THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 247, 20 October 1886, Page 2

THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

The Arrest of Perm

His Romantic Story.

Kkmi'Sky, October 11. Pens, who was implicated with Cnffroy in tho murder at the Great Barrier Island, was arrested by Seniorconstublo McOlolliuid yostorday evening within two miles of tho Macloay bar. Tho girl Graham was with him carrying a Run. Perm had a sixbarrelled revolver fully loaded. Tho pair huvo boon about tho boach since tho cutter was scuttled in August lost. Caflrey parted company with Ponn consequent upon a quarrol üb^ut tho girl, Perm nnd tho girl woro lodgod in Kempsoy lockup to-day. Whonl'onn was charged by Mr McClelland with the wilful murdor, ho repliod that the charge should bo "implication iil tho crimo." Ponn wai brought before the police magistrate atKomppoy at 2 o'clock. SeniorconntabloMcGlclland gavoVjvidonco aa to tho circumstancos attonding the arr st of the prisoner. Ponn asked no quefctione; He was remanded to Sydnoy. Tho girl Graham, or Gloary, was not brought before Iho Bench. . Sydney, October 14. Cullroy's two companions on board the cutter Sovoroign of the Sons, after the commission of tho murder of Robert Taylor on tho Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, arrived in Sydnoy at 8 o'clock thia morning by the Giarenco and Richmond Rivor Navi»ntion Go.'s steainor Quoon of tho South. Peril), the mate, was lsgironed and handcuffed. The prisonors woro broueht down in charge of a couple of mounted constables. They woro convoyed immediately on thoir arrival to tho "Water Police lockup, and at 10 o'clock were charged before Captain Fishor, D. S. M. : Perm with tho umrdor of RobortTaylor, and tho girl Grace Graham, or Gleary, as an accoseor aftor the fact. On tho application 6f the police both priionora wero remanded until Monday next.

Ponn, who ia 23 years of age, is a young follow ot medium hoight, and ie, in manner and appearance, more like a criminal than Catt'roy. 110 is exceedingly communicative, and apparently mott anxious to unburden himself of everything c jncerningthe tragedy in which he is implicated. The girl Graco Graham ia only 1!) years of ago, and appears to belittle troubled by the chargo that is hanging ovor hor. Both on landing and aftor tho rotnand was granted in hor caso, aho smiled and chatted away frooly with those noar hor, avoiding, howovor, any referenco to her experiences from tho timo eho loft Now Zealand. Sho is of lather prepossessing appearance, and her frank fnco, youth, and good spirits mako it dillicul to realise that she has recently gone through wcoks of hardship which would havo 'old a eorioua talo on tho health of most women. Fcnn's Statement.

l'oiiii states that the girl Graham had been living with him on board the cutter for somo titno prior to the murder. On the day that it wbb committed CaflVey and himself wont ashore to Taylor's place, and he was in tho doorway of Taylor's house whon Caffroy shot Taylor. Ponn acknowlcdgos tliat ho was ca-rying a revolver at tho time ; but in explanation says that it wag his habit always to liavo a revolver on him. The girl waß left on board tho cuttor while they went ashoro, and was totally unaware of the object of thoir trip until some time after thoir return, whon they told her what had happened. On learning it, and being told that they in tended to make away from tho Now Zealand coaat in consequence, ehe pleaded very hard to bo landod, but under tho circumstancos thoy decided to take hor with them. As alrendy stated by Cafl'roy, Perm says that thoy tried to reach tho American coast, whore thoy expectod they would bo safe from discovery ; but mooting with tivo or six severe pale.", and tho cuttor becoming in auch a leaky condition as to inspire them with the greatest fours for their eafety, thoy eventually turnod back and euccoedod in fetching tho N.S. Wales coast. Perm confirms Callroy'a c'iilcment that they cimo o.s far south aa Sydney Hoade, but linding too many crafla about wont northwards again, in tho hope of effecting a landing on tho Queensland coaat. Whothorthey were after wads wrecked, or landed and wrecked tho cutter afterwards, Perm did not say, but according to his account ho and Caffroy commenced to quarrel almoet immediately aftor thoy tot sail over the girl. Cafl'rey, on tho principle that doad people toll no talon, wanted to shoot Graco (iraham ; but Ponn, betweon whom and the girl thero uppoars to exist a Btrong affection, objected and eavod her. Aftor thon tho dread of murdor boing over pro'ent, I'onn and tho gill caino to an arrangement by which ono of them always remained awake whilst tho other elopt, Venn throughout tho voyogo koeping his revolver loadod ready to hand in the ovent of a;iy cruol act on tho part of OatVrey. Aftor thoy landed near tho Bellinger River, Cuffrey, Perm, and the girl camped together for a fortnight, the t-amo quarrels about tho girl which had taken placo uninterruptedly on board bo'Dg continued on ehoro, Cull'roy arguing that it was nocossary for thoir safety that she tliould bo put out of tho w«y. At last on tho fourteenth day CafTYey asked Poun to go for a walk with him, aa he had something particular to talk to him about Ponn made up his mind that Caffrey's only object Mas to got him away from Grace Graham into the bull and there shoot him, and on that account rtfueoJ to stir from where he was. High words followed, which culminated in Catfrey parting company from them. It was the intontion of Ponn and the girl to get married as soon as thoy could possibly manage it.

Caffroy In Sydney.

John Caffroy, the Barrier Island murderer, arrived in Sydney on loth inst , by tlio Clarence and Richmond Steam Navigation Co.'a steamor, Coraki. Although tho fact of his boing on board had been kept as secret as it wa« possible under the circumstances, a very large crowd assembled both on tho wharf and outside the gates, id tho hopo of catching a glimpa oof him. Shortly after 12 o'clock tho Coraki came alongside, and was at once boarded by eoruo water police constables Cailrey was shortly after landed and placed in a spring cart, in which he was drivon to tho Water Police Court. During tho voyago down the coast ho was kept handcuffed and leg-ironed, and waa cloEO.y guarded by two troopers. He has conducted himself very quietly since his arrest and seems perfectly self-possessed, readily answering any questions put to him. At the Water Police Court, at 11.45 a.m., tho prisoner was charged before Mr Addison, S.M., and Captain Fisher, D S.M., •with wilfully murdering Robert Taylor on June 10tb. Mounted Constable John Reynolds produced the depositions taken in the court atKemp?ey. Sub-InspectorDonohoo appliod for a remand for eight days. The prisoner raisod no objection, and the romand was granted.

Tho following ia a copy of the evidence of tho arresting constable, given before the Police Magistrate at Boat Harbour, on the ■Ith inttant:—

Edwin May deposed : I am a first class mounted constable of tho New South Waleß Police Force, in charge of Boat Harbour. About 12 noon on the 2nd instant, from information I received, I proceeded along t ho road to the south arm of the Bellinger Uivor, nour tho Hearts. Whon crossing tho pnut at S uth'Aruj, 1 saw the prisoner c >miug down the road, from the directii'ii of Natnouccra He was carrying a lurgo swag. Whon I got over iv the punt I went up to him and had a conversation with him. I eaid, " Are you looking for work?" He roplitd, "Y'B." I said, "Where were you working last?" He answered, "W ti Mooro at Deep Creek." 1 said, "How long have you been working thore?" lie answered, "Ten days." He then went on to the punt, and I followed him and oame back to this side of the river. I then said, "I want to have a yarn with you. What money did Moore pay you while you were there?" Prisoner replied, " A cheque. ' I slid, " Sho v it to mo," Ho showed me a cheque signed for £2 (o:io of Mr Matthewa's) on a Ferumount bank, I Slid, " la that all the money you have got?" He said, "No I have a few shillings besides." I asked him how he came to Mr Moore's. He replied, " Along the beach." I Eaid, "Where were you working before you came to Moore's?" He rop'icd, " Nowhere since I left Sydney." I then said, " Which way did you come from Sydney ?'' end he answered, "Along the beach ; I crossed the river in boats " I said, " What was tho first place you came to after loaving Sydney I" He replied, " P. it Stephens." Ithon said, "The next place?" and ho replied, "(Jamden Haven." J asked him his name and ho said it was "Joe Adams." He also said he had no arms on nim. I told him 1 was a constable looking f or v maa answering to his descrip-

tion. I said, " Lot mo search you." I thon searchod him. I found nothing on him. I searched his swag and found a cix chambered revolver (loaded) and 11 cartridges. I aIBO produce a parallel rulo, a purse with 9* and 9d in money, and a cho'iuo for .12, a cold ring (unako pattern with two head.-), a tii-co of black satin, which bears needlo nft k'. I iiotico the initials "L.B "in liiK on a brass hinge of tho parallel rulo. Ine swag generally connicta of blankets, sea bOOtS, BOCkfl, and (apparently) a sailors kit. It was fastened with a pieco ot rope. I took poeowion of theao things, and bhon arrosted tho prisoner on suspicion. I said to him, "I arrest you on suspicion ot being John Caifrey, charged, on warrant, with tho murder nf Robert Taylor, at Great Barrier Island, Now Zealand, on tho 19th Juno laat. ' He made no reply. I bandcuffed him. I wish to add that at tho timo I found tho rovolvor I said, " What do you cull this?" showing him tho weapon, lie replied, "I was told I might want that on the digginga." 1 then brought him to tho Boat Harbour lock - up. I asked tho jr'sonorif ho had boon in Now Zealand, and if ho know a vossol named tho Sovereign of tho Sea's. Ho replied in tho negative. Ho said tho black satin was given to him by a man tomakoaeash with. I produce the " Police Gazotto " of 7th July las-t, in which a notice of tho murder and the description of two person? named John Catfrey and Henry Albert Perm is printed. I believed tho accused to be identical wiii John Caffroy. His oars are pierced, though ho has no earrings. I pray for a remand for

further inquiries. The wairant for the arrest of tho porsons charged with tho crime not having arrived from New Zealand, whore tho oH'ence waa committed, the man John CullVey waa remanded until Monday next. It was the intention of the Inspoctor-Oonoral to have sent CaflVey to Now ZSaland under escort to morrow, but the news of Penn'a arrest having arrived it was decided to forward a cablegram requesting tho New Zealand authorities to forward a auiliciont escort for both prisonors. Some additional evidence may bo taken on Monday next.