James

DETAILS OF DEATH

On Thursday 30th October 1851 a prisoner in the charge of Constable James Hopkins (173) went to the police hut at Carisbrook to get a light for his pipe. A short time later Hopkins went to the hut and asked where the prisoner was. On being told that he had not been seen since getting the light Constable Hopkins immediately rode off in search of him. Shortly after a drover reported that a police horse was on the otherside of the creek without a rider. A search party was dispatched and the following day Constable Hopkins’ body was found in the creek about half a mile from the police station. Constable Hopkins’ face had two large cuts on it which had apparently been inflicted by the hooves of his horse. A Coroner’s jury returned a verdict of accidental death.