Colonial Despatches

Henley was a Half Cherokee American from Texas. He moved to the British colony in 1862 because of the Cariboo gold rush. He worked with William Brady, another American, as a hunter providing game meat to restaurants in Victoria. The two men planned to move north to work in the Cariboo gold fields.1

Henley and Brady were joined by a group of First Nations people while camping on Pender Island. The group believed that Brady had tried to poison them, so they shot at the pair while they were sleeping. Brady later died of his injuries. Henley was a reportedly large man and was able to fight them off, though he was seriously injured.2 Henley then went to Victoria where he gave this statement to British authorities on 13 April. Three First Nations men, Oalitza, Stalchum and Thalatson, and one woman, Thask, were then captured and tried for the murder. Henley testified at their trial.3

• 1. Arnett, Chris. 1999. The Terror of the Coast: Land Alienation and Colonial War on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, 1849-1863. Burnaby, B.C.: Talonbooks, 114.
• 2. Ibid., 115-116.
• 3. Ibid., 173-175.