FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21423, 22 February 1933, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

EXTRACTS FROM THE HERALD

FIVE MURDERERS CONVICTED The following are extracts from the New Zealand Herald of February 21, 1883: Five of the -perpetrators of what is known as the desert tragedy, the murder of Professor Palmer and his two companions, Captain Gill and Mr. Charrington, have been tried and convicted, and sentenced to death. The ill-fated expedition, the object of which has never been clearly explained, but is known to have been of an important political character, started from Suez on August 8 in charge of an influential sheik named Sufiya. All went well until two days later, when the little band was attacked by a party of the Haiwalat and Tarebin tribes and captured. Next day Professor Palmer and Messrs. Gill and Charrington were led out and shot dead. When news of the massacre reached the English authorities in Egypt, Colonel Warren was dispatched in quest of the murderers, and at great risk, and after considerable difficulty, he succeeded in arresting five, and in obtaining the names of others who took part in the murders. Professor Palmer was a man of brilliant attainments and an accomplished linguist. The international cricket match, Australia versus England, was continued yesterday, and the innings of the Australians closed for 262, one run less than that of their opponents. The Englishmen then commenced their second innings, and were all disposed of before stumps were drawn for a total of 197. . Perhaps none of the suburban districts near Auckland has made more rapid progress of late years than Avondale, as the tendency of the flow of population is wes ward of the city. It bids fair to be tne centre of a variety of important manufactures and industries.