Foul play was not suspected for some months after Fisher's disappearance on 17th June, 1826. The discovery of a decomposed body in a shallow grave following the sighting of "his ghost" gave police the evidence they needed to bring a neighbour of Fisher's to trial. justice for the murder of this former convict.

Frederick George James Fisher left England as a convict on the ship "Atlas" bound for Sydney in 1814. In time Fisher acquired property at Cambelltown bordering on that of George Worrall, a man with whom he apparently shared his business confidences. Fisher fell into debt, argued with his creditors & was arrested & sent to prison.

Either to safeguards his interests or to present a false picture of assets, he transferred his property to Worrall, giving him full power of attorney in all business matters. In Fisher's absence WorFall told people that Fisher's property was now his, 8 no doubt was concerned when 6 months after his arrest Fisher returned to resume ownership of his land.

Meantime Worrall was suggesting to Fisher that he return to England to visit his family & the small farming community of Campbelltown was well aware of these discussions despite Fisher's protestations that he would never return to England.

When the local people started to notice the disappearance of Fisher, Worrall spread the story that Fisher had suddenly left the district & fled to England to escape a forgery charge. Later, however, Worrall's actions in trying to sell a horse & timber belonging to Fisher; his attempt to gain possession of the title deeds of Fisher's farm from the mortgagor, Daniel Cooper, aroused the suspicions of Thomas Hammond.

Worrall was questioned & admitted he had seen Fisher killed by four men with whom he had been living. The four men were arrested, but when Worrall's story could not be substantiated the four men were released 8, the search for Fisher continued. What then of the ghost?

James Farley, a respected farmer, was out one night when he saw a figure sitting on a bridge rail about 500 yards from Fisher's house, Farley staggered ashen-faced into the Plough Inn where he told others he had seen the ghost of Frederick Fisher.

The ghost, he claimed, pointed to a position along the creek. Time has confused the records, however, police later found blood near the spot where Farley saw the ghost. Police went to the area where the ghost had pointed 8 Gilbert an Aboriginal tracker, taking a leaf, skimmed the surface of the creek. Smelling the leaf, he pronounced it to be "white man's fat" & told the police to dig.

The decomposed body was exhumed & identified as that of Fisher who from his injuries had been the victim of foul play. Worrall was charged, found guilty & sentenced to hang when the Chief Justice, Sir Francis Forbes, agreed with the jury that Worrall was guilty of murdering Fisher.