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In 1901, John Watts, an early squatter and politician in Queensland, wrote his Personal Reminiscences. He writes just 700 words about another squatter – James Marks.  Watts says that Marks’ son was murdered and mutilated by the local Aboriginal people. In response, Marks vowed “vengeance against every black he came across”.  Watts says that Marks murdered an innocent Aboriginal woman and was indicted for murder, but he was never captured or convicted.  However, based on what we now know about early Queensland history, there may be more to this story.  This episode is the start of the search for the truth of the Mark’s Murders.

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