Who Is Mr. Cirkle's Murder Or Ben Hall?

This article appeared in the 'The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser' on the 12th of March 1863, in relation to Mr Cirkle's murder when a man named John Clarke was apprehended by Captain Battye and Detective Woolf in connection with Cirkle’s murder and where Clarke was one who was perceived by Captain Battye to be of ‘bad character’. On arrest, and in consequence of Clarke’s subsequent interview with Captain Battye, Clarke claimed that Frank Gardiner was involved, unfortunately, as has been established Gardiner had long fled the Burrangong/Lachlan district for Queensland. Therefore it is more likely Clarke and another possibly Ben Hall?, (for if Gardiner had been involved he would not have remained outside) waited nearby Cirkle's for Gilbert and John O'Meally whilst the robbery was conducted and as a consequence the

Cirkel who was a strong, powerfully built and very determined man, would have overpowered the other, had not the stout robber behind the bar called out to him (according to the report of one witness to the scene) "Blow his bloody brains out," and to another's -"Shoot the bastard." The tall ruffian immediately fired, and shot the unfortunate gentleman dead.” When previously arrested Clarke stated to Captain Battye "...that he had come from Mealey's at the Wedden Mountain, on the Lachlan-road." Consequently, at the conclusion of his trial I believe based on the eye witness accounts of the assailant standing behind the bar being described as short and stout points directly to John Clarke and not John Gilbert who was described as 5ft 9in in height, slim and slight and active figure, therefore, Gilbert has wrongly been linked to this crime of