Outback Graves Markers

Charles HOWARD (more)

Cause of Death: Acute indigestion

The deceased gentleman hailed from Queensland where he was brought up with at least four siblings.  Those known were: Charles born 7 December 1866 (Birth Registration 1866/C/171), died 21 December 1866 (Death Registration 1867/C/126; John Bradley born 16 December 1869 (Birth Registration 1870/C/108); Evaline Kate (Mrs O'Neill) born 5 December 1874 (Birth Registration 1875/C/2817); William Thomas born 20 April 1877 (Birth Registration 1877/C/2854) and Adelaide Mary (Mrs Rowson).  Their parents married on 19 March 1866 (Marriage Registration (1882/C/60).

Dr Edward Prince VINES (more)

Cause of Death: Speared by natives

There was an inquest held concerning the death of Dr. Vines, whereupon a verdict was returned of wilful murder committed by natives Melon, Dandy, Dick, Jim, Trooper, Jimmy, and other natives unknown. The doctor was killed by a spear driven through the left side of the chest, downwards through the heart. Hodgson had five spear wounds, one going right through the left shoulder. He was progressing favourably.  A police party, fully equipped for six weeks, left Warramagine to search for the natives.
Braeside was a sheep station owned by a Mr Warburton and managed by Herbert Hodgson, who lived there with his wife and one child and a second child was expected.  On the day previous to the Aboriginal attack, Hodgson and his right hand man had a 'dust up' with one of the native shepherds.  The next morning, the natives came up in force.  The homestead was situated between two hills, an ideal spot for attack by natives.
Dr Vines, at this time, was at Braeside to attend to Isabella Hodgson in her confinement.  Being a stranger to the ways of natives, he opened the door to see what all the trouble was about and was immediately speared through the chest.
Hodgson and his son were sleeping on the roof sleep-out of one of the buildings and they only saved their lives by protecting themselves with the bed mattresses.
Mr. Hodgson stated that after he called for help, he covered himself with a mattress and he felt a number of spears strike against it harmlessly.
The blacks tried to mount a staging where he was lying but a dog drove them off. The dog was afterwards speared and killed. Mrs. Hodgson stated that a native came to the doorway with a spear ready to throw at her. She covered him with a revolver, but it misfired. A verdict of wilful murder against the natives Melon (who was eventually acquitted), Dandy Jim, Trooper Jim, and others unknown was returned
When a native from Warrawagine Station, 30 miles from Braeside, arrived at Bamboo Creek, he brought with him the news that "on Friday night last, the natives made a raid on the Braeside homestead, killing Dr. E. Vines, the R.M.O. at Marble Bar, who was attending Mrs. Hodgson, the wife of the manager, and spearing Mr. H. J. Hodgson in several places. One spear is said to have gone clean through the body somewhere about the chest."
Mr. F. G. Thompson, manager of the Warrawagine station, sent help and, if possible, would remove Mrs. Isabella Hodgson, who was believed to be in confinement, but it was expected that Mr. Hodgson would succumb to his injuries.
Sergeant Smyth, accompanied by Mr. G. D. Brockman, J.P., started out to Braeside. They were joined by constables and black trackers from Nullagine. The native who brought in the news stated that the Pedong natives were the principal actors in the dreadful tragedy.
The doctor was apparently speared in his sleep and killed. The natives then speared Mr Hodgson in seven places and would probably have finished both he and wife but for the courage and determination shown by the grievously wounded man. He managed to beat off his assailants and then started to convey his wife down to civilisation. On the road she was confined, having no other attendant but her sorely-stricken husband.
The Executive Council later decided that the death sentence passed on the three natives in connection with the Braeside tragedy, in which Dr. Vines lost his life, was to be carried out at Roebourne Gaol.
All the witnesses at the trial gave positive evidence that a native named "Dandy Jim" was the real murderer and each recognised the spear taken from the body of the victim as belonging to "Dandy Jim." Although many attempts were made to secure the murderer, all failed, and the incident was almost forgotten till interest was revived again when it became known that "Dandy Jim", after a lapse of four years, had been captured on the Oakover River by Constable Stevens, who has not long been stationed at Nullagine.
On 10 December 1903, Dandy Jim was committed for trial at Perth on a charge of having murdered Dr. Vines, on Braeside Station, over four years before.
Dr Vines was buried very close to the old homestead. His grave is located on a corner behind the ruins on the old Telfa road.