THE BALLINA TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 12870, 20 July 1906, Page 6

THE BALLINA TRAGEDY

BROWN, TALKS FREELY. Press Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 20. (Received July 20, at 10.20 ajn.) Since the arrest of lirown he has talked freely. He is reported to have said that the whole thing was the result of a secret 'society formed in Ballina. to .keep up a white Australia. The plan wus to have a revolution against the blacks and Chinese, and to kill them off. There were a number in the society, but they kept quiet till they got money to buy arms. He mentioned the names of several boys of his own age. Tbey drilled and practised with bayonets, using pumpkins as targets. He had agreed to get some money, and went to OKeefe's for that purpose. It was not his intention to kiU them, as they had been his best friends and he was created like one of the family. When he got there the old people were glad to see him. He then described how he waited an opportunity to attaoL them.

The story of the secret society will be well sifted by the police. Brown's associates are respectable lads. He says that some of those pledged to the society are members of the best families in the district. During his flight he had a terrible time in a swamp, wading for boors up to the wait. Ho eontinned walking night and day.