William Nevil

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

... By Mr. Michie: I was in company with some troopers. We were riding towards the camp, rank and file. We were doing nothing else.

Henry Moore stated: I was Sub-Inspector of police at the time of the Ballaarat riots. I saw Chapman in the crowd on the 30th of November, and saw him present a pistol at some troopers. I gave orders for his arrest. The crowd had been throwing stones previously, but none of us were hurt.

William Nevil: I am a trooper, and was present at Ballaarat on the 30th of November. I saw Chapman with a pistol, which was cocked, and he appeared to be examining the nipple. I called to him to drop it, or I would shoot him, and he did so.

By Mr. Michie: I was about thirty yards from him at the time.

George Webster said: I was present at a meeting held at Bakery Hill on the 29th of November, and heard many of the speeches made there.

The Solicitor General was proceeding to inquire the tenor of these speeches, but his question was objected to, and he at once admitted the validity of the objection.

The Witness: I saw placards on that occasion, but do not remember precisely what they were, or their date.

This closed the case for the Crown....

The Argus, 20 January 1855.