THE ROEBOURS MURDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1847, 15 April 1887, Page 9

THE ROEBOURS MURDERS.

Under date March 21,- the .Perth ebrrespojx* dent of the Argus writes :— " There now^ seems" seme little hope that the mystery surrounding -' the dreadful murder at Roebburne,- of 'Messrs Anketelland Burrup, of the Union Bank*., may" be cleared up. A few days ago\a',man.caUed . Hornig, or Erdmann, was convicted for/fche murder of his mate (Johnson by name), orVJ&eKiniberley diggings, and' sentenced to deathV.^JoKason had saved a sum of money, amounting to , over £100, which he carried about wjth -him jn gold, and to obtain this Hornig 6hot the poor fellow through the head in his sleep. While the ' police were taking the murderer in to Derby he ' is reported to have made a ' statement .to them ea the subject of the Roebourne' murder^-or to have offered to make one. ■ .Nothing more is known than this, but I hear .that the autho- - rities .have little doubt that;, Hornig .< was concerned in the tragedy. He earner to this colony some few months before i that* event took place, and acted for a time as - billiardmarker at Csssar's Hotel, Freemantle, proceeding from there to Roebourne, where he took up his quarters at the hotel at which .poor young Burrup took his meals. .It is said that' Hornig is a fairly educated man , and rather^ an agreeable companion, and that Burrup and he 'became on . terms, if not of intimacy, at any rate.of very good fellowship. On the evening previous to the murder, at a late hour, Hornig was .seen standing close to the bank premises,, and 1 the fact having been reported 'next day- to J the ' police, suspicion fell upon him, but there was no evidence to warrant his arrest. 'Not long after the murder this man, accompanied by another, left Roebourne to travel overland to Kimberley. On the way he met a well-known squatter, with whom he camped, and who eagerly asked for the latest Roebourne news. Hornig said nothing about the murder, which afterwards struck the returning traveller as a most extraordinary circumstance. There are other causes of strong suspicion against the man, and it is earnestly hoped that before his execution he .may be induced to make a confession. It is even suggested that he should be offered his life as a reward for a full statement of the details of a crime which caused so much horror and distress. Hornig is apparently a most hardened wretch. When the jury at bis recent trial, after retiring to consider their verdict, returned into court, he nodded and smiled at an acquaintance, and significantly passed his hand round his throat. The judge, in passing sentence, implored him to devote his few remaining days to religion and to making hisjpeace with his Maker. But if he has accepted the well-meant advice, he does not at anyrate consider it necessary to obtain pro? fessional assistance, for he stouHy refuses to see the gaol chaplain or any other minister of religion.