On 25th of March 1890, Constable Pilkington and his Police Assistant Parrish, left Esperance, assigned to arrest several wanted men. 

At 7am on 12th April 1890, Police Assistant Parrish volunteered to survey the country ahead with a local Aboriginal named Punch.   

They located a camp of four men and four women, including two of the wanted men  

Police Assistant Parrish went into the camp and took hold a man named Gnowan and ordered him to return with him to Gaol, but a woman called Cooramberia, rushed up with a stick and attacked him from behind.

As others joined in the attack, Police Assistant Parrish managed to draw his revolver, but his arms were being held, firing three shots into the ground.

Police Assistant Parrish was killed after being beaten with stones, strangled and had a length of ‘Wanna’ (a digging stick) thrust into his mouth.