Charles WALTON
Constable Charles WALTON
Shot
Windsor
29 November, 1832
On Thursday night, 29 November, 1832 District Constable Walton and Robert Roberts (presumably also a constable) were attempting to capture bushrangers who they had been told were in their area. Walton had disguised himself and was hoping to tempt the bushrangers to bail him up. Unfortunately two mounted police named Mugglestone and Ferns (who were also in disguise and looking for bushrangers) spotted Walton, and when both parties assumed the other to be bushrangers, a violent struggle ensued. Unfortunately Walton was shot dead and Roberts was wounded in the encounter.An account of the incident appeared in the Sydney Herald of Thursday 6 December, 1832.
On Friday an inquest was held at the Windsor Hotel on the body of Charles Walton, a constable, who met his death the previous night in a struggle with the Horse Police, who were out in search of bushrangers, and both parties being in disguise each took the other for runaways, though the Policeman did declare himself so, yet the constable attempted to fire his piece and ordered his attendant to fire, but both flashed in the pan, but not so with one of the Police – he first wounded one and afterwards shot the other dead while grappling with the other policeman. – Verdict, Justifiable homicide.
The constable was 36 years old at the time of his death and was District Constable at Upper Nelson (Windsor district).He was replaced at that station by Constable Alexander Cross.
He had arrived in Australia on the ship Fame in 1817 and received his Ticket of Leave in 1825. He was appointedas Town Constable at Windsor from 1 November 1828.