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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
A murder mystery set in Cobar, New South Wales, in the mid-nineteenth century.
It aired first in the UK as part of anthology series ITV Play of the Week, then in the US as part of anthology series The United States Steel Hour, then in Australia as part of anthology series General Motors Hour.
A contemporary review offers the following detailed synopsis:
'The story starts when one of the young men of the town of Cobar, western New South Wales, is found battered to death. A man called Jem was lying in a drunken stupor beside the body and the murder weapon, an iron bar, is found near the scene of the crime.
'Jem is immediately accused of the crime, but floods prevent his being sent to an established court for trial.
'Coldringer, an old German opal prospector, suggests to the townsfolk that they set up their own court and have the trial in the town.
'The locals agree that the best way of ensuring that Jem is given a fair trial is to make Rigger, the father of the murdered man, defend Jem, and let the prosecution be handed by Kirk, who was Jem's employer.
'Neither Rigger nor Kirk is happy with the townsfolks' decision, but they eventually agree to accept the court arrangements.'
Source: 'Murder Trial in a Bush Town', The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 1960, p.7
Notes
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Television play.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s
2019
single work
column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 18 February 2019; -
Murder Trial in a Bush Town
1960
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 12 September 1960; (p. 7)
-
Murder Trial in a Bush Town
1960
single work
column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 12 September 1960; (p. 7) -
60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s
2019
single work
column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 18 February 2019;
Awards
- 1961 winner Logie Awards — Best Australian Drama For the General Motors Hour production.
- Cobar, Nyngan - Cobar area, Far West NSW, New South Wales,
- 1850s