Alfred Walter Kearney (1839 - 1914)

Born 25 Nov 1839 in Tasmania, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Ida Foster — married 31 Mar 1864 in Tasmania, Australia

Descendants

Died 1914 at about age 74 in Victoria, Australia

Biography

Alfred was born in 1839.

Alfred was the innkeeper at the Halfway House, Lower Jerusalem. The occupation was not without hazard"

"IN EXPLANATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERCURY. Sir, - Will you be kind enough to insert the following in The Mercury in explanation of the alleged assault on the two men who lately visited my home, and a prejudicial account of which affair appeared in your paper some days ago? They came here on Friday afternoon, and said they were brothers; that they were going to Mr Mace's for shepherding; that one would not stop if he would not employ the two ; that they were not be parted. They asked for some hay for their horses, and said they would pay for it when they came this way again. Between 6 and 7 o'clock Mrs Kearney locked the bar door, but left the key in the door, while she came to tell me that tea was ready. I was carting in wheat. When we came in the bar door was open, and we missed some porter, and found it under the seat where they were sitting. I told them then that they must clear out. They said that they would go away, but did not attempt to shift. About 9 o'clock they said that they would bring their saddles in. I told them not to do so, as they could not stay, for I should not feel safe in the house with them, for they had sold a coat to an old man, and took it away again from him after he had paid them for it. They said they would not be turned out, nor would they go out, but mind that they did not turn me out; they wished there were two, as one to me would give them no sport. I went and woke my nephew, who was sleeping upstairs, and told him the men were going to pitch into me. I came again into the bar. They said that they would soon bring me out of that, making use of beastly language. Mrs. Kearney was going out for something, and one of the men caught hold of her, tearing her clothes, and frightening her very much. I ran out of the bar and struck him. We had a scuffle, and he fell down by the front door, calling out to his mate that he was down, but catching hold of my two legs. I fell against the wall. His mate came, and was punching away at me, when my nephew came up the passage, and knocked him down, the other one letting go my legs at the same time. They both got up, rushed into the house, and put out the light. I ran into the bar, thinking that was where they wanted to get. I caught hold of a pitchfork handle that was there, and struck the first one that was advancing towards me. It knocked him down. I could not see the other afterwards. My nephew called out to me that they were both outside. I ran out, and saw one making for the horses. I followed him, and struck him on the head, knocking him down. I then gave him a good kicking. W. Kearney followed the other about one hundred yards down a paddock, and caught and gave him a thrashing ; and this is a true account of the "violent assault at Kearney's public house at Jerusalem," by inserting which, by way of fair play only, in your wide-spread journal, you will do simple justice to Your obedient servant, ALFRED KEARNEY. Lower Jerusalem, February 20th, 1872," ^[1]

He died in 1914.

Sources

1. ↑ IN EXPLANATION. (1872, February 29). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved January 2, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8915031

• Kearney Bible in family archives 1839 Alfred Walter Kearney
• Victoria BDM Death 12024 Wangaratta 1914 Alfred Kearney Age75 Search page