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SEVENTY YEARS AGO.
To the Editor, 'The West Australian.'
Sir,— In 'The West Australian' of Janu
ary 31 there appeared nn article written by
'F.W.G.' in which he said that Wil
lam Graham (a Diaturaunio fVitf* nf
the sixties), shot a man by whom
he was caught in his wife's room
near Guildford. 'F.W.G.' is wrong
The shooting took place at Beverley. The
facts of the case are briefly these. On
March 2, 1S64. Mr. X. went to Perth,
having at the time a suspicion that Gra
ham, who had been formerly in. his em*
ploy, would, during his absence visit hia
home for an unlawful purpose. He, there
fore, stayed one night at Perth, stating,
before his departure, that he expected to
catch a man with his wife. On his arrival
home on the 4th, he tapped at his bedroom
window several times and whistled, and,
after the lapse of a few minutes firearms
were discharged at him a'nd he was severely
wounded in _ his left breast. At the same
time the window was thrown open and
Graham made his escape. Mr. X. identified
him, but could not say whether he had a
gun or not.
Graham was next heard of at Yock, when
he arrived at Rendell*s and got his horse.
Here' he made the statement that he had
been surprised by Mr. X., and thnt he
fired through the window, but did not
know whether it was with fatal results.
His occupation was a collector of speci
mens. He shot- birds for the purpose of
preserving their skins. Graham did not
take to the Darling Ranges, but made his
way Boutb. he -was captured, about a month
later, by Sergeant Finlay and a black
tracker, between Albany and Esperaiice
Bay. He was sentenced to penal servitude
for life. In July he and three other prison
ers made their escape, but were speedily
recaptured. — 'Yours, etc.
H. C. FLINDELT,.
Frcmantle, Feb. 11.
$