THE NELSON EXAMINER. Saturday, July 7, 1866.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 83, 7 July 1866, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Saturday, July 7, 1866.

Journals become more necessary as men become more eqnal and individualism more to lie feared. It would be to undorrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to secure liberty ; they maintain civilization. Db Tocqubvihb, Of Democracy in America, vol. 6, 230. The voluntary confession made by Sullivan has been the means, as we hoped from the first would be the case, of bringing to justice other persons mixed up in the recent robberies, if not crimes of a worse character, on the West Coast. On Thursday last, we reported that a rumour had been afloat in Nelson, on "Wednesday night, that some accomplices of the gang now in custody had been arrested on the West Coast. The rumour, like most of the rumours which have so frequently arisen in connection with the facts of the late murders, has been proved to have a foundation. On Wednesday night, a telegraphic communication was received at the police-station, in this city, stating that three men, in addition to the bellringer Wilson, had been captured. These men, however, although linked together with the band of murderers whose lives will probably terminate in Nelson in a short time, are not, we understand, supposed to have been guilty — at all events in New Zealand — of a capital ofience. Their crime is that of robbery ; and the late bank robbery at Okarita, so utterly mysterious in its occurrence, will probably, before long, be brought home to the chief actors in it. The robbery of the firearms, pouches, belts, and some articles of clothing, at the police camp in Hokitika, is also to be traced

to tbe same men. This latter robbery was committed in such an unheard-of daring manner, as to leave' no doubt that those who were guilty of it were no ordinary thieves. To enter a police camp — the very nest of their enemies — at an early hour in the evening, and deliberately extract the arms of the force, showed beyond doubt that the thieves were a more dangerous set of criminals than those generally met with, and would lead to the belief at once that the weapons were taken, not so much for their intrinsic value, as for the use the robbers contemplated putting them to. At the time the revolvers were stolen, there is but little doubt that sacrifice of human life was looked forward to as likely to be necessary in the villainous career of the thieves. The evidence which Sullivan will be prepared to give — in fact that which he has already given — is sufficient to show that the crimes which have caused so much alarm, on the West Coast have been perpetrated by men who, in some way or another, have been intimately connected with those who are now prisoners in our gaol. To what extent Sullivan's evidence can convict those men, it is impossible to say as yet. Through him, a man actually acting as one of the police force in Westland, and two others whose names as yet we are not at liberty to publish, ' have been apprehended. Notwithstanding the importance of Sullivan's evidence as to both Mr. Gteorgo Dobaon'a murder and those on the Maungatapu, it is possible, had Wilson's arrest not been made weeks ago at the Grey, that the four men now in custody here might have succeeded in escaping. The wires sent up their description, and our police were on the lookout for them, having been informed that they were supposed to have come in the direction of Nelson. The message, we believe, was received subsequent to the arrival of the Wallaby from the Grey and Buller, on the 6th ultimo, so that their apprehension when they landed in Nelson, or before they had time to leave it, was impossible. On their return, had they remained but a few days in the town, the vigilance of the police — which has been so noteworthy on every occasion when their services are unfortunately required — would probably have led to their detection, even had not the Maungatapu felony put the whole of the public on the alert for the men. As yet we do not know how far Wilson is implicated in Mr. Dobson's murder. From the suspicious manner in which he volunteered evidence respecting the whereabouts of the lost man, he was arrested. The circumstances of his arrest were detailed weeks ago in the Grey River Argus. It is not probable that he was a principal to the murder — an accessory to it before or after the fact he undoubtedly was. Since the four prisoners have been confined in the gaol, as strongly secured as iron on their limbs and iron inside their cells can render them ; and since the fact has become known to them that one of their number has turned " Queen's evidence," a marked alteration has taken place in the men. Sullivan, it is said, shows signs of genuine contrition for the part he has taken in the affair. When placed in the dock some days since, he appeared entirely overcome with grief, which many supposed was merely displayed for effect. Since his removal to the gaol, at times when no one was supposed to be near or watching him, he has been found sleepless and sorrowful. His fellow prisoners appear calm, although they must know the fate that awaits them. Silence is strictly enjoined on all of them, for we believe their language respecting Sullivan, and the abuse which was showered upon him, rendered it necessary to stop all conversation in the cells. Every day they are allowed to enjoy the fresh ajr in the prison yard, for the space of one hour and a half, each being let out separately heavily ironed, and guarded by a gaoler with a loaded rifle. We understand that they have made a written request that on being taken to the Court-house on the next occasion they may be accommodated with a cab. The hootings of the crowd are distasteful to them, and have prompted this request. Of tbe whole four, Burgess appears the most desperate, and seems also to have suffered least from the confinement and change of life. Kelly is becoming day by day more emaciated, whilst Levy seems to bear the whole affair with a certain degree of nonchalance. Burgess, on being taken to the gaol, looked round with contempt on the building which, was to contain him, asking, with scorn, whether " they thought it would hold Mm ?" The precautions which have been taken, notwithstanding the dangerous character of the prisoners, will, we trust, be sufficient for the purpose. On Monday next, the examination of the prisoners will be continued, and we hope concluded. Their committal for trial at the Supreme Court will then take place.