THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 7947, 2 December 1886, Page 5

THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

Auckland, November 5. The preliminary inquiry into the Great Barrier tragedy, in which Caffrey and Penn are charged with the murder of Robert Taylor, began to-day at the Police Court, Mr Seth Smith, R.M., presiding. Owing to excessive crowding in Court, the room had to be cleared. Mr Hudson Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, at the outset asked the permission of the Bench for the governor of the gaol, Mr Eeaton, to make a statement respecting the alleged “interviewing” of the accused, and the published statements in certain papers alleged to have been obtained at such interviews. Mr Reatoh emphatically denied that any “interviewing” had taken place, and at the time no one had access to the prisoners but their counsel and ’ the gaol officials. Sergeant Pratt, on behalf of the police authorities, gave a similar denial as to any interviewing of the prisoners having taken place while they were in the custody of the police. A special guard had been placed over them. The first witness was the girl Grace Cleary, alias Graham, who gave her evidence clearly and unhesitatingly. Much of It has already been published. Her examination, which lasted all day, was damaging to Caffrey, but tended to exculpate Penn of having a share in the actual deed. From her evidence it appears she heard on board the cutter on the night before leaving Auckland what was proposed to be done, while the men were drinking. On going into the cabin she saw them looking at a black satin flag. She asked Caffrey what the black flag was for, and he said it was for the death of “Old Tusky.” She knew that was Taylor, for she had heard Jack call him by that name befere. Heard Caffrey say he was going to shoot Taylor. This was at that time ia the cabin. A fellow called .Tim asked Caffrey to put the girl out of the way for him. He meant Mrs Seymour. He said he had been in tow with the girl, and that she had fooled him. This talk did not continue very loug. It was said seriously, not as a joke. Two of the men were sitting beside Caffrey and two beside her and Penn, on deck at the time. Caffrey said he would go ashore and try to get the girls, andif he did not get them there wonld be some shooting dona. He said he would go ashore and take some cord with him to tie the father up, and that he would cut a piece either oat of his ear or his tongue, eo that he could tall no tales. He said he would force the girl down to the boat, and if she did not go he would shoot her.

After a n adjournment the girl waa again placed in the box, and stated that since the adjournment she had twice seen Mr Napier, the solicitor. On being asked by the Crown Prosecutor who steered the vessel down the harbor, she declined to answer the question, and the following paasage-at-arms ensued : Mr Williamson: Is that a result of your interview with Mr Napier ? Witness : I think you might use it against me in the case. Mr Williamson : Is that the result of the interview ■ Mr Napier ; "Sou have no right to ask such a question. She has been advised, and ■well advised. Mr Williamson said that no doubt Mr N'apier always gave the best advice. Mr Napier said that Mr Williamson had no right to make those remarks. He contended that every answer given by her could be given against her in evidence. If not, they should withdraw the charge against her. and then she could be com* polled to answer. The examination was resumed, the Court bolding that the question was relevant. She then said that Penn steered the vessel, and that she was on deck with him, and Caffrey was below asleep. She saw three new revolvers onboard. After giving the details of the trip down to the Barrier she said that on the morning they got there they dropped anchor. They pulled the sails down, bat did not tie them up. They left them loose, as Caffrey said, “ So as to be ready to get out of the Bay quickly,” . after they bad done the murder. Some*

thin;; was said about a murder, for Call ray aaid ha would try to get the girls, and 5 he could not get them he would shoot the father for revenge. Before they went ashore Caffrey loaded the revolvers in tha cabin, Penn was then on deck. Caffrey had some brandy—about three glasses. Penn did not have anything to drink. She saw Caffrey put the revolvers in his pockets,' He did hot give any to Penn. She then described Caffrey and Penn leaving tha vessel for Taylor’s with new sheath knivea in their belts, and Caffrey with a cord in his packet to tie up Taylor it he got the girl. Heard Penn tell Caffrey that ha would go np to Taylor’s and ask for some butter, and Caffrey said “ All right.” Ha was to gat the girls while the father was procuring the butter. The girl then lost sight of the men on their landing. In describing their return she said that Caffrey had blood on his clothing and hat, aud a revolver in his hand. When he came on deck ha showed the revolvers, and aha said, “ Oh, Jack, what have you done,” and he said he had put the out of the way. She asked him where tho girls where, and he said they had jumped out of tha bedroom window. She asked him if Harry had anything to do with it. The words said to her were that he had told him to fire, but “tha fool fired at a picture high, but not at a man.” The blood on his right arm was above the elbow, and looked as if Taylor had caught hold of him, On examining Caffrey’s revolver she saw that four shots had been fired. Saw no blood on Penn’s clothing or anything nnusnal about him. Afterward saw a second revolver in the cabin, but did not know who placed it there. The girl then described the voyage to Australia pretty much a s already published, Caffrey regretting that he bad done the deed. She know that Caffrey had feelings against Taylor, for he used to talk about him. Ho said be was engaged to Taylor’s daughter, and when she came up to bo married Taylor had put it off; that he got on the spree, and was run in for three mouths, and while there Taylor persuaded her to marry Seymour. She heard him say that ho would shoot Taylor at the first chnnco he {got. Penn knew what Caffrey’s intentions were when they were on hoard, for Penn told her that Caffroy got him drunk and got him to promise to go with him to get the girl. Had beard Caffrey say on the voyage to Australia that if he had got the girls he would have made Mrs Seymour slavey, aud thrown both overboard on reaching the Australian coast. When the examinatlon-in-chief of tha witness closed, the Crown Prosecutor withdrew the charge against her, and she left the Court in company with Mr Kapler. Mr Napier will cross-examine her to. morrow. Caffrey aud Penn were then taken back to the Mount Eden Gaol, a largo crowd surrounding the courthouse as they were driven away, Penn seemed less defiant and jaunty than hitherto, aud seemed to realise more distinctly the gravity of his position, while Caffrey, on the other hand, was more cheerful and less depressed, smiling to the crowd as he left the Police Court. Auckland, November 10.

The Groat Barrier murder inquiry was resumed at the Police Court this morning. Sydney Weightman, surveyor, deposed to making a drawing and plans of the houso and surroundings as formerly occupied by Taylor. Mrs Taylor, widow of the murdered man, said that on the morning of the 19th June they had just got out of bed when Penn came along the beach to the house, and said he was from the cutter Loviot, and wanted butter. Witness and her husband were going for the butter when Caffrey sprang in with a revolver in each hand, and shouted, “ Hold your hands up, Taylor.” He repeated these words three times, and then presented a revolver and fired. Penn had sat down, and till then bad kept both hands in his packets. Taylor called out. “Oh, Johnny, don’t shoot me.” That was before a shot was fired. Witness heard three shots fired one after the other, and her husband then ran into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. Caffrey rushed up to the door and thrust it open, Penn following him. Witness was rushing about the kitchen screaming, and went to the door to see if anyone was about. Heard one more shot, fired apparently in the bedroom. Gan in and saw Penn with his left arm around her husband’s neck. Penn pointed his revolver at her with his right hand to prevent her going farther. She did not observe Caffrey at that time, and oould not say whether Taylor was alive or dead. Witness ran out when Penn pointed the revolver at her, and ran in the direction of the stockyard. Penn followed, overtook her, and told her to stop, saying, “If you don’t stop I'll blow your brains out! ” He had a revolver pointed at her, and she clasped her hands and prayed him not to shoot her. On the examination being continued this afternoon, the witness Mrs Taylor said she saw Caffrey coming out of the house, and called on him for help. Caffrey came toward her carrying a revolver in one hand. He had a piece of rope round his wrist, and said to Penn—“ Don’t harm the old woman.” Witness said to Cattrey, who showed blood stains, “Ob, Johnny, what have you done!” he said, “I’ve done it, I've done it.” He added that he was going to Seymour’s, and would “do for the lot.” Both men then went away, and witness returned to the house, and found her husband sitting on the bedroom floor quite dead. This was the bedroom occupied by her daughter, Mrs Seymour, who had fled in her nightdress, leaving her baby in the bed, and she found the infant unarmed. The counsel for the prisoners reserved their cross-examination, Mrs Taylor’s evidence was given in a clear voice, which only trembled when describing the minute details of the terrible t scene. Daring the proceedings Penn kept his eyes fixed on the witness’s lace.

The evidence of Lincoln Taylor, son of the deceased, Mr Blair, Detective Tnohy, and Agnes Austin was taken. The only fresh evidence was that of the girl Austin. She stated that she saw Caffrey on the night before the Sovereign of the Seas sailed. He proposed to her to go with him on the cutter and she refused. Caffrey said that she would not see him again, but would read or hear of him. The prisoners were formally remanded till the 19th instant. Auckland, November 19. Caffrey and Penn were brought up at the Police Court this morning, but were remanded till Tuesday next to enable the Resident Magistrate to preside. It is expected that the next sitting will conclude the evidence. Auckland, Novemner 23. The Great Barrier Murder case was resumed this morning before Mr Seth Smith, R.M. The Crown Prosecutor said ho had nine witnesses to call, whose evidence would be short. Jane McManus deposed to having arranged on the 17th June last to go with Caffrey in the Sovereign of the Seas, but she changed her mind and refused to go in cansequence of what she was told by a man named Lowndes, whom she had seen speaking to Caffrey. James Lowndes, master of the ketch Lucy James, gave evidence regarding a drunken spree on board the Sovereign of the Seas the night before she left for the Barrier. Caffrey, when drunk, told witness that Mrs Seymour had consented to go with him, and he was going to take her right away south in the cutter. Witness lent Caffrey a large water keg for his cutter. He heard, the girl McManus tell Caffrey she would not go till the next trip, and the latter said, “Yon will have to stay, then.” George Fatter, waiter in an oyster saloon, deposed that Pena, and the girl had supper at his saloon a night or two before the Sovereign of the Seas left Auckland.* In paying for the supper Penn said, “This is the last three shillings you will have from me for a long time.” There was no dispute as to the change. Adam Henderson, part owner of the Sovereign of the Seas, said Caffrey worked the cutter for one-third of the earnings. Saw Caffrey on Monday, 1-lth June, when he promised to call next day and square up, being about £l7 behind in bis accounts. Caffrey did not call, and witness felt nneasy and went down to the cotter and told Penn on no account was the cutter to leave for the Barrier till Caffrey saw witness. Despite this notice the entter sailed without Caffrey calling. John Brett and Samnel Robertson deposed to sending stores to the Sovereign of the Seas.

Frederick Somers, qnarryman at Eangitoto Island, deposed to the cutter going 'ashore there on the morning of the ISth Jane. Witness went on board, and saw Caffrey, Penn, and the girl Graham. He helped to get the vessel off, for which Caffrey thanked him and his mates.

C. R. Chapman, stationer, deposed that Caffrey, in June last, bonght from him a chart of the south-west coast of South America. That was about a week before the Sovereign of the Seas left Auckland, and Caffrey was then accompanied by a youu£ man whom he took to be Penn,

After the adjournment, the evidence of Detective -Tuohey was taken, but he had nothing new to say. Caffrey and Penn were committed for trial. Caffrey said nothing. Penn said that on the morning he went to Taylor’s house he meaut no harm—did harm to no one, anil never shot Taylor.