THE ALLEGED MURDER AT THE

Otago Witness, Issue 585, 14 February 1863, Page 2

THE ALLEGED MURDER AT THE

DUNSTAN.

Some few days back, there was a rumor of a mim' r having been committed somewhere iu:tr the >m.stim, and that the perpetrator of the crim had made a confession ot the fact, and givei himself up to fie police*. We have to-day been 'laced in pi ssession of the pai ticuhuv of t'ns case, -vhich are soimvhufc of an extraordinary char 'tor. We may mention that our informant is IS' i- Win. Ilogan, who was personally acqu tin red with the whole occurrence. It appears tluit < n the 7th Jiuvuuy two men nanud Daniel Cliff! rd and ffin Phillip?, wlio.luul bitn nv.xWi, Conii-y-'s Gul'y, loit the Dunstan township tor Conn y's, intending to proceed to the Umbrella Ran" -s on a prospecting tour. On the 11th CliiFo:d returnp.l to the Dunstan township alone, an iv ng from the direction of the U:nbrel!;is. On his ;. rrival Clifford began to "knock down" nioncv very fast, " shouting " for everybody, and spending as much as sixty or seventy pounds in a day. As some explanation of this prodigality, Clifford '.(ated that he had discovered a rich, gully, on a tributary of the Mataura. He said that he had brou lit to the Dunstan 12lb weight of gold, oh-tain*-1 by himself aud mate in three days. The <;old .vas so plentiful, he said, that while his mate whs lioiling the billy and preparing a meal, he (Clill )rd) had washed out 31b weight. This inform ition, of course, created great inteiest amongst the miners, and ultimately a party of seven agreed to accompany Clifford to the alleged rich ''ully. After this party had started, they discovered on arriving at the " Old Man TCange,' six mi.es from Dunstan, that they were followed by si veral others, and in order to deceive these men. the party agreed to divide, one party eonsistii g of Clifford and another man going in one direction, and the remainder in another, precaution, ry arrangements being made to meet at a certain spot. It would appear, however, that the two parties did not reunite, and Clifford and his companion returned to the Dunstan. Clifford ■igai'i spent money very freely, and repeated his statement as to the new gully. Another party, of >y'nom our informant, Mr Hogan was one, made an arrangement with Clifford I to go in aserch of tlieplace, and tills party fell in with the missing half of the original expedition, and the two parties united and proceeded on their way. When about 12 miles from Mr McNab's station, and sixty miles from the Dunstan, Clifr ord w.is discovered by one of the party who was po<ted as sentry, trying to escape, about 3 in the morning. The sentry lollowed him for some distance, and then asked him where he was going " Gcd help me !'\said Clifford, " I have £4 and a depc sit note for £60, take it, I have no gully to show, and am very sorry for misleading the men." Cliffjrd was then secured, and taken back to tli2 party. The miners were very j much exasperated, and one man rushed j forward, and tried to strangle Clifford, but wns drawn off. On being asked to account for the money he had been spending, the prisoner said he had murdered his mate and then robbed him, but 1 that the murder had been done accidentally. He j then pleaded a call of nature, and was allowed to j retire for a short distance, when he attempted to I strangle himself with his braces. He was then secured, and a judge and jury appointed to ordain his punishment. It was decided to shave off the j culprit's hair and whiskers, and then he was to I receive four lashes with a stone rope from each of the jiiirty — 15 in number. He was then lashed 1 with his arms outstretched, to a large rock ; and I hut lor the interference of Mr Hogan and an- ' other of the party, there is little doubt but that ! the man's life would have been taken. His &eni tence was commuted to the simple cutting off of 1 his hair and whiskers ; but the prisoner was i severely treated by the exasperated miners on I the way to the Dunstan. Clifford several times attempted suicide, but was prevented accomplish- ; ing his jmrpose, and was handed over to the 1 police at the Dunstan. Here Clifford said that ', ho had made the statement about UlO 1 murder simply to escape the vengeance of the miners he had deceived. Four of the party made a deposition of Clifford's confession before Mr Keddell, R.M., and the prisoner was remanded for 1 seven d tys. He said he could find his mite in ', that time. A constable was sent with him.