They could not pay taxes, as the Crown had already appropriated all
they were worth, viz., their country. But they were made amenable to
British law; and in that celebrated case, "Regina v. Jacky Jacky," it
was solemnly decided by the judge that the aborigines were subjects
of the Queen, and that judge went to church on the Sabbath and said
his prayers in his robes of office, wig and all.
Jacky Jacky was charged with aiding and abetting Long Bill to murder
little Tommy. He said:
"Another one blackfellow killed him, baal me shoot him."
The court received his statement as equivalent to a plea of "Not
guilty."
Witness Billy, an aboriginal, said:
"I was born about twenty miles from Sydney. If I don't tell stories,
I shall go to Heaven; if I do, I shall go down below. I don't say
any prayers. It is the best place to go up to Heaven. I learnt
about heaven and hell about three years ago at Yass plains when
driving a team there. Can't say what's in that book; can't read. If
I go below, I shall be burned with fire."
Billy was sworn, and said:
"I knew Jacky Jacky and Cosgrove, the bullock driver. I know Fyans
Ford. I know Manifolds. I went from Fyans Ford with Cosgrove, a
drove of cattle, and a dray for Manifolds. I knew Little Tommy at
Port Fairy. He is dead. I saw him dying. When driving the team, I
fell in with a lot of blacks.
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