The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Musgrave, Simpson
In December 1858, Musgrave and Williams informed Elizabeth Rice that her son, Bernard, had been shot to death in Fort Yale.1 Reportedly the result of a dispute over paying for drinks, an inquest later determined
a case of willful murder by William Foster, who had not yet been found.2
Musgrave and Williams also informed Mrs Rice that they found three or four hundred dollars on his person at the time, sold his claim and possessions for 91 dollars, and handed all of the money over
to the authorities.3
In this despatch, Magee requests that Newcastle inquire into the delay of Mrs Rice receiving her son's property and bring the alleged murderer to justice.