The Mullavey–Coleman Feud saw the families trade insults, punches and bullets in the Riverina. Photo: NSW State Library.
In the late 19th century, the quiet farming community around Bowna north-east of Albury found itself embroiled in one of the Riverina’s most notorious feuds.
The dispute involved members of the Mullavey and Coleman families who were well-known local settlers with substantial farming interests in the Riverina-Murray region.
What began as a disagreement between neighbouring farms gradually escalated into a dangerous conflict and numerous trials that stretched over at least five years.
An account from the Corryong Courier in June 1898 stated that “a feud had been existing for some years between the Mullaveys and the Colemans, who are perpetually engaged in litigation”.
Sure enough, in one single session of the small debts court recorded in the Albury Banner and Wodonga Express in September 1897, the families squared off over three separate matters.
Peter Mullavey sued James Coleman for £1 for allegedly removing rails from a 35-year-old fence that bordered their properties. Fanny Coleman then sued Peter Mullavey for £5, claiming that his sheep chewed up her garden, and finally James Coleman sued Denis Mullavey for alleged slander. The younger Mullavey denied having made a “remark to the effect that plaintiff profited by immorality on the part of his wife”.
In June of 1898, things took a much more serious turn when stories of “A Remarkable Shooting Case” and “Sensational Defence” were printed in the Melbourne Age.
“Denis, Thomas and Peter Mullavey, sons of a well-to-do farmer at Wyndham, were charged with maliciously shooting at a thoroughbred colt, the property of Fanny Coleman, an adjoining land-owner, with whom there had for years been bitter feud,” the story explained.
“It was alleged that the Mullaveys, from an adjoining paddock, fired two charges from a gun into the sides of the horse.”
As the Colemans were away in Germantown (Holbrook) at the time of the incident, the evidence centred on an eyewitness account from their 14-year-old adopted daughter Gertrude. James and Fanny added that they had seen the boys carrying a gun on the morning of the shooting as they rode out from their property.
In mounting their defence, the Mullaveys wasted little time in firing back. Described as quick-witted and intelligent, the boys rejected the accusations and declared that they had heard a shot and turned in time to see Gertrude herself shoot the Colemans’ colt.
Other witnesses stated that the boys had not been carrying a gun on the day in question and that Fanny Coleman had recently borrowed a weapon from another neighbour.
Finally, a friend of the Colemans, gave evidence that Mrs Coleman had said to him that she “had it in for Dennis Mullavey, and would get him into jail if she had to perjure herself to do it”.
The defence added that the teenaged Gertrude had been charged the previous year with setting fire to the Mullavey crops and argued that she had conspired with her mother to mount the shooting accusation.
Needless to say, the boys were acquitted and two years later Gertrude wrote a letter explaining that she had indeed given false testimony in court under the direction of her mother.
The feud reached its high watermark in July of 1901 when Denis Mullavey was back in court, charged with shooting at Ernest John Coleman near Bowna with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Dustups and even the occasional prize fight between the boys were not uncommon and on this occasion a dispute had arisen over rabbit trapping.
According to Ernest Coleman he was on a wagon heading to a field near Tabletop when he was hailed by Tom Mullavey, who was sitting on a post holding a small calibre rifle. “Are you going to jump my traps this afternoon?” he called, to which Ernest replied, “I’ll jump you if you’re not careful”.
As the argument heated up, two more Coleman lads joined in along with Denis Mullavey. A violent brawl broke out involving fists and sticks and Denis took possession of the rifle to use as a club against his rivals.
Outnumbered three to two, the Mullaveys were taking a beating when Denis allegedly cried out, “For God’s sake, don’t hit me, Bill. The gun’s loaded and I’ll shoot”.
The two brothers attempted to flee the scene, but according to the Colemans, Denis turned, knelt down and fired a shot at Ernest from about 12 metres. Fortunately the bullet missed.
For their part, the Mullavey brothers agreed with most of the details of the confrontation but argued that the gun had been triggered accidentally during the melee.
With the case once again coming down to the word of one family against the other, Denis was acquitted by the court.
