MURDERS BY NATIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12908, 3 July 1905, Page 5

MURDERS BY NATIVES.

IN WEST AUSTRALIA.

SOME GHASTLY DETAILS.

TRAVELLERS KILLED WHILE

ASLEEP.

4. TFTTvn,.,, r -.r , f™™, Juno 27. li , fr °' n Marble Bar I** 1 night *»l d that the latest news from the scene « the murders on Uoldfields Ore* Was }"us«t te Nulllgi on Saturday by M Wee Thompson. He states that he has sZTfth the police and heard a terrible X° Z v" rd r C ° mmitted °» whites by oi well oH° fi ?,*«»• better known „tli and a half D t ° reek > tw ° *hite men tit Tot c t r r ecampe ' whenthena - em «£[♦ ? Cy> and othws £1 I 6eP ' M ° nk P eared the «Mi white man, and Toby speared the younger man through the breast Tl l„ s f mentioned fired three revolve hots t £ fV%^ Whichteo MffectinTob^ k e y fl-thewu afterwards eaten by the S nan" 7" were not discovered - The names of the white men are not known Natives describe the old man as having only one. eye or sore ayes . S °"' y Another murder took place at the middle W l-'illel 6?, ", WflS a ""«"«. Wi '° ™ " ecl by Mo " key ' who crept on him >lnle he w „ aslce d d J , » on. The body was then cut into piooos ana corned for distances of,three miles by MonSS oTr The oli -Covered the know of tl, ls maU> but ,lis " ame * was that of two men with pa 3 khorses, who either early tins year or late last year. Both those men were speared while asleep. Their names are not known and their remains have not been discovered ; Their pack saddles, etc were burnt, and the ironwork was car ned into the hills. Another murde at The Sam , e well was that ..of a young man, I Mnbed by the natives as being of fair complexion He ad five horses, and they were peared by Monkey, the packs, etc, were burnt and the ironwork was carried into he hills. This man also was unknown, and Ins body was not discovered . Another murder took place at Junction Well, also on Gold-fields Creek At the Ashburton River, a swagman was killed by Toby and others spearing him whilst he was asleep. His name was unknown.

Another murder occurred at Granny's Gorge Ashburton River, where a swagman was killed by Loo whilst having his tea Ho was speared through the loins, and cut into small pieces and carried away. His name is unknown. The police expected to find his body the day that Thompson left. Another murder was committed at the same place. A swagman was passing Granny's Gorge, when he was stopped by the native Monkey, and asked for tucker. The man refused, and tho native remonstrated with him. The swagman then threw a stick at the native, and ran into the hills, trying to escape, but the natives followed him, and creeping behind the unfortunate man when ho was having his dinner struck him with a tomahawk across the neck, and then chopped his head off, and after mutilating the body bound it up with creepers, and buried it.

The police are in possession of this man's remains, but his name is not known. Two other white men are supposed to have been killed by the same natives in Horngan's country, at the head of the eastern branch of tho Ashburton.

The natives state tliat they burnt all the pound notes and .papers found on the men, but have sent the rugs, clothing, and firearms to their friends towards Peak Hill. At Ethel Creek station the natives have been bringing in quantities of :! silver and buying rations, and it is thought that this money belonged to the murdered men. Up to the present natives have not admitted committing these crimes. Other natives have yet to be captured.