CONFESSING TO AMURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 17

CONFESSING TO AMURDER.

Sydney, .May 7. Some time ago a passenger ou ths voyage from New , Zsaland lost his portmanteau, and a man Darned Harford, arrested for vagrancy, was found wearing an article bearing the passenger's name. This led to the recovery of the goods. The same prisoner was accused Of a similar charge at Newcastle, and was gent there for the purpose of identification. On the return journey he attempted to escape from the train after murderously assaulting the warder with a decanter. Hariord, who is con fined in DarHnghurat, has confessed that- he murdered an unknown man while working in the bush 'in the Wairarapa district by shooting him. The . murder took place five years ago, and it is believed that another man 1b serving a sentence for it. From inquiries instituted by the .polioe they think Haroford's confession authentic. May 10. Harford's confession is denied by the gaol authorities. An evening, journal, while admitting that the man's statement may be all flam, combat* the announcement cabled from N-w Zealand thai nosuoh crime wan committed, and goes on to speculate upon the possibilities of the man being the aotual murderer -of Hawlririß at K»iwarr», for which Chemis is •guff eripg imprisonment. Harford is suggested as 'having tome resemblance to a stranger, wearing a sandy mou<staohe, with whom the murdered mm was supposed to huve had an altercation the evening prior to h'm death. May 11. .The story of the man Baiford, now con« fined in Darltaghurst Gaol, to the effect that five years ago he murdered a man in the Wairarapa dutrict, New Zealand, by Bhooting him, is found to be a fabrication. There is reason to believe Hajf urd is not altogether unacquainted with New Zealand gaols, and the authorities of the latter oolony believe be is identical with a prisoner who escaped ■from custody some time ago. ■ Wellington, May 7. The polioe have investigated the confession reported in the Sydney cables to-day, and declare;thn.t there i« no foundation for the confeisiou that a murder was committed.