Abstract
Ben Hall was a nineteenth-century Australian bushranger (outlaw) who was shot and killed by colonial police on May 5 1865. Popular belief is that Hall was shot while sleeping in his camp bedding. This contrasts with the official police version of Hall being shot while attempting to escape by running away. To evaluate this divergence of opinion a study of the gun belt allegedly worn by Hall at the time of his fatal shooting was undertaken. This revealed a nineteenth-century belt with a defect corresponding to an oblique bullet hole. The shelving was in keeping with the shooter being located to the rear and left of the decedent, in a position corresponding to police reports. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of lead, in addition to mercury, silver and sulfur, materials used as primers in nineteenth century ammunition. Thus, contemporary examination of the belt provides support for the police version of events.
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Acknowledgements
This study was undertaken as part of the ‘Ben Hall' episode of a four part documentary produced by Genepool Productions for Foxtel’s History Channel, ©2017 Foxtel Management Pty Limited/Genepool Productions Pty Limited, entitled “Lawless – the Real Bushrangers”. Production of the series was supported by Screen Australia, Film Victoria and Screen Queensland. Material is produced with permission of Genepool Productions and Foxtel.
Permission of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse Museum) in Sydney, New South Wales is gratefully acknowledged. This enabled examination and photography/filming of the belt, in addition to removal of a small portion for scanning electron microscopic evaluation.
The support of the Forbes Historical Society, Forbes, New South Wales, is also gratefully acknowledged for written permission to reproduce Figs. 1 and 2 from their collection.
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This article does not contain any studies with human participants.
