STRANGE CONDUCT OF A VOLUNTEER AT SHORTLAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3702, 31 May 1869, Page 4

STRANGE CONDUCT OF A VOLUNTEER AT SHORTLAND.

At the Police Courb, hhortland, on Friday last, before R. Graham, Esq., aud H. Goldamith, Esq., J.P.B.— John Murray, a volunteer, was charged with using threatening language to James Buckley. Mr. Dodd appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Shapter for defendant. Complainant deposed : Mm ray came to my house at night, armed and accoutred as a volunteer, wuh rifle, bayonet, aud ammunition, and called for me to come out, saying that I was going to shoot at Prince Alfred. He cal'ed me to come out in the Quetn's name. My wife asked what he wanted, when Murray said he was going to arrest me, aB I was going to shoot at the Prince under the left rib. He began to smash the Jock. He put three men on guard over the house while he went down to consult a council of war and Sergeant Lipsey. He said be would break down the houso and take me, as he considered he was doing his duty thereby as a loyal subject of her Majeity the Queen. Ido not know what a Fenian is. I would tell you if lam one. If I knew the meaning of the word I would tell you. He went down and met some of his mates, but he could not get reinforcements. The Bergeant of police took the ammunition and arms from him. My wife has been ill ever since. Oross-examined by the defendant : I did not state that you were a rotten Irishman for having j taken the oath for a volunteer. Ann Buckley, wife of compl&nant, deposed s I remember, about two o'clock on the 19th May, defendant kicked at the door and nailed on my husband to come out. I asked if that was Murray. He said he wanted my husband to come out, and knocked at the door with his musket. I then heard another man's voice. I asked if they would go to any other house, and ask a man to come out in the Queen's name or th« King's name. (Laughter.) M array then broke the door, when one of the men prevented him from doing any more. I then heard the men charging their rifles. I was afraid they would are through the house, and shoot the children. James Shauley deposed : lam a miner, and also a volunteer. On the morning of the 19th, Murray went to my house, and I was not in. He then came to a pubho-house where we were, and ordered me out in the Queeu's name. He said he had got all the company there, with Captain Power at their head. I refused, but at last consented. One of the chaps went for my accoutiement3. There was another besides Murray a\ined. When we got up to Buckley's house I saw I had been made a tool of. I told him to stop knocking at the door, I said if he would not stop I would knock hia brains out, Murray said, "Fix bayonets." He fixed his bayonet, which took up . some time, as he said he had never got it on before. Cross-examined by defendant : You told us the object when you called us out. You said, "I call you in the Queen's name, a3 Buckley is going to shoot the Prince under the short nb." By the Court to witness : Murray is, like myself, a full private. George Moon deposed : On the 19th May, Murray pressed me to go up to Buckley's in the name of the Queen. I put on my clothes, and went. Murray and another chap had rifles. Murray knocked three times at the door with the butt-end of his rifle, when Buckley asked who was there, and he said, " I want Buckley in the name of the Queen." Captain Power was not there, I was doing sentry, as it was very cold. Murray called us sentries, Murray left his rifle with me, and walked off. He left us to do sentrygo, but we went away. We met him at the foot of the Earaka Hill, when he said, " Boys, I was just coming up to relieve you ; I see you have relieved yourselves." He said Sergeant Lipsey had told him to d'smiss the guard. Murray was sober. I really believed that I was going up in the Queen's name. The Chairman said it was a very serious thing for a volunteer to go in the Qjteen's name and disturb people in the way Murray had dove. He should order Murray to find two sureties in £25 each to keep the peace for six months, or be imprisoned for one month, (Applause.)