Old Geelong Gaol (part 4): James Griffiths, alias ‘Ross’ – Murderer

 James Griffiths was born in 1825 and committed his first crimes as a young teenager. He broke into a church and stole church wine and 4 pounds cash. This led him to break into more chapels, as they were an easy target.
 After a long run of stealing from churches, Griffiths got a job as an apprentice on a ship which he deserted. He soon found another apprentice position on another ship and deserted after stealing the Captain’s coat.

 In 1842, Griffiths enlisted in the 11^th Regiment, a British military component assigned to defend Australia that sailed from North Devonshire. While on the ship, Griffiths’ got into an argument with another soldier, where he threatened to run him through with his bayonet but was stopped by his Sargent. He was subdued and thrown in the brig. In 1851, Griffith’s absconded while the ship was in Adelaide, then made his way inland, to Melbourne taking on the alias James Ross, so as not to draw attention to himself for being a known deserter.

 As James Ross, Griffiths took a job as Shepard at Mr Darlow’s Station. He worked hard and saved some money, but his guilt from robbing churches and deserting the army made him paranoid, so he soon moved on, and found himself in Geelong.

 At Geelong, he met a woman and married her. Not long after marrying, he began to treat his wife poorly: in his own words in a letter, he wrote before his execution he stated that he often bound his wife with ropes and beat and raped her, he beat her with sticks, poured water over her and beat her until she fell into fits. On at least one occasion, he admitted to beating her so badly, that she miscarried.

 The last straw for Mrs Griffiths was being dropped naked in a water hole, where Griffiths placed his boot on her head, and almost drowned her. She left him that day and headed to the Darlow Station, but Griffiths grew jealous that she was now staying somewhere else and decided he would kill her and those she was staying with.

 On March 13, 1856, Griffiths went to the home of Mrs Sayers on the Darlow station to confront his wife and force her to come home.
 A Chinese shepherd witnessed Griffiths shoot Mrs Sayer, then pounced on her, and stabbed her in the neck. He then beat her with a shovel. The Chinese Shepard fled to his own hut, but Griffiths followed, threatening to kill him if he didn’t reveal where his wife was hiding. The Chinese Shepard said he didn’t know and escaped to raise the alarm with Mr Darlow.

Griffiths dragged Mrs Sayer's dead body down to a nearby river and threw her in the water. Meanwhile back in Mrs Sayer's hut, Griffith's 14-month-old son was lying in a pool of its own blood after being stabbed to death, and Mrs Griffiths was on the ground, beaten into an inch of her life. Griffiths fled into the scrub.

 Mr Darlow went to check Mrs Sayer’s hut, and found the dead child, but found Mrs Griffiths was still holding onto life. Police and doctors were sent for, and Mrs Griffiths was sent to Horsham for medical treatment.

James Griffith’s returned to the station, a couple of days later, admitted his crimes and wished to be turned in to the police. Griffiths stated he killed his child so he wouldn’t be raised an orphan and be abused by others.In his closing remarks, Justice Williams concluded that the crimes were; “one of the most atrocious and premeditated murders that during my experience has ever been brought to the attention of a jury”.

James Griffiths alias; 'Ross', was hung on the portable gallows at Gallows, flat Geelong, on April 22 1856. Unlike previous hangings, Ross’ execution was not viewed by the public, but by officials only.

Witnesses at the execution of James Ross:

• ·         Robt. Rede, Deputy Sheriff.

·         Charles Brodie, Gaoler.
·         Michael Smith, Head Turnkey.
·         Duncan D. Tatham, Turnkey.
·         James Rowley, Head Turnkey.
·         James Snifer, C. Serj. 40th Regiment
·         J. C. S. Hant, Chaplain.
·         Ronald Gunn, M.D.
·         Alexander Fraser, Solicitor.
·         Sidney Somerford Lynch, District Surgeon.[1]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Other Sources:

'EXECUTION OF JAMES ROSS, ALIAS GRIFFITHS.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (23 April 1856), p. 2.

'SUPREME COURT.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (14 April 1856), p. 2.

Jaunay, B., British Regiments in the colonies, (2019), http://www.jaunay.com/garrisons.htm

'GEELONG CIRCUIT COURT.', The Argus, (14 April 1856), p. 5.

'CRIMINAL SESSIONS.', The Age, (15 April 1856), p. 3.

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[1] 'EXECUTION OF JAMES ROSS, ALIAS GRIFFITHS.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (23 April 1856), p. 2.