THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7774, 21 October 1886, Page 5

THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

THE PRISONERS REMANDED TO AUCKLAND. JREUTKR'S telegram.] Sydney, . October 20. At the Water Police Court to-day, John Oaffrey, Henry Albert Penn, and Lizzie Graham were again brought up, the two former charged with the murder of Robert Taylor at the Great Barrier Island, and the latter with being an accessory after the fact. Detective Tuohy, of the Auckland police force, produced the warrants for the apprehension of the prisoners and the depositions taken at the coroner's inquest, and the prisoners were then remanded to Auckland. They leave for that place to-morrow in charge of the New Zealand officers. CAFFRET AT THE SYDNEY POLICE COURT. On October 11 the man John Caffrey, alias Joe Adams, who was charged on suspicion with being identical with the person who committed the murder on the Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, in June last, was brought before Mr. A. Money Fisher, D.S.M., at the Water Police Court, having been remanded from Kempsey, near which place he was arrested. The accused was further charged with " wilfully murdering one Robert Taylor, at the Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, on the 19th June last." The following is a copy of the evidence of the arresting constable, given before the Police Magistrate at Boat Harbour, on the 4th instant — Edwin May deposed : I am a first-class mounted constable of the New South Wales Police Force, in charge of Boat Harbour; about 12 noon on the 2nd instant, from information I received, I proceeded along the road to the South Arm of the Bellinger River near the Heads ; when crossing the punt at South Arm, I saw the prisoner coming down the road from the direction of Nambuccra ; he was carrying a large swag ; when I got over in the punt I went up to him and had a conversation with him ; I said, " Are you look ing for work "he replied, Yes ;" I said, " Where were you working last ?" he answered, " With Moore at Deep Creek I said, "How long have you been working there ?" he answered, " ten days he then went on to the punt, and I followed him and came back to this side of the river ; I then said, "I want to have a yarn with you. What money did Moore pay you while you were there ?' prisoner replied, " A ohequel said, " Show it to mehe showed me a oheque signed for £2 (one of Mr. Matthews') on a Fernmount Bank; I said, " Is that all the money yon have got V he said, "No, I have a few shillings besides I asked bim how he came to Mr. Moore's ; he replied, "Along the beach ;" I said, "Where were you working before you came to Moore's?" he replied, "Nowhere since I left Sydneyl then said, " Which way did you come from Sydney ?" and he answered, "Along the beach; I crossed the river in boats;" I said, " What was the first place you came to after leaving Sydney?" he replied, "Port Stephens;" I then said, The next place?" and he replied " Camden Haven;" I asked his name, and be said it was "Joe Adams he also said he had no arms on him ; I told him I was a constable looking for a man answering to his description ; I said, " Let me search you I then searched him ; I found nothing on him; I searched his swag and found a six-chambered revolver (loaded) and 11 cartridges; I also produced a parallel rule, a purse with 9a and 9d in money, and a cheque for £2, a gold ring (snake pattern with two heads), a piece of black satin, which bears needle marks ; I notice the initials "L. B." in ink on a brass hinge of the parallel rule ; the swag generally consists of blankets, sea boots, socks, and (apparently) a sailor's kit; it was fastened with a piece of rope ; I took possession of theaa things, and then arrested the prisoner on suspicion ; I said to him, " I arrest yon on suspicion of being John Caffrey, charged, on warrant, with the murder of Robert Taylor, at the Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, on the 19th June last; he made no reply; I handcuffed him ; I wish to add that at the time I found the revolver I said, " What do you call this?" showing him the weapon; he replied, " I was told I might want that on the diggings I then brought him to Boat Harbour lock-up ; I asked the prisoner if he had been in New Zealand, and if he knew a vessel named the Sovereign of the Seas; he replied in the negative ; he said the black satin was given to him by a man to make a sash with ; 1 produce the Police Gazette of 7th July last, in which a notice of the murder and the description of two persons named John Caffery and Henry Albert Penn is printed ; I believed the accused to be identical with John Caffery ; his ears are pierced, though he has no earrings ; I pray for a remand for further inquiries. The warrant for the arrest of the persons charged with the crime not having arrived from New Zealand, where the offence is alleged to have been committed, the man Caffery was remanded until Monday next. Kempsey, Oot. 11. Penn, who was implicated with Caffrey in the murder at the Great Barrier Island, was arrested by Senior -constable M'Clelland yesterday evening within two miles of the Macleay bar. The girl Graham was with him, carrying a gun. Penn had a six-barrelled revolver fully loaded. The pair have been about the beach since the cutter was scuttled in August last. Caffrey parted company with Penn consequent upon a quarrel about the girl. Penn and the girl were lodged in kempsey lock-up to-day. Penn was brought before the police magistrate at Kempsey at 2 o'clock. Seniorconstable M'Clelland gave evidence as to the circumstances attending the arrest of the prisoner. Penn asked no questions. He was remanded to Sydney. The girl Graham, or Cleary, was not brought before the Bench. She will leave by the steamer Queen of the South to-morrow. 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 that it was committed Caffrey 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 he was carrying a revolver at the time; but in explanation says that it was his habit always to have a revolver on him. The fcirl was left on board the cutter while they went ashore, and was totally unaware of the object of their trip until some time after their return, when 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 very hard to be landed, but under the circumstances they decided to take her with them. As already stated by Caffrey, Penn says that they tried to reach the American coast, where they expected they would be safe from discovery ; but meeting with five or six severe gales, and the cutter becoming in such a leaky condition as to inspire them with the greatest fears for their safety, they eventually turned back and succeeded in fetching the New South Wales coast. Penn confirms Caffrey's statement that they came as far south as Sydney Heads, but finding too many crafts about, went northwards again, in the hope of effecting a landing on the Queensland coast. Whether they were afterwards wrecked, or landed, and wrecked the cutter afterwards, Penn did not say, but according to his acconnt he and Caffrey commenced to quarrel almost immediately after they set sail over the girl. Caffrey, on the principle that dead people tell no tales, wanted to shoot Grace Graham ; but Penn, between whom and the girl there appears to exist a strong affection, objected and saved her. After then the dread of murder being ever present, Penn and the girl came to an arrangement by which one of them always remained awake whilst the other slept, Penn throughout the voyage keeping his revolver loaded ready to hand in the event of any cruel act on the part of Caffrey. After they landed near the Bellinger River Caffrey, Penn, and the girl camped together for a fortnight, the same quarrels about the girl which had taken place uninterruptedly on board being continued on shore, Caffrey arguing that it was necessary for their safety that she should be put out of the way. At last on the fourteenth day Caffrey asked Penn to go for a walk with him, as he had something particular to talk to him about. Penn made up his mind that Caffrey's only object was to get him away from Grace Graham into the bush and there shoot him, and on that; account refused to stir from where he was. High words followed, which culminated in Caffrey parting company from them. It was the intention of Penn and the girl to get married as soon as they could possibly manage it.