Byard Roger W, McDonald Damian
School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Level 3 Medical School North Building, Frome Road, Adelaide, 5005, Australia.
The Museum of Applied Arts and Science (Powerhouse Museum), Ultimo, Sydney, Australia.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2018 Jun;14(2):268-271. doi: 10.1007/s12024-017-9914-1. Epub 2017 Oct 30.
Ben Hall was a nineteenth-century Australian bushranger (outlaw) who was shot and killed by colonial police on May 5 1865. Popular belief is that Hall was shot while sleeping in his camp bedding. This contrasts with the official police version of Hall being shot while attempting to escape by running away. To evaluate this divergence of opinion a study of the gun belt allegedly worn by Hall at the time of his fatal shooting was undertaken. This revealed a nineteenth-century belt with a defect corresponding to an oblique bullet hole. The shelving was in keeping with the shooter being located to the rear and left of the decedent, in a position corresponding to police reports. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of lead, in addition to mercury, silver and sulfur, materials used as primers in nineteenth century ammunition. Thus, contemporary examination of the belt provides support for the police version of events.
