[An entry in the VPG of 22 July 1858, p. 304 states: “A warrant has been issued at Geelong [Vic] charging the offender hereafter described as “Ginger”, with bestiality, committed at the [Geelong] Leithbridge Hotel Stables, on the 13th February last. Description:– 30 and 40 yrs of age, 5' 6" or 7" high, stout build, sandy whiskers, hair sandy, thick and inclined to curl, face rather fat and red, of dirty and filthy appearance; dressed when last seen in an old cabbage tree hat, Bedford cord trousers, stripped shirt and Blucher boots. He was employed for the last 2 years as groom by – Gibson, coach proprietor, Geelong.– 16th Jul 1858.”]

    [A subsequent entry in the NSWPG of 20 August 1862, p. 149 states: “Henry Turner (aka Ginger), has been apprehended by the Yass Police, for being a prisoner of the Crown illegally at large from Vic.”]

The Age, Tue 19 Aug 1862 ¹

    APPREHENSION OF THE BUSHRANGER TURNER. — Yesterday forenoon, Senior-sergeant Brennan apprehended Henry Turner, alias Ginger, who is asserted to have formed one of Gardiner’s gang when the Lachlan escort was stuck up, and who, it is further asserted, was apprehended by Sir Frederick Pottinger in his late memorable excursion after the bushrangers, but subsequently rescued in the daring manner which has been described in previous publications. Sergeant Brennan made the apprehension in Cooma street, Yass, not far from the Court House. That the police, on this occasion, have got the right “pig by the ear” there can scarcely be a doubt; although it is not so sure that he ever formed one of Gardiner’s gang of desperadoes, or even that Sir Frederick Pottinger ever “set his eyes” upon him. At all events, Turner, while he fully bears all the marks upon his person enumerated by the Victorian press, yet he does not at all answer the wondrously minute description of the Turner portrayed [sic] by Sir Frederick, “the brave.” The man apprehended, and now in the lockup, is evidently the individual described as follows:—

    “He is a Dublin man, laborer, aged twenty-four, five feet three and a half inches high, fresh complexion, sandy hair, grey eyes, per Walmer Castle to Sydney, 1852, free; R inside left arm; sentenced at Beechworth, 17th July, 1856, to five years penal servitude for stealing from the person; obtained ticket-of-leave for Melbourne, 20th July, 1858; transferred to Wangaratta, 24th July, 1858; gazetted as illegally at large, 1859; re-admitted to ticket-of-leave for Melbourne, 1859; transferred to Ballarat, [sic] 1860; arrested for being illegally out of his district, I860; ticket-of-leave restored, I860; again illegally at large.”

    This man is evidently the person now in custody, and who has generally been supposed to have been the person named by and rescued from Sir F Pottinger. As it may prove interesting, we append Sir Frederick’s description of his man:—

    “Thomas Turner, while under escort to the Lachlan, was rescued by seven armed men, and the police fired at; twenty years of age, five feet eight or nine inches high, slight build, sharp face, dark blue eyes, dark brown hair, worn long, no whiskers or moustache, teeth regular, but inclined to decay, will have marks on wrists of handcuff broken off with an axe; dressed in cord breeches, knee boots, drab coat, cabbage-tree hat with velvet band on; native of Wagoolah, near Bathurst.”

    These descriptions are not very similar; yet it will be satisfactory even if the bird from Victoria is caged and sent off, so that one rogue less may roam about these districts, already, unfortunately, too much infested by desperadoes of his stamp. Turner will probably be remanded in order to see whether detective Lyons, who formed one of the famous trio whose deeds have been so loudly sounded, can identify him as Sir Frederick’s ‘Turner. Lyons is a witness in a case to be tried at Quarter Sessions, and will probably be in Yass next week. In the event of the person now in custody not being “wanted” on this side, he will be sent off to Melbourne to be dealt with.— Yass Courier, 12th August.

¹     The Age, (Mel, Vic), Tue 19 Aug 1862, p. 5. Emphasis added.