The Great Barrier Murder

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 84, 20 January 1887, Page 2

The Great Barrier Murder

(PEH UNITED PBBSS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, Januury 19. John Caffrey and John Albert Perm were charged at the Supreme Court with the Great Barrier murder. The Court was densely crowded, and some women and children were in the gallery. The Crown prosecutor, Mr Williamson, with his partner, Mr Govier, prosecuted, and Mr Napier was for Perm, and Messrs Palmer and O'Meagher for Caffrey. The prisoners pleaded not guilty in a firm voice, and appeared perfectly composed. Grace Graham's evidence was of a very incriminating kind, showing that the murder was planned beforehand. The intention was to abduct Taylor's daughter and maim the old man, and if he prevented them carrying out their design he was to be murdered. The girl still shows an inclination to screen Perm. The evidence and crossexamination of Grace Graham lasted all day. In some respects her evidence was contradictory to that given in the lower Court, and its general tendency was to exculpate Perm. In the early stage of her evidence the Judge said she seemed to give her evidence fairly, but in the later stage he remarked that the witness was evidently biassed in Perm's favor, as since she had been in the box she had exchanged smiles with the prisoner. Mrs Taylor detailed the shooting of her husband. She could not see whether Perm had a revolver when the shooting took place, as he had his hands in hi 9 pockets when he pursued her, afterwards he had a revolver. She believed Caffrey had killed her husband, because she saw him fire three shots, but could not say who really killed him. Saw both men in the bedroom. Perm was holding her husbaud with his arm round his neck. lv cross-examination by Mr O'Meagher, witness said her husband did not fall, but was able to go in and close the door against Caffrey. Penu followed Caffrey in. It was before the fourth shotwas fired that she saw Perm with his arm round her husband's neck. She did not see Caffrey then. Tlie Jivlgo hero said it was better that Grace Graham .should leave the Court, as he observed her exchanging; signals with Perm.

Mr o' Meaner said he had observed the same, and ttie girl was therefore ordered from the Court-room. In cross-examination by Mr Napier, the witness describod the clothing worn by Perm when he came to the house, and confirmed her statement as to the conversation during the half hour she was with Perm before Caff rey came. He was talking about the girls, and loading the revolver. She saw no blood on him. Mrs Seymour, daughter of the murdered man, gave corroborative evidence, as did Sarah Jane Taylor, daughter, and Lincoln Taylor, son of the deceased. Mrs Seymour said she had known Caffrey for about 6 years. She was living then with her father at Tryphena. Caffrey was then paying her attention, and expressed a wish to marry her. She was engaged to him, but she broke off the engagement very nearly three years ago, and there had since been no intimacy with them. She was married to Mr Seymour two years age next March, twelve months after her engagement was broken off. She had had nothing to do with Caffrey since her engagement with Seymour. Mrs Seymour was cross-examined by Mr O'Meagher. She said her intimacy witn Caffrey commenced about threo and a half years ago, and ended after about oighteen months. The witness said that when she broke off her engagement with Caffrey he took it very badly. He said ho would bring; either' a ring or a revolver. He said " she would not have any other man if she would not have hare him." This Day. The Great Barrier murder was resumed this morning. James Blair, son of the postmaster at Tryphena, deposed to going to Taylor's house on hearing of the murdor. He described the position he found the body in, and the wounds on it. He also found a revolver in the hedroom. ■■ ■ i