Historical: The old Beechworth courthouse.
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In 1872, the Woolshed was a rich goldfield outside Beechworth. Later, it would become infamous after the assassination of Aaron Sherritt by the Kelly gang.
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Just up the road from the Woolshed was the hamlet of Wooragee.
The publican staggered back into the kitchen. He fell. He dragged himself to his feet and then fell again, pulling chairs over as he collapsed. The three bushrangers fled.
Keneday escaped serious injury. A doctor was called to attend to Watt. The shotgun blast had done enormous damage.
A man’s clenched fist could have been placed inside the exit wound below Watt’s shoulder blade.
Astonishingly, the publican lived for another nine days.
Under Victorian law, then and now, it matters not who pulled the trigger — an accessory before the fact to murder is treated as if he were a principal.
The jury took 45 minutes to decide. Both Smith and Brady were sentenced to death.
The authorities brought Mr Bamford, a practised executioner, up from Melbourne to undertake their execution.
Before their execution, Smith handed a paper defending the actions of both men to the Sheriff. The Sheriff refused to make the paper public.
On May 11, 1873, Brady and Smith were executed in Beechworth prison at daybreak.
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