Redan Bomb Outrage

The Redan Bomb Outrage occurred on 3 June 1904, when William Harrison tried to kill his wife and children with a bomb.

Details
William Harrison and his wife Mary had separated in November 1903. On 3 November 1904, Harrison placed a bomb against the wall of the family's cottage in Campbells Crescent: THE REDAN EXPLOSION. BALLARAT, June 29. William Harrison was presented at the City Court to-day, charged with unlawfully and maliciously, by explosion of gelignite, damaging the dwelling-house of Mary Harrison, so that the life of a person was thereby endangered. Evidence of arrest and of the confession made by the accused, which has already been published, in "The Herald," was given by Detectives Armstrong and Rogerson.

Mary Harrison, the wife of the accused, said that she had lived apart from her husband since last November. Shortly after midnight on 3rd June she heard a noise in the yard, and, on investigating, saw smoke rising from what appeared to be a parcel on fire against the wall of the house. She threw it away, and as it did not go far kicked it still further. Before she could procure water to throw on the burning parcel it exploded violently. She went for the police about six o'clock. She would have gone earlier, hut her daughter prevented her. She had been married for thirty-eight years, and had had ten children, seven of whom are alive. After further evidence the accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the General Sessions on the 12th July, at Ballarat. p ., 7 ,

The jury at his trial recommended mercy for Harrison, and he was sentenced to only 12 month in gaol: REDAN BOMB OUTRAGE. BALLARAT, Thursday. At the general sessions to-day, before Judge Gaunt, the miner William Harrison, convicted of two counts in connection with the placing of a live bomb near the wall of a house in Campbell's Crescent, Redan, in which his wife and daughter were sleeping, was brought up for sentence. The jury had recommended him to mercy on account of his previous good character.

His Honor said the crime was a very serious one, and the Legislature marked its sense of its gravity by making the maximum imprisonment on the first count ?5 years, and on the second count ten years. Accused might have been presented on an even more serious charge. A great deal was, however, to be said, in prisoner's favour. He might thank God he had not killed his wife or daughter, but his Honor thought that prisoner was not actuated by any very strong feeling against his wife, and that what he did do was more than anything else the result of drink. He probably acted under a sudden impulse. The sentence he was about to pass was one which was satisfactory to himself, but it might be thought unduly light. The sentence was that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for twelve months on each count, the sentences to be concurrent, and at the end of the sentence he would have to enter into his own surety of £100 and one other of £50 to be of good behaviour for another twelve months. Prisoner shed tears while the judge was addressing him, but he appeared pleased at the light sentence.