John Dunn (bushranger) - Criminal Career

Criminal Career

Dunn associated with the known bushrangers Ben Hall and John Gilbert. Dunn joined Ben Hall's gang in October 1864, a welcomed new member after gangmembers Dunleavy and Mount were captured by Police. In late 1864, during the robbery of a mail coach near Jugiong, John Gilbert shot and killed Sgt. Parry. On 26 January 1865, Hall, Gilbert and Dunn were at Collector, near Lake George. Dunn twice shot and killed the local police officer, Constable Samuel Nelson, the sole policeman in the township and father of eight children, while Hall and Gilbert were holding up the hotel. Dunn also shot at Nelson's son but missed.

In May, Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn were proclaimed outlaws; the passing into law the Felons Apprehension Act 1865, which allowed known bushrangers to be shot and killed rather than taken to trial, this put them outside the law and liable to be killed by anyone. Hall had separated from the other two and later was surrounded by police in the bush near Forbes, New South Wales and shot dead.

Gibert and Dunn on hearing the news of Hall's death headed for Dunn's grandfather's property at Murrumbarrah.