Site Name Yeelanna, Eyre Peninsula
Aboriginal Place Name
Language Group
Colony SA
Present State/Territory SA
Police District
Latitude -34.1
Longitude 135.696
Date 1 May 1849
Attack Time day
Victims Aboriginal People
Victims Killed 8
Victims Killed Notes
Attackers Colonisers: Shepherd
Attackers Killed 0
Attackers Killed Notes
Transport
Motive
Weapons Used Poison
Narrative Patrick Dwyer, a shepherd, annoyed at Aboriginal people taking flour from his hut, laced some of his supply with arsenic. The flour disappeared and 8 Aboriginal people became sick after eating it. 5 of them died and 3 others became very ill and later died. Dwyer was arrested on suspicion of murder but released afterwards for lack of evidence. He then disappeared to California.
Sources Foster et al 2001: 83 (Sources PDF)
Corroboration Rating **