Constable Charles BARTON
Constable Charles BARTON
Horse Accident
Carcoar
2 April, 1852
Constable Barton died on 2 April, 1852 from head injuries received when he was thrown from his horse while on duty at Carcoar. Colonial Secretary’s Letters 1852 reveal that the police troop horse Honesty had a habit of bucking and on the day of the fatal incident Constable Barton was thrown from the horse and landed on the roadway. He was found insensible and carried to a local public house where he was attended to by the Chief Constable’s wife, Mrs Fox. Unfortunately he died of his injuries before a doctor could arrive from Bathurst.
The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal of 3 April, 1852 reported the following.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT “On Monday last a mounted trooper named Barton was thrown from his horse at Carcoar with great violence, when his head unfortunately came in contact with the ground, and a concussion of the brain was the consequence. From the time of the accident he has remained in a state of insensibility, from which it appears somewhat doubtful if he will ever recover. The horse, it appears was lately sent up from Sydney, and was known to be dangerously roguish. Some degree of blame for the accident is therefore due to Barton’s superior officers.
At the time of his death the constable was stationed at Carcoar.