GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7784, 2 November 1886, Page 5

GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

On Saturday Mr. Jackson Palmer, solicitor, had an interview with Caffrey. It is understood that Mr. Palmer considers the presence of some of the Australian witnesses necessary to Caffrey'a defence. There is no likelihood of the Crown bringing any over from Australia, as the verified depositions are in the hands of the Crown Solicitor, and if any steps of that kind are to be taken they will have to be taken by the defence and at personal expense.

Mr. W. J. Napier also had an interview with Penn on Saturday in reference to his defence. He contemplates applying for a change of venue in Penn's case, owing to the manner in which the defence of his client has been prejudiced by the published statements concerning him.

1 he Crown Solicitor (Mr. Hudson Williamson) visited the girl Grace Graham yesterday. It has not yet been determined whether ihe will be brought forward as a witness for the Crown.

In the course of an interview which Mrs. Reid had with her daughter, Grace Graham, at Mount Eden Gaol, she exhorted her to stick to the truth, and to speak it alone. The girl said she would do so. She expressed sorrow for the past, but said it was beyond recall, and what had been done could not be helped now. The girl made certain statements as to the actions, conduct, and language of Caffrey and Penn, on returning to the cutter after going ashore at the Great Barrier; but, in fairness to the accused, we refrain from publishing them. It aeems that Caffrey bought the piece of black satin in town, aud the girl Graham hemmed it on the passage down to the Barrier. She asked Caffrey what he intended doing with it. He said, "To make a flag." Her reply was " That it was a funny thing to use a block fiag ;" and his rejoinder was, what she did not know now she would know hereafter. According to her statement she did not know the destination of the Sovereign of the Seas when she left the Barrier, and was utterly indifferent about the matter. It was current last evening that Mr. G. N. Braesey, solicitor, had left in a cutter for the Great Barrier Island, with a view of examining witnesses on the island in connection with the information laid by Mrs. Taylor at his instigation. The police authorities are taking steps to have an accurate plan prepared of Taylor's houee, at the Great.Barrier Island, the sceae of the tragedy, for use at the trial. Detective Walker will probably prepare it, as he has executed those required previously on similar occasions, being a surveyor as well as a detective.