THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1991, 23 October 1886, Page 3

THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

ARREST OF PENN.

IJIS SENSATIONAL STORY.

Penn was Irouglit up at the Ivempßcy Police Court on Monday. Oct 11, Despite Ida three months adventures at *e>-, and Ids five weeks’ traveri nz of the desolate coast, the prisoner looked i expectable. His deep set black eyes and pleasant hce Bta-np liim as a man capable of better things than murder. Inspector Harrison conducted the prosecution. Senior Constable M‘Lellan-1 deposed to having arrested the prisoner about six o’clock the previous night. When Con-, g’jible M’Lelland first approached him Penn went to meet him, and said that he had come from a wreck. Constable M'Lei land asked what wreck, and prisoner replied, *' The Sovereign of the Seas.” This was a voluntary statement. A female wag with Penn. Wit toss then told the pr.aoner lie would arrest him for the murder of Robert Taylor, on the Great Bsrrier Island, in New Zealand. The prisoner said, I w there, and was implicated in tne murder.” The oonstable asked him if he had any firearms, and Penn handed to him a nickel silver British bulldog revolver, loaded in all chambers. (This was produced in Court.) The girl with Penn was Cirrying a singlo barrel fowling pieoe, unloaded, in a swag, which Penn acknowledged to bo his. Witness found a pjwd-r flask and shot ; also two bullets and some ctpa, which exactly fitted the fowling piece The girl when arrested gave her name as Grace Graham, but afterward said her name was Cleary. The girl is to give important evidence against the prisoners. Lizzie is eighteen years of age, and belongs to Napier. She is rather good looking, and has a clear complexion, an! wears Iter hair cut over her eyebrows, l’o .n looked dejected this morning. He is 25 ytava of age. lie told the police that he and Lizzio have boen living under a tent near Crescent Head for five weeks. When they first touched the coast they landed near Port Stephens, and saw some men on the beach. Caffrey then, in reply to questions, said that their vessel was a ilihing craft. From that time until aricited Penn and Lizzie did not see a single person until Sunday fortnight, whin they saw one of the Port Macquarie po ice riding along the beach. The girl appears to be little troubled by tbn charge that is hanging over her. Both on landing and after the remand was granted in her case, she smiled and ehatled away freely with those near her, avoiding, however, any reference to her experiences from the time she left New Zealand.

Penn states that the girl Graham had been living with him on board the cutter for some time prior to the murder. On the day it was committed Caffery and himself went ashore to Taylor’s place, and he was in the doorway of Taylor’s house when Caffrey shot Taylor. Penn acknowledges that lie was carrying a revolver at the time, but, in explanation, s tys that, it was his habit always to have a revolver on him. The girl was left on board tin cutter while tlv-y weht ashore, and was totally unaware of the object of their trip until some time after their return, whi n they told her what had happened. On learning it, and being told that they intended to make away from the New Zealand coast in consequence she pleaded hard to be landed, but, under the circumstances they decided to take her with them. Penn confirmed Caffrey’s statement that they came as far south ns Sydney Heads, but finding too many crafts about went north again in hopes of affecting a landing on the Queensland coast. Whether they were afterwards wrecked, or landed and wrecked the schooner afterwards, Penn did not say ; but, according to his account, lie and Caffery began to quarrel over tho girl almost immediately they Bet snil. Caffrey, on tho principal that dead people tell no tales, wanted to stmot Grace Graham, but Penn, between whom and tho girl there appears a strong affection, objected, and saved her. After then tho dread of murder being everpresent, Penn and the girl came to an arrange, ment by which one of thorn always remained awake whilst the other slept, Penn (hr uighout the voyage keeping his revolver loated ready for use in the event of *ny cruelly on the part of Caffrey. After they lauded near Bellinger River, Caffrey, Penn, an 1 the girl camped together for a fortnight, One same quarrels about the girl, which had taken place uuinterrupte lly on board, continued on shore, Caffrey urging that it was necessary for their 8 duty ilia' she sliou d be put out of the wiy. At last, on the fourteenth day, Caffrey asked Penn to go for a walk with him as lie had something particular to talk to him about. Penn made up his mind that Caffrry’s only object was to get him away from t ljo girl into the' buffi, and tliera shoot him, and on that account he refused to stir from where lie was High words followed which calumniated in Caffr*y patting company with them. It was the intention of l’enn and the girl to get married as soon as they could p issibly inana c it.