CONFESSION OP A MURDER IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5335, 21 December 1878, Page 6

CONFESSION OP A MURDER IN SYDNEY.

n^v. 8 rl bo r °ngb-«treet Police Court, on October 29, Henry Thome, no fixed home seaman, was charged before Mr. Newton, on his own confer,on. „-;, h having committed ft 1 rte I °i tinß a man ' at G1 be Island, near Sidney, New South February 2 0, 1877. The folio wIV" thf! prisoners statement, oa given at Hm police February 20 1577, 1 was 111 the Butcher's Arms, Glebe Lalaud, near Sydney, Australia, at 2 o'clock in the day. A man, who said he was a stock driver from up-country, and myself were drinking t -ether at the bar, when an argument arose between us abour 1 shooting, and the man, who had a" six-barrtlled revolver (Adams), suggested we should go to some clearance near and shoot for drinks to decide which was the best shot I agreed, and we left and went to a clear, ance, and fired six shots each at a stump of a tree, the man proving the best shot. It was then my turn to fire again, the man standing on my side, close io me. I had the revolver loaded in my right hand, when from some cnuse or other a ebamber. fired, aud the shot euter-d the htad of the man behind the aar. He jumped up and fell forward as I believe, dead. 1 remained about Gvo minutes, threw the revolver away, and turned the man over, when, finding he aid not move, I became frightened and left and went to Sydney. I remained there till the evening, and then went to Newcastle N.S. \V., and afterwards shipped for Hong Kong, aud thou to England, arriving at Southampton by the Pekin steamship in September, 1577, my passage having been procured by the authorities of Hong Kong, where I bad been very ill. Sinco I came to England I have had no regular employment having lieeu in bad health, aud attending Guy'a and Cliariiig-cross Hospitals. I have had no regular home, aud have slept in lodging-houses wherever I have been, and am now destitute. I wish to add that the shooting was a pure accident, and make thh statement as 1 wish the man's friends to know how he met his death. I liavo never felt settled since it occurred, and gave my. self up that the matter may be investigated. The laudlord of the house served ua with drink, and s>w ua leave together. I know nothing more of the mau I shot, who was about thirty-six years of age, five feet Uvt inches high, stout, fresh complexion, hair and whisk' r8 red, and he looked like a stockdriver." The police inspector Baid tho prisoner seemed quite coherent and in his right senses wheu making the statement, and he now declared it to bo quite true. Mr. Newton said if the pistol went off by accideut it was no murder, but he would grant a remand. On November 5 this person was again brought before Mr. Newton, having been remanded for the polka authorities to commuuicate with persons in Australia. Chief Superintendent Williamson, Scotland-yard, said he bad received a telegram from the Governor of New South Wales. Nothing was know!?, there of tha matter. Mr. Newton saM, as nothing wa« produced to shew that tho prisoner's stery was true, the charge must be dismissed.