The Tibbets Tragedy of 1862.

Murder/suicide cases are often soon forgotten, due to there being no sensational trial and.  This is a story from what was then a lonely country.

THE TIBBETS TRAGEDY. 

FROM A CORRESPONDENT. 

(To the Editor of the Daily Times.) Sir, One of the most awful and distressing occurrences has just taken place on the borders of Southland and Otago; a tragedy so frightful in its results especially to those who survive, that it is unparalleled in the history of the colony. It is in the hope that you will have a complete version of the matter, that I have been asked to forward this statement, which you may rely upon as truthful, seeing that disparaging conjectures and unjust reflections may, through the medium of the papers, not only wound the remaining actor in this matter, but what would be far worse, cause hearts at home ignorant of the truth, to bleed afresh, at wounds which time alone, with its assuaging effect, will only partially heal. 

On Wednesday last Captain Tibbets, of the Wakaia (who has been for some time deranged,) found that one of his horses which had been at Switzer's head station had its leg broken. On a sudden impulse he jumped up resolving to shoot every man at that place and started accordingly on horseback with a revolver, and finding a man thatching a hut, fired at him but without effect; throwing the pistol at his head, he rode on to where the rest of the men were at work, trying to shoot the whole of them. He then rode home sixteen miles, having picked up his revolver, cleaned it, tried it, and then preceded to do the same with a double barrelled gun, ordered his horse to be saddled, but his brother desired the man to disobey the order and to go forward to Switzer's and warn them of his intended approach. This was done and endeavours made to dissuade him, but in vain. At mid- lay next day he started for Switzer's on foot, but no one was in the hut, all having apparently decamped; his dog, however, tracked the hiding place of one poor fellow, Peter Green, who run for his life, but unfortunately too late. The madman fired two balls into him, leaving him dead on the ground; he then fired at a woman but providentially missed her; he then retraced his steps homewards. His brother, with Corporal Morton, of the Southland police, (whose cool courage throughout deserves every praise) having procured a summons from a neighboring J. P., proceeded cautiously towards the hut, at the door of which his dog was lying; but under the impression that he was within, lying (with a madman's cunning) in wait for them, they went to a patch of bush at a little distance to plant their horses, waiting till evening came on to surprise him. 

The brother however, getting impatient, went down to the hut, Morton accompanying him; both were armed, the former with a double barrel, the latter with his troopers revolver. He was not within, but hardly had they got there when he was descried approaching from the direction of Switzer's. Closing the door, they made holes in the wall, and when he approached, the brother, O. Tibbets, called out to him to lay down his gun, covering his approach at the same time, from the loophole with his gun, Corporal Morton at the other loophole, covering him in like manner with his revolver. The only answer from Captain Tibbets was a shot at his brother inside, and when again advancing nearer, still to take a deadlier aim, the poor unhappy brother, his feelings at the highest pitch of excitement, fired, and the poor madman fell dead upon the ground. The moment Charles Tibbets saw the deed he had done, he raised a pistol to put an end to his own existence, but was prevented by Morton, who threw his arm up, preventing further injury than a shot through his forefinger. He is now down here in the hospital, kindly cared for, waiting for the result, and lamenting that he had not suffered his own life to be taken in place of what had occurred. This is natural; but in such a scene, the wonderful instinct of self preservation, added to the excitement of the moment, prevented it. The deepest sympathy is felt and expressed for the poor survivor, and I do hope that you will exert the powerful influence possessed by the press, from suffering any injudicious remarks from being printed — refraining from any at all, if possible, till the coroner's inquest shall have terminated. His sorrowing mother and sister at home, will have deep grief enough to bear, when news arrives of his death; how much more will it be aggravated by unjust, unfounded, or contradictory reports. Who does not pity the unfortunate brother, compelled in self defence to take a life that drew its existence from the same breast, himself excitable, but not more than we all are. If reports or statements are circulated prejudicial to his character, what may he not do to himself? It is fortunate that Corporal Morton was on the spot — a man of undoubted courage, and accustomed to pursuit and capture of bushrangers in Victoria; he even states that this was the most dangerous expedition he was ever upon. Had not his caution persuaded the brother to use more circumspect measures, a madman's cunning would have destroyed them both, and left him still more dangerous to encounter, and the struggle to apprehend him more deadly. 

The facts above stated to the time when they arrived at the hut — are by an eyewitness. The remainder is from information from Corporal Morton, given to the same person. 

I enclose my card, and remain, 

Yours very sincerely, Pity.  -Otago Daily Times, 11/8/1862.

 INQUEST ON THE BODY OF PETER GREEN. 

An inquest upon, the body of Peter Green was held by Edwin Francis Rich, Esq., Coroner for the Clutha district, on Thursday, 7th August, when the following evidence was. taken: — 

William Farquharson deposed that, on Wednesday the 30th July, he saw James William Tibbets, commonly called Captain Tibbets coming towards the house at the Hyde home station. He then saw Peter Green jump from the top of the house and run. Captain Tibbets came round the house again with an axe raised above his head, running after Green. He continued running about fifteen yards, and then stopped and dropped the axe. He then mounted his horse and came to where witness and another man were ploughing. Captain Tibbets came to within about thirty yards of them, and said "Where is McKenzie?" They replied that he was at Invercargill. He then said, "Who is in charge of the b_____ place?" They replied no one in particular. Tibbets then asked, ''Who broke mv horse's leg?'" and then said, holding a revolver above his head, "I will come and shoot everyone of you tomorrow except the woman and child." Witness saw no more of him that night. The next day William Green came up, and warned the people at the station that Captain Tibbets was coming directly. Witness went and caught a horse, intending to get a warrant for his apprehension. When witness was about a hundred yards from the house, he saw Tibbets coming. Saw no more of him after that.

In reply to questions by the jury, the witness stated that he went to get a warrant, but that Captain Tibbets' brother was before him. Captain Tibbets appeared to be in a passion when he arrived at the hut. Never heard of Peter Green having a quarrel with Tibbets. 

James Campbell, servant to Mr. Switzer, deposed that on the 30th July, he saw Captain Tibbets come to the house. Saw him throw the ladder at Peter Green, who was on the house. He threw it up twice, and after that came round the house, and Peter Green came off the house. Tibbets chased him with the axe. After running a short distance Tibbets turned and mounted his horse, and came to where witness was ploughing, and asked where Mr. McKenzie was. Witness said that Mr. McKenzie was at Invercargill. He then asked who had charge of the sheep, and who drove away his horses. Witness replied that he did not know. He then went along, saying that he would come back to-morrow, and bullet every one except the woman and child. Witness saw no more of him that night. The next evening, about half-past 4, Mr. Green came and said that James Wm. Tibbets was coming up to shoot them all. Witness unyoked his horses, and came to the house, and then raw Tibbets coming. Witness took the spy-glass to make sure who it was. William Green went out and hid in the scrub. Witness told Mrs. McKenzie, who was in the hut, to go to the nearest scrub, and he went himself to meet the men who were coming down from the bush. When he met them, he heard a pistol go off by the hut, and they went on to the hills and heard Tibbets raging about the house.

David McGrigor said that on Thursday, July 31, he saw Tibbets coming to the house, and as soon as he came to the house he fired at it. Witness was on the terraces about half a mile at the back of the house all night. The next morning he went down towards the river, about a quarter of a mile from the house. Witness made a noise with his whip, and Tibbets came out and looked about. He then took the axe and began cutting sticks. After about ten minutes he left the house, and went in the direction of his own house. He had a gun on his shoulder. He had proceeded about half a mile when the dogs barked at Peter Green, who was approaching the house. He looked back, and Peter Green was standing before the door. Tibbets went about three steps forward, and then turned and came towards Peter Green, walking until he was close to him, and then he ran. When Green saw him coming back, he ran from the house. Tibbets came up with him, and asked him if he had broken his horse's leg. Green said, "No," but Tibbets said, "But I say you did," and then fired two shots at him, and turned off, saying, "That finishes you," and came into the house. He stayed about two minutes, and then went in the diretion of his own house. Witness saw no more of him after that. Witness went to where Green was, which was about five, hundred yards from the house, and found him dead. Witness did not think that Green had any quarrel with Tibbets, but that Green was shot for being one of the men on the station, who, Tibbets said, had broken his horse's leg.

William Green, a servant to Messrs. Tibbets, said that on the night of Wednesday, July 30, James William Tibbets came to his house in the evening. He told his brother that he had shot the grey mare, because her leg was broken. He threw a pistol on the table saying, he had put three balls into the mare, and the other would not go off. He said that Mr. Switzer's men had broken the horse's leg, and that he would go to Mr. Switzer's station, and shoot every one, except a woman and a child. He said "I shall shoot that grey horse of mine in three days; after I have done with him, no man shall ride him after me." Witness saw him load the pistol. He told witness to go and get his horse. When witness went out, his brother followed, and asked him if he was going to catch the horse. Witness said "No." He then asked witness what be was going to do. Witness said he was going to get a constable. Mr. Tibbetts said they (the constables) were both away. Witness replied that if he went to Mr. McKellar's he would meet Corporal Morton coming from the diggings. Mr. Charles Tibbets went to McKellar's, and witness went to Switzer's to warn the men, by Mr. Charles Tibbets' orders. Witness arrived at. Switzer's almost twenty minutes before Captain Tibbets About half an hour after Captain Tibbets had arrived he went outside the house, and called out, "Are you not coming to your whare to-night? You may as  well come first as last,'' and then he went in again. Witness bad been about four months with the Messrs. Tibbets. Did not think that James William Tibbets was in his right mind. Had heard him threaten to shoot his brother and others in the neighborhood. He had no drink for nine or ten days before he shot Peter Green.

The Jury found a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against James William Tibbets.  -Otago Daily Times, 16/8/1862.

SERIOUS ASSAULT ON THE POLICE.

Information was received in town on Friday night that an offence of this nature had been committed about 50 miles from Invercargill. It appears that on the morning of that day Mr. Charels Tibbets, runholder, was in company with a man named Coppinger, in the neighborhood of the Hokanui Police Station, both of them more or less under the influence of drink. When in front of the police station, a quarrel took place between Tibbets and Coppinger, and eventually they fought. Mounted Constable Quirk, of the Otago police force, came up and endeavored to separate them. They desisted, and Coppinger then mounted his horse and rode off, but returned in a short time, and after abusing both Tibbets and the trooper, who repeatedly cautioned him, he struck the latter several times on the head and face with a loaded stock whip handle, cutting his temple severely. Mounted Constable Bird, of the Southland force, the trooper in charge of the Hokanui Police Station, returned at the time and wished to take Coppinger in charge, but Quirke thought it best, seeing that both Tibbets and Coppinger were drunk, to have them arrested under a warrant.

Constable Quirke came into town on Friday night, and on Saturday morning left with a warrant for the apprehension of both the men. He was accompanied by Mounted Constables Taylor and Blatch. Such is the information the police afford, and, from what we learn from other sources, the affair is likely to prove a rather serious one.  -Southland Times, 18/11/1862.

C. M. Tibbetts, runholder, was charged by Constable Quirk as being of unsound mind. Remanded for medical examination until to-morrow. Assault. — William Coppinger was charged by Constable Quirk with violently assaulting him at Hokanui on 13th November. Mr. Hervey defended the prisoner. 

Constable Quirk sworn and examined — I am a constable in the Otago police force; I am stationed at the Mataura; on the 13th November I was at Mr. Hill's station. From information I received, I went to the police station. I met the prisoner there; he was fighting with Tibbett; Constable Bird's wife requested me to protect her, her husband being absent at the time; I separated the two, whilst fighting, several times; about an hour afterwards the prisoner left, but returned in a short time; I met him near the bush; he used very bad language to me; I asked him what he wanted with me, upon which, he (being on horse-back) struck me with a heavy whip (which I now produce) over the temples, inflicting several wounds; he struck me three times; the first blow stunned me; after unhorseing him, Tibbets pulled me away; prisoner followed me with a whip; after this, in self-defence, I struck him and knocked him down, but did not arrest him. as I knew they were both very violent men; my life was threatened unless I gave up the whip which I had in my possession belonging to prisoner; on the arrival of the other constable they left; I considered they were under the influence of drink. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Hervey. — Some time before this occurrence I resided with prisoner at Tibbets' station; we were good friends; there was drinking going on; we were in Mr. Bracken's house on the 13th. 

At this stage of the proceedings, Mr Hervey asked for a remand on the ground that he was not properly instructed by the prisoner. 

The Police Magistrate — I will deal summarily with this case — I cannot grant a remand. The assault was of a gross and unprovoked nature. 

Mr. Hervey — I think that the Court ought not to express an opinion as to the merits of the case before it has been gone into. I only require an adjournment of the case for a few hours. 

Police Magistrate — Oh, indeed; I will certainly grant that. 

Prisoner and Mr. Hervey then consulted apart for some time. In the meantime another case was called. 

Breach of Licensing Ordinance. — Mr. Watson, of the Victoria Hotel, was charged with a breach of the above act, by keeping open house for the sale of drink beyond the time allowed by law. A constable proved that drink was sold between 10 and 1 1 o'clock. Mr. Watson stated that his house was open, in consequence of some men calling and inquiring for a lodger. The Magistrate said he was compelled by the act ti inflict a fine of L2. Fined accordingly.

Assault Case resumed

Mr Hervey said he was mow ready to go on with his case. Constable Quirk was again placed in the witness box, and cross examined by Mr. Hervey. — There was some drink at Brackens; I was not under the influence of drink. I left Bracken's about 2 p.m. in company with prisoner and others; Coppinger took a bottle of gin with him; I did not drink any of it; prisoner quarrelled with Tibbet; I advised Tibbet to take no notice of prisoner; Coppinger then called me names and struck me; I did not seize him by the throat; prisoner struck me first; him in self defence; I did not offer to shake hands with him afterwards; prisoner said if I did not give him his stock whip he would take my life; he might have said he would lay an information; I considered it better, instead of arresting prisoner at the time to obtain a warrant; the usual way; I told Bird s.

Letitia Bird, sworn and examined — I am the wife of Constable Bird; I reside at the Police, station, at the Hokanui; remember the 13th of November; the prisoner and Tibbets were fighting on that day; Constable Quirk was present and separated them several times; it was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon; the prisoner left, but returned soon after; he made some remarks about Quirk, upon which Quirk asked him what he meant, at the same time laying hold of prisoner; prisoner then struck Quirk with a whip (whip produced and identified); saw only one blow struck as I turned away from the window frightened; shortly afterward on approaching the window, I saw prisoner on the ground struggling with Quirk and Tibbet; Quirk, soon after, came into the house with his face bleeding; I asked Quirk to remain until my husband returned, because prisoner and Tibbett were drunk; Quirk was perfectly sober; did not hear any names called; I hear prisoner desire Quirk to let go the bridle of his horse; Quirk was not violent before the blow was struck; he had not been drinking in my house; I did not notice whether the prisoner said "let go" before the blow was struck. 

Dr. Wm. George, sworn and examined — I am Provincial Surgeon; on the 14t inst., I examined Constable Quirk's head; there were wounds on the temples at cheeks, and several bruises; they must have been inflicted by a heavy weapon such as I now see in court (whip produced).

Alfred Bird sworn and examined — I am a constable, and stationed at Hokanui; remember the 13th November; I had conversation with Quirk, who told me of the assault; asked him why he did not arrest prisoner, he replied by saying that he thought it would be better to let the matter lie over until he went to Invercargill to procure a warrant; Tibbett was not drunk, but very excitable; I believe he was past all control at the time; prisoner was also excited; Quirk was sober; there was no specified time mentioned to me at which the assault took place. 

This closed the case for the prosecution. 

Mr. Hervey asked for a remand until next day, in consequence of the principle witness on the part of the prisoner being under medical examination as to his sanity which, if favorably reported on, would enable him to place Mr. Tibbett in the witness box. Remand accordingly granted.   -Southland Times, 21/11/1862.

The case of assault — Coppinger v. Tibbets — on Constable Quirk, has been decided; Tibbets discharged, Coppinger committed for trial: he is out on heavy bail. It came out at the trial that Mr Tibbet stated, that before leaving the country he would shoot all the jurymen who had brought in a verdict of wilful murder against his brother a statement which, it appears, has not given that unqualified satisfaction to the parties concerned which might have been anticipated.  -Otago Daily Times, 4/12/1862.

MR TIBBETTS' EVIDENCE. 

(To the Editor of the Daily Times.) Sir, — in justice to Mr Tibbetts, who attended at great personal expense and inconvenience, to further the ends of justice in the case of Quirk v. Coppinger, I feel bound most emphatically to assert that every word of the witnesses evidence, as far as my recollection of the circumstances goes, was strictly and distinctly true.

Mr Tibbets' manner of' speaking is impulsive and peculiar, and owing most probably to this characteristic, his Honor the Judge was influenced in passing the censures which he did; but I am sure every one who knows Mr Tibbets will bear me out in my statement, that he is a gentlemen who would not sneak a falsehood, and they will therefore regret that his sensitive nature should be hurt by the remarks referred to. 

I am, &c, W. F. H. COPPINGER. 23rd January, 1863.   -Otago Daily Times, 24/1/1863.

In the early 20th century the old settlers were dying and it seemed to some that their recollections of those days were worth collecting and publishing.

PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS.

HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT. 

A PAGE FROM THE PAST. 

(Collected by H. Beattie.) XXVI. — SOME OLD-TIME TRAGEDIES.

Mr W. H. S. Roberts writes: "I notice that you mention the Tibbetts shooting case and desire fuller particulars. Charles Tibbetts, who shot his brother in self-defence, married Miss Fanny Trumble and leased the southern portion of the Otakaramu run for several years. An account of the tragedy appeared in the 'Otago Witness,' August 9, 1862, and is as follows: — 'Murder, Fratricide and Attempted Suicide. — Information was received in Dunedin on Monday, August 4, of the enactment of one of those fearful tragedies which happily are of such infrequent occurrence as to startle and appall the mind. A person known as Captain Tibbetts, in the Mataura district, has murdered one man and afterwards attempted the life of his own brother, who in self-defence shot him down, and then horrified by what he had done endeavored to put a period to his own existence. The following particulars may, we believe, be considered reliable. It appears that Captain Tibbetts had sold his station to Mr Switzer (a shoemaker in Dunedin), but had removed a number of horses to another station. The horses strayed back to their old pasture, and Captain Tibbetts went in search of them. He found one horse with a broken leg, and accused Mr Switzer's people of having ill-used it. High words ensued, and he got into a violent altercation with the cook, and losing command of his temper drew his revolver and shot the man dead. Information of this catastrophe was convoyed to Mr Charles Tibbetts, who at once sent for the police, and with Sergeant Morton laid in wait for his brother in a hut that he was almost sure to visit. The captain approached the hut, but saw the inmates, and began to shoot through the cracks of the door. He fired several shots from his revolver through the door and window, and at last his brother fired in return and shot him dead. Mr Charles Tibbetts then, in an excess of remorse, took the pistol to shoot himself, but Sergeant Morton seized the weapon, which exploded in the air.  -Mataura Ensign, 22/10/1909.

MORE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN RUNS

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CRAWFORD BROTHERS

(SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THE SOUTHLAND TIMES)

(By H. BEATTIE)

THE INTERVIEW CONCLUDES

Charles Tibbetts, who took up Riverview about 1871 was the victim of a lot of unwanted notoriety through the “shooting case” in 1862. His brother Captain Tibbetts, who had served in India, had a grudge against a neighbouring run and rode up and shouted, “Come out or I will wait till you do." He stayed there that day and night and next morning saw the short-sighted cook trying to regain the house. The cook cowered in the potato drills of the garden, but the captain shot him and rode off to a shepherd’s hut, and told them what he had done and what he would do if they did not feed him, so they lost no time in giving him tucker. He rode up and found Sergeant Morton and Charels Tibbetts in his hut and he fired at them, wounding his brother in a finger. When the brother shot him dead Morton was afraid the brother would shoot him too, but he got him to Knapdale where the finger was dressed, and then arrested and took him to Invercargill. At the inquest Charles Tibbetts was acquitted and years later he came to live at Riverview. This was a 2000acre slice of the old Otakarama run and here he dwelt 10 years. He married Miss Trumble of the Otaraia run and three sons were born at Riverview. The fact that he had killed his brother, even although it was in self-defence, seemed to weigh upon him and sometimes in his visits to Mataura he would seek to drown the recollection in oblivion. The neighbourhood regarded this with friendly tolerance.

His stockman at Riverview was Burke, later a well-known farmer at Otaraia. In 1881 Charles Tibbetts sold the place to L. D. Nicol and went over to Australia to live.  -Southland Times, 26/8/1939.

A quick perusal of the Australian resource "Trove" reveals that a "C H Tibbetts" a squatter of St Kilda, was in a bankruptcy court in 1886.  After that, the trail goes cold.