5. The Fateful Journey of Kaiser Singh
The victim - ‘Indian Hawker’ Kaiser Singh
Indian hawker Kaiser Singh
Bought up his wares to Gelantipy Inn
His horse was draped as always
With jewels and trinkets and lockets
And hanging from his breast pocket….
A watch on a chain
The accused - John Conder
Image source: Thanks to Rhonda Coates, Buchan Heritage Group
Mary-Ann Gately’s Inn was full
Sent Kaiser down to a hut on the hill
At dusk he rode past his fate
Yorkshire John Conder
A felon, a liar, a loner
Who’ll never go straight
Kaiser Singh went missing that day
Conder a suspect right away
’Cause they found charred bones at his home
And trinkets and coins and lockets
And hanging from Conder’s pocket…
A watch on a chain!
When the guilty verdict was read, the judge turned to Conder and said:
As you believe in the existence of another world, prepare to enter it, for you this world is no more, prepare to end it
Conder’s defense strongly denied
But witnesses buried his murderous lies
And the jury sided with Kaiser so:
- Old Melbourne Gaol!
- Onto the platform!
- Black hood down!
- Trap door open!
Conder swung from the rope
Like a watch on a chain.
All lyrics © Raven & the Dove
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