Several public notices appearing in the Bendigo Advertiser reveal that there was more behind Anthony Corvan's actions as reported in the article in the preceding blog entry than was at first obvious.
On February 5, 1859, the Bendigo Advertiser printed the following:
"NOTICE. Mr Corvan is not authorised to receive any money or take orders on our account from this date. Pollard & Co, Bridge Street, Sandhurst, 3 February, 1859."
Directly underneath this was:
"NOTICE. If Pollard & Co (late A.J Jones) do not pay me my twelve week's wages, amounting to 48 pounds and commission on goods sold, I shall be compelled to take legal proceedings forthwith.
A.E Corvan, Paddy's Gully, Sandhurst."
It was on September 28 of the same year that Anthony Corvan was seemingly in cahoots with the local licensing police in setting up Edward Pollard for selling liquor without a license. When questioned in Court, Anthony stated that he "did it of his own accord, and from a love of justice", and that he had informed the police what he was going to do three days before he had purchased whisky from Edward Pollard.
It seems that there was bad blood between Corvan and Pollard, and the former had decided to seek revenge in a premeditated set-up, despite him denying this in court.
The year before- in August of 1858- more notices appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser that give us an insight into Anthony's life on the goldfields:
"CAUTION-To our customers and the Public. COWAN alias CORVAN has left our employ, and is no longer authorised to take orders or receive moneys on our account. Benj. Williams and Sons, Market Square. 31 July, 1858."
- Bendigo Advertiser, August 5,1858
"ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
COWAN ALIAS CORVAN.(To the Editor of the Bendigo Advertiser)
Sir,- Such is the heading of an advertisement from Bn. Williams and Sons in this day's ADVERTISER. Now, Sir, you know what ignominy is attached to a man having an alias. My name is Corvan, and as such I put an advertisement in your paper on Friday 22 or 23 July, declaring that I had no longer any connection with Messrs Bn Williams and Sons. They know, and hundreds on Bendigo are aware, that my name is Corvan; therefore, in justice to yourself and protection to me, as the advertiser, you will be kind enough to say that the compositor mistook the "rv" for the "w", and that is the alias Messrs Bn Williams and Sons wish to make out.
Respectfully Yours, A.E CORVAN.
Paddy's Gully, Sandhurst, 5th August, 1858.
( The mistake of 'rv' for 'w' in manuscript is so likely that we should have thought there was no doubt as to the manner in which our correspondent's name came to be wrongly printed. We regret that it should have involved him in any unpleasantness.)"
- Bendigo Advertiser, August 6, 1858.
Looking up the Bendigo Advertiser for Friday, July 23, as specified in Anthony's letter, we find:
"To The Wine and Spirit Trade:- A.E Cowan begs to inform his friends and customers that he has no longer any connection with the firm of Benjamin Williams & Sons, of Sandhurst, Spirit Merchants. 22 July, 1858."
"CAUTION- To our Customers and the Public. Mr Corvan has left our employ, and is no longer authorised to take orders or receive moneys on our account.
Benj. Williams & Sons, Market Sq. 31 July, 1858."
- Bendigo Advertiser, 7th August, 1858.
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