Gregorius and Smyth
Okay, next up, in this climate of anger, actually fury, and mutters about armed rebellion, on 10 October Gregorius, the Armenian-born servant to Father Smyth, the Catholic priest, was caught in a licence hunt when he was helping a sick man. A trooper called Lord burst into the patient's tent demanding their licences. But, Gregorius quite rightly protested to the trooper, who turns out to be one Constable Lord, that he was the Catholic priest Father Smyth's servant, and didn't need a licence.
Lord apparently said something along the lines of "Bugger Father Smyth." Gregorius is also described to history as a "cripple", who could easily be seen to be unable to do the work of a miner.
The upshot was that the trooper ignored Gregorius's attempted explanations. Lord and some others apparently beat Gregorius, then made to chain him to the other unfortunate alleged licence dodgers. Gregorius asked if he could be left unchained, as his "deformities" (sorry, we can't think of a better word, please let us know, we're sure there's a better one; it's all Lex's fault, troll him, folks), would cause him considerable pain if he was chained. The scumbags ignored him.
Gregorius was brought before the magistrate, called Dewes (or D'Ewes), a very dodgy bloke with vague English royal connections, apparently. But even Dewes, without any palm greasing, had to agree that Gregorius should be released. So, the troopers then arrested poor Gregorius again. This time for assaulting a trooper. As if!
The same dodgy magistrate and Assistant Gold Commissioner Johnston, who appears to have been out of the same mould as Rede, appallingly found Gregorius guilty of this charge, and the troopers bunged him in their nasty little lockup until Smyth was able to raise the 5 quid to pay his fine.
The Catholic Irish miners were outraged, probably more at the insult to Smyth than what happened to his Armenian servant, if the truth be known, but they were now one step closer to rebellion, because of the arrant stupidity, corruption, and violence of those in authority.
Lord apparently said something along the lines of "Bugger Father Smyth." Gregorius is also described to history as a "cripple", who could easily be seen to be unable to do the work of a miner.
The upshot was that the trooper ignored Gregorius's attempted explanations. Lord and some others apparently beat Gregorius, then made to chain him to the other unfortunate alleged licence dodgers. Gregorius asked if he could be left unchained, as his "deformities" (sorry, we can't think of a better word, please let us know, we're sure there's a better one; it's all Lex's fault, troll him, folks), would cause him considerable pain if he was chained. The scumbags ignored him.
Gregorius was brought before the magistrate, called Dewes (or D'Ewes), a very dodgy bloke with vague English royal connections, apparently. But even Dewes, without any palm greasing, had to agree that Gregorius should be released. So, the troopers then arrested poor Gregorius again. This time for assaulting a trooper. As if!
The same dodgy magistrate and Assistant Gold Commissioner Johnston, who appears to have been out of the same mould as Rede, appallingly found Gregorius guilty of this charge, and the troopers bunged him in their nasty little lockup until Smyth was able to raise the 5 quid to pay his fine.
The Catholic Irish miners were outraged, probably more at the insult to Smyth than what happened to his Armenian servant, if the truth be known, but they were now one step closer to rebellion, because of the arrant stupidity, corruption, and violence of those in authority.