THE GREAT BARRIER. MURDERERS.

Evening Star, Issue 6951, 10 July 1886, Page 4

THE GREAT BARRIER. MURDERERS.

John Caffrey waa born at Panmure, Auckland, in 1850, and is therefore iu his thirtysixth year. His parents, whq were of Irish birth, are both dead. He stands about sft Tin, has a fresh complexion, light-brown hair, and blue etyes. He is a powerfullybuilt man, and can, it is said, swing and carry a 2001b bag of flour with the greatest case. His occupation has always been that of a coasting sailor. A man. named Eggington, who has sailed with him on several previous trips of the cutter, was fortunatelydetained in Auckland this time in order to give evidence in s case coming before the Court, and Pcnn took his place as mate. According to Eggington's account, Caffey ifi entirely ignorant of navigation, ana any charts he may have on board will be quite useless to him. For some time past, however, he has been studying the bearings of the different groups of islands in the South Pacific, and inquiring also about the course he would have to steer in order to make the Australian coast, lio is described as being a man of unbridled passions and stubborn determination. Some four- years ago he shipped in a barque for an Australian port, and on arrival required the master to pry him his wages immediately. On this being refused, he procured a revolver and went after the master, whom he at length encountered in a cab with his wife. Seizing the reins and stopping the cab, Caffrey levelled his revolver at the master's head, threatening to shoot both him and his wife if his wages were not at once paid, which they were without more delay. . He has appeared before the Police Magistrates here several times on various charges—the first, on January 21, 1885, when he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for obscene language and assaults on constables—one, on Constable O'Brien, being of" a very savage nature. His last appearance was on the 20th of last March, when he was fined for drunkenness. He has several times stated that he was anxious for a brush with the police, and that if ke ever again got into trouble he -would either seize the Customs cutter Hawk, killing anyone that might be on board, and make for one of the islands or for Australia, or that he would get off in the Sovereign of the Seas. People at the Barrier who knew him well state that his leisure moments for some time past hwve been occupied in studying the American police gazettes; that Ned Kelly was his ideal of a. hero ; and that there also he had frequently announced'his intention of seizing a craft some day, and making for Australia to join or organise a band of bushrangers. Eggington says that Caffrey has for some time been very restless and unsettled in his mind ; that he never seemed to sleep ; and that the least drop of intoxicating liquor sent him beating his head against walls, and otherwise demeaning himself like a madman. Ho further states that on the last v./yage but one of the Sovereign of the Seas Caffrey purchased L 5 worth of amunition, ostensibly for settlers at the Barrier, but that none of it was ever landed from the cutter. Although the boat i 3 well stocked with provisions, it had when it last sailed

but one barrel on board that would, hold water, and that but imperfectly, as it leaked. Eggington says that there is certainly not more than sufficient to supply their wants for & W66IC Henry Albert Penn, is of respectable parentage. His father, Mr Charles Penn, a draper by occupation, is now a salesman in the establishment of Mr W. G. Allen, Victoria Arcade Buildings, and was formerly employed at the Thames in the same line. The family, who reside at Milford street, Ponsonby, are naturally much shocked at the nature of the charge brought against young Penn, but, though in deep grief, they yet seem quite confident that there is some great mistake, and that when fuller particulars of the tragedy are received it will turn out that their relative has not been an accomplice in the murder. The Penn and Taylor families have been intimate friends for many years. Henry Albert Penn has for years been a trouble to his parents. He attained his twenty-fourth year on the 24th of last May, and isa married man. and the father of two children, but his wild and reckless character have tended to render his family relations far from happy. To such an extent were his infidelity and misconduct carried, that his unfortunate wife's parents had to remove her and her two children from under his roof, and she has been living separate from him for some time. A short.time back he was charged, with an associate, with obtaining money under -false pretences, and was committed on the charge to take his trial at the Supreme Court, where, however, he was acquitted. For a time he drove a cab, next commenced the trade of acarpenter, then for a time worked as a gardener, and finally went to sea, the present voyage being his fourth. Penn, like the rest of his family, was on the most intimate terms with the Taylors. There had been no quarrel or misunderstanding of any sort, no animosity or ill-feeling between him and the murdered man. .Both his father and brother are most positive in their assertions on this point, and hence their conviction that, though young Penn was certainly voyaging with Caffrey in the cutter, yet that he was no accomplice in the murder. The family say that there was nothing 'peculiar in his manner when they last saw him in Auckland —nothing to warrant any surmise that he was troubled in his mind or agitated in any way, much less that he was contemplating the perpetration of a crime so atrocious as that with which he is charged. Mr Penn says that Caffrey has carried a pistol on him constantly for more than twelve months, and that he has on several occasions declared that he would shoot Taylor. On one occasion he took out the pistol and showed it to Mr Penn, declaring at the time that he would blow Taylor's brains out with it. Mr Penn, however, attached no importance to these threats, and treated them as mere ravings. Messrs Henderson and Spraggon appear to be somewhat unfortunate in respect to their losing-their vessels by masters running away with them.. About eighteen years ago a man named Harry" Hill had charge of a. small vessel of theirs Darned the Jubilee. Suddenly the vessel and Hill were missing, and nothing was heard of either for some years, until about ten years ago, when Hill was seen and spoken to by some Aucklanders in Dublin. Hill, it is said, admitted having rnn away with the Jubilee, but what was done with the vessel was not stated. Of the cutter Sovereign of the Seas, it may be mentioned that, not only is she a smart little craft, but her owners went to considerable expense a short time before the last annual regatta in putting her in complete order. Her hull was thoroughly overhauled, and she had new rigging and sails; as it was the ambition of her owners that she should prove the winner of the big cutter race, so that the cutter is now in good fettle to make a voyage to, it may be said, any part of the world. That the whole matter in connection with the murder had been well planned by Caffrey and Penn is very evident, and they must have had the matter in view for some time, only waiting for a favorable moment to strike the blow. The last trip of the cutter offered that opportunity, for by her was sent a large quantity of stores, and of such a character as to meet the wants of her ci'ew for some three or four months. The only item that possibly Caffrey mig.it have been short of was water; but upon this score there can be little doubt that he would take every care to obtain a good supply, no doubt getting extra casks' for that purpose. —' New Zealand Herald.'