fisher was missing, Worrall told various
tales to account for his absence. The trial of Worrall is reported
in the 'Sydney Gazette' of February 5, 1827.
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