THE TAROOM MURDER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1695, 9 January 1874, Page 4

THE TAROOM MURDER.

fBBISBANB COCKIER, T)EC. 15.] John Garbutt was brought up atthe Taroom Police Court, on Thursday, -27th November, before the police magistrate (Mr Oroker), charged with the murder of Thomas Conroy. Messrs Hirst and Fitz also sat on the bench during a part of the proceedings. The (Jrown solicitor (Mr Little) conducted the inquiry, and the prisoner was undefended. : The evidence, which was supported by a large number of witnesses, was to the effect that the prisoner and the deceased left Bungaban Station together for Taroom, both riding, and Oonroy also leading a pack-horse. Next morning, shortly after sunrise, Garbutt was met by a man named M'Conley at Caraba Station, a distance of 30 miles from Bungaban and about 13 miles from Taroom. Garbutt was alone, and was riding Conroy's horse, leading hia own, and a pack-horse following. The same day he was seen in Taroom, and overhauled by a constable who knew Conroy's horse, and in answer to him, Garbutt said Conroy was at Bungaban, and had sold him his horse. Garbutt left Taroom shortly afterwards, and was met in the evening by two men who had been mates of Conroy's, and had left Bungaban the same day as prisoner and deceased for Taroom, but by a different road, the men being also delayed by losing their horses. As Garbutt rode up to them, they hailed him as " Conroy," the prisoner being dressed in deceased's clothes, having on his hat, shirt, trousers, leggings and spurs, and riding his horse. On perceiving that the person they met was Garbutt, one of the men (named Bray) asked " where was Conroy? " when prisoner said he had left him drinking at "the - Nobb" (a local name for Taroom), and that he was taking Conroy's things to Bungaban to be taken care of. Bray then said, "I'll take caie of them, and you won't take them any further." " Bray made the prisoner dismount and strip off Conroy's clothes, ako taking possession of the horses.. The prisoner remained that night with the men in their camp, when they noticed what they had not observed on his leaving the station, that he carried a tomahawk in his saddle bags. The prisoner left early the next morning on his own horse. ' On placing Conroy's clothes on. their dray some time afterwards the 'nien noticed, on ■examination, blood upon deceased's blankets and shirt, and on opening his swag found a pair of trousers (which Garbutt had, worn. when leaving the station with Conroy) saturated with blood. Hitherto they had had no suspicion of foul play, but they now at once .' hastened to give information to the Taroom police. This was on Wednesday, two days after the prisoner and deceased had left Bungaban. On Thursday a large fire was discovered by a stoskmau on what is ' ' ' Tinbwn'as'the postman's track from Bungaban to Taroom, at a place about a mile and a half from where M'Conley had met the prisoner, and from which direction Garbutt was coming at the time. The fire was covered with a quantity of driftwood, as if apparently to keep down the ''' blaze, while at the same time retaining the heat within. The stockman also gave information of the fire to the police, and the place 'was visited that evening by the police magistrate of Taroom, with Dr Hemming, and others. Near the fire were found two large pools of blood, some pieces of a human skull, which . appeared as if shattered by a tomahawk, and some human hair. On the driftwood being removed from the fire, the remains of a human being were seen, but so burnt that when touched the bones all fell to pieces. There remained, however, sufficient to satisfy Dr Hemming that the remains were those of a man who' had .been murdered and .the body then burnt. "A 1 further search was made, when bo'dt : jtracks were discovered in the vicinity corresponding to the boots worn by Garbuttjwhen apprehended,, same time afterwards as previously related. After an inquiry extending over four days, the /"prisoner was fully committed for trial at the .next /Copwoomba Circuit Court. • Garbutt was brought down' from Taropm, and lodged in the Brisbane Gaol. — -—We. understand that airier his apprehension he has- not. been 'heard to utter a word, and feigns madness. Great diffi--7 ■ •, culty is experienced in compelling him to receive his food, which has to be forced ?/, by, a tube down his throat. He is fed chiefly on corn flour.