The teenage bushranger at Booligal

The 1874 prison record of William Brookman describes the bushranger as a blue-eyed carpenter with a scar between his eyes. The record shows the commuting of the death sentence to 15 years “on the road”, meaning hard labour. Brookman was 23 when his sentence was commuted.

By Krista Schade

Teenage bushranger, William Brookman was born at Tumut, New South Wales, in 1851.

Brookman was not a prolific bushranger, nor is he particularly noted in most history books. He was a member of the gang of Jerry Duce, real name Williams, former lieutenant of Robert Cottrell aka Bluecap.

Duce had formed his own gang after Bluecap was captured and they were high end bushrangers worthy of being counted alongside the Ben Hall Gang – at least for a while.

Brookman is believed to have come from a respective family but on November 24, 1867, he in the company of John Payne, John Williams (Jerry Duce) and Edward Kelly (no relation to Ned), held up a race meeting at William Whittacker's store, Mossgiel Station, near Willandra. They took a considerable amount from about fifty spectators and while Payne and Kelly left, Brookman and Williams went over to the store.

Constable McNamara, who was stationed at Booligal, was on the verandah and when the two men bailed him up he made a rush at Brookman. As they struggled Brookman's revolver went off, shattering the constable’s wrist while another shot hit him in the back of the head. But two men, Peerman, the Mossgiel overseer, and Edward Crombie came to the constable's assistance and helped overpower the two bushrangers.

Placing them in a hut under guard, the police went into pursuit of Kelly and Payne.

Payne was soon located and he led the police to Kelly's camp where he lay wounded from an earlier encounter with the law. Brookman was only seventeen years of age when he was charged on January 6, 1868, with wounding with intent to murder.

He was convicted and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to fifteen years' penal servitude. It was said to have been his first and only attempt at highway robbery, and he had never previously been arrested or charged with any offence against the law.

On January 16, 1868, the four men were tried at Deniliquin Court, whereupon Payne received twenty years gaol, Kelly thirty years, and Brookman and Williams were sentenced to death. The death penalty was later remitted to fifteen years on the road.

Brookman served his prison sentence in Darlinghusrt Gaol, working alongside more notorious Bushranger Frank Gardiner in the mat-making factory. On July 3, 1874, the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales carried out a lengthy debate on bushrangers, and it was recommended that Brookman be released on July 8, 1874. But his prison record shows that he received remittance of sentence on March 8, 1875.

Life after Darlinghurst Gaol

Brookman’s life was changed after his release from Darlinghurst Gaol, however, despite his business success and respected standing in the community, his life ended tragically.

“It seems that notwithstanding the exertions which have been made to obtain a commutation of the sentence passed upon the convicted bush rangers Williams and Brookman, the law is to be permitted to take its course. The convicts are both changed in their behaviour. They have been engaged in reading the Bible and religious works. Even the boy Brookman, who affected to treat his position when on his trial with levity, is now most subdued. Heavily ironed, within about 30ft of the gallows are both these prisoners. Williams' mother has been for the last few days wandering through the town in a fit of despair; she has paid daily visits to her son.” The Herald, February 11, 1968.

The Wyalong District Family Group wrote about Brookman in their 2019 newsletter. “The town's one bushranger was William Brookman, a carpenter by trade, who joined the infamous 'Blue Cap' gang. But that is not the end of the story ……..He did not hang! No, He changed his life around. Brookman was 17 years old at the time (of his sentencing). William Brookman’s mother Christina Strachan, wrote to anyone who she thought could help, asking to spare his life. The senence was later commuted to 15 years hard labour.

“He was given a conditional pardon in 1875 and placed on a bond for good behaviour. He then went to live in Wilcannia and married Charlotte Wilson. At the end of 1890’s he moved to Wyalong and took out a mining lease. His life changed being involved in the local community, he became an alderman on the new Municipal Council of Wyalong. Brookman became involved with the local hospital committee and was a great supporter and energetic worker. His wife Charlotte died in 1928, which left him in despair. He went to live with a friend, Alfred Schaft telling him “he may lay unholy hands on himself”. On November 19, 1928 police were notified and two days later they found his body at the bottom of a 150 foot mine.

At the inquest, the verdict could not be said if it was an accident or otherwise.

He is buried with his wife in the Wyalong Cemetery in unmarked graves.”