42
4.3. 77
Police Constable and at present doing duty at the Jail, having been so employed about two months. On the morning of the 21st April I went on duty at 6. A. M. my usual duty has been as overseer over the Stone gang.
This morning 121 Convicts were "told off" for the gang and two Turnkeys named Hicks and Johnson, two European Constables, namely Joell and Manly, and two Indian Constables formed the guard; a number of Convicts that belonged to the Stone gang but they wanted to join this gang were sent back to their proper gang, this had often occurred before and did not excite my suspicions.
There were two Stone Boats sent to a place out of sight from the Hulk, one of the boats was laden before the time to breakfast, and a little stone was placed on board the other boat. After went to breakfast the whole gang marching along shore, and after having breakfast the same gang of men went back under the same escort to resume labor.
The whole carrying poles had been left near to the place of work and when we arrived there the Convicts took up their carrying poles and were ordered to "fall in" and at that moment I received a blow on the back of my head from which I fell insensible; when I came to myself I saw Sankey Hicks lying near bleeding from the head.
I was getting into the unladen Stone Boat