Dan 'Mad Dog' Morgan
To People
There are several histories for Dan Morgan's early years, however it would seem most likely he was born Jack Fuller in 1830, the illegitimate son of Mary Owen and George Fuller. Working as a stockman and Jockey, Morgan's life of crime would begin in the 1840s when he was convicted for highway robbery in 1854. Sent to Castlemaine in Victoria, he was granted a Ticket of Leave for good behaviour in 1860 and promptly absconded.
Basing himself in the Western Slopes, the tall and imposing Morgan was renowned for his ruthless violence and his robberies and hold ups were often bloody. Despite this, his sense of justice remained prevalent, with Morgan showing a preference for targeting squatters and land owners who were known as hard taskmasters. He would ensure the workers were given food and drink before he left and in one case insisted that generous cheques be written out for each worker.
Upon each murder the price for his capture grew and by 1865 Morgan seemed untouchable. However, his luck would run out when he bailed up Macpherson homestead near Wangaratta. Unknown to him, the stations co-owner George Rutherford lived only 4 kms away and once the alarm was raised, Rutherford gathered a group of local farmers and policeman to ambush the Bushranger. Morgan was shot in the head from behind and died instantly. His head was removed and sent to the professor of anatomy at the University of Melbourne and his body was buried in Wangaratta cemetery.
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