From Western Post, 10 August 1861: POLICE COURT Friday, August 9th Before the Police Magistrate and his Worship the Mayor. Mrs SIMPSON summoned Mrs REID for unlawfully detaining five girl's hoods. From the evidence it appeared that Mrs SIMPSON had employed defendant to work her five children's hoods at one shilling each; Mrs REID having been occupied a whole week in completing the work, refused to give the hoods up unless five shillings extra were paid over the price first agreed upon, especially as she could obtain five shillings per day be her needle. The Bench said as she had agreed to do the work for the sum named in the summons, they had no alternative but to make an order that the hoods be given up, with 3s 6d costs. Messrs SIMPSON, ARNOLD, M'COY and HOWARTH were severally fined under the Towns Police Act for allowing horses and cows to stray in the public streets. WINDEYER From our Correspondent MURDER - A murder was committed on Wednesday last at a place called Cox's Flat, near the Pyramil, situated about ten miles from this place by a man named KELLY. His victim was a respectable man named Frederick SCHOFIELD, the son of a clergyman. I have not heard the particulars only that he was killed by a tomahawk. The deceased was buried in the cemetery belonging to this township. The funeral was attended by a large number of friends. KELLY was forwarded to Mudgee escorted by two of the mounted patrol. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE REV MR BIRDS BY DROWNING A correspondent at Hall's Creek, Merriwa, send us the following report:- During the late rains, the Rev. Mr BIRDS, minister for Cassilis, narrowly escaped being drowned, whilst attempting to cross the flooded creek at Mr PEBERDY's Hall's Creek. He had been observed to come to the crossing-place, and on seeing it flooded, to turn back, as if to head the water, which had been down about twenty minutes; but Mr PEBERDY's son, on coming some minutes after, found a horse saddled and bridled, and not knowing who was the owner, led it home. It was then recognized to belong to Mr BIRDS. A search was at once instituted, and the rev. gentleman was seen clinging to the branch of a tree. With great difficulty, he being much nearer the opposite bank, a rope was thrown to him, with a running noose, which Mr BIRDS had just enough strength to place over his body; he was then drawn to the bank, very much exhausted. He had been washed about one hundred and fifty yards after losing his hor! se, and sank several times while being drawn out. If Mr PEBERDY had been half an hour later returning home, a valuable life had been lost, for no human being was within hearing, and it was quite impossible for the rev. gentleman to have reached the land by himself - Maitland Mercury. ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW