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Charles Rutherford (c. 1846 – 6 September 1869) was an Australian bushranger who, in the late 1860s, went on a crime spree with Frank Pearson, alias Captain Starlight, in the north-west of New South Wales.

Rutherford and Pearson raided stations and isolated settlements. During one shootout with the police, Rutherford killed a constable. After Pearson's capture in December 1868, Rutherford remained at large for nine months, eluding the police until he was shot dead while holding up a hotel.

Life

Rutherford's early life is largely unknown, though he is believed to have been Australian-born. He worked as a stockman and horsebreaker at Gunningbar Creek, in the Central West of New South Wales. It was here, in September 1868, that he met Frank Pearson, who lured him into bushranging. The pair began raiding stations, stealing prized race horses in the process.

Arriving at the Warrego in early October, they held up the Shearer's Inn in Enngonia, unaware that two constables on their trail had come in earlier for refreshments. A shoot-out ensued; Rutherford shot and killed Constable McCabe while Pearson was wounded in the wrist and shoulder. The bushrangers fled with police and volunteers in pursuit. They continued raiding stations and robbing mail coaches into December. On Christmas Day, the police found Pearson hiding in a cave in the ranges around Gundabooka. He was arrested and later imprisoned.

Rutherford remained at large, operating in the Lower Darling Region and targeting isolated settlements. In March, in Booligal, he expressed guilt for his actions, telling one hostage: "I know there's a rope waiting for me, and I don’t care how soon I am shot; I'm sorry for what I've done, but it can't be helped now." His depredations continued over the next few months, from the Nandewar Ranges to Canonba, and the Government of New South Wales offered £100 for his capture.

In September 1869, Rutherford held up the Pine Ridge Hotel, near Warren. He attempted to rob the publican, a man named Beauvais. He attacked Rutherford and, during the scuffle, seized his gun and shot him in the head. Rutherford died the following morning.

References

1. McCarthy 1972, pp. 17–18.
2. "Rutherford, the Darling Bushranger". South Australian Register (Adelaide). 1 March 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
3. ^ McCarthy 1972, pp. 22–23.

Bibliography

• McCarthy, Patrick (1972). Starlight: The Man and the Myth. Hawthorne Press. ISBN 0725600632.
• Smith, Jane Margaret (2015). Captain Starlight: The Strange but True Story of a Bushranger, Imposter and Murderer. Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781925275308.

• 1869 deaths
• Bushrangers
• People from New South Wales