Shocking Murder near Auckland

Otago Witness, Issue 1805, 25 June 1886, Page 22

Shocking Murder near Auckland

Auckland, June 21.

Considerable excitement was caused here by the receipt of news that a dreadful murder had been committed at Tryphena Harbour, on the Great Barrier Island, on Saturday morning last, by which a settler named Kobert Taylor was shot dead by John Caff rey (the master) and Henry Perm (mate) of the cutter Sovereign of the Seas. Caffrey, ■who is an old trader to the Barrier, paid his addresses to Miss Jane Taylor about four years ago, but her father (the murdered man) refused to give his consent to the marriage. The breaking off of the match seems to have rankled in CafErey's breast, though he had not expressed any feelings against the family during his stay in town. After his last trip he gave way to drink, and was intoxicated before leaving here last Thursday night. The police arc arranging to go with a steamer and capture the murderers, who cleared out in the cutter and are cruising about the Great Barrier. Both men are well armed, though one revolver was left at the scene of the murder. Later. Further details of the murder at Great Barrier show that on Saturday morning last Perm went to Taylor's house and asked for some butter. Taylor told him he could have some, and asked Perm what cutter he was in. Perm told him it was the Teviot. Taylor replied, " Oh, is it." Caffrey, it is said, then walked up and told Taylor to " put his hands up," and fired one chamber of his revolver at him which did not hurt him. Perm then seized Taylor, and it is alleged held him while Caffrey fired three more shots which killed him, one shot going through the poor man's head. While this tragic scene was being enacted, the other members of the family, which consisted of three women and a boy, left the house, and Perm is reported to have run out calling Mrs Taylor back, and threatened to shoot her ii! she did not come. Perm then asked her where the girls were. Mrs Taylor told him they were living at Mr Seymour's. Then Caffrey is alleged to have replied, "We'll go out there and do for them." They then went on board the cutter and tried to get to Seymour's place at Heretaunga, but the wind being unfavourable they could not do so. Meanwhile Lincoln Tayor, ! the son, rode over to Seymour's place with the sad intelligence, and Mr Seymour started for Tryphena. Previously to this the postman Mr Blair had despatched the cutter Tairua to Coromandel for assistance, but shortly after she started the Tairua ran back to Tryphena. On Sunday morning the Tairua again started and brought the news here to Sergeant Rist. There seems to have been no reason whatever for this terrible outrage, as Mr Taylor was one of the most respectable men on the island. He was a native of Corton, in Lancashire, and several of his relatives occupy leading positions in that town. Thero has not been a vessel in Tryphena for the last eight years which will not bear testimony to the kindness and hospitality of the Taylor family. Superintendent Thomson, on receiving intimation from Wellington, chartered the s.s. Bowena for the island to convey the coroner and doctor to conduct an inquest to-morrow. A posse of police, consisting o£ Sergeant Clark, three constables, and Detective Tsvohey, also go by steamer fully armed to arrest Caffrey and his accomplice, Perm. The Sovereign of the Seas was last seen cruising off the island. From threats made previously, it appesrs the crime had been premeditated by Caffrey, who has taken a stock of provisions for the cutter, and the owners state that he is behindhand in his accounts. He always carried a revolver. There is one girl on the cutter named Reid, and said to belong to Gisborne, The Rowena leaves at 10 p.m.