John

DETAILS OF DEATH

Early in the morning of 12 March 1885 two prisoners in the lockup at Coonamble overpowered an attendant by the name of White who had gone into their cell to clean it. He was knocked to the floor and his revolver taken from him. Hearing the scuffle Constable Mitchell arose from his bed and ran to the cells. One of the prisoners a man named Angel warned the Constable not to come into the cell however Mitchell ignored this and lunged at the prisoner. As he did so he was shot in the chest. He died the following day. Both prisoners Angel and Thurston made good their escape however both were later shot to death by police. The Constable was born in 1855 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 27 September 1878. At the time of his death he was stationed at Coonamble.