MORE DISCLOSURES BY SULLIVAN. (From The Colonist, July 21)

Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 927, 14 August 1866, Page 2

MORE DISCLOSURES BY SULLIVAN. (From The Colonist, July 21)

Bit by bit are additional circumstances being brought to light, showing how cheaply all the four prisoners now in custody viewed the life of a fellow creature ; that is, always giving credence.to, the statements which from time to time Sullivan is making; and as the most^of these, bear the appearance of probability, as his important confession? have all been borne "out by subsequent discoveries to which they pointed, it is to be concluded that in other and lews .important details, his stivtemeiita may be trusted.; It appears t hen, that Birrell who rode in from CanyaatowJi,. and spoke to the murdered men at Franklyn's Elat, had a much/inp're narrow escape with his life than wa» -at, ■uj>pcraed j while JervU'f

existence hung literally on the tossing up o a shilling. Sullivan states that while his three fellows in crime were hiding behind Murderers' Bock, he was himself at hi* accustomed post of keeping the road. He saw Birrell. coming up from the flat on his grey horse,- and knew that he must have spoken ito the doomed men. -He hastened to his mates and told them of the fact; a hurried consultation followed, and it was agreed"to allow Birrell to pass, providing ho did not see thorn or any of .their belongings, for they had no time to got wellconcealed in the bush before Birrell came up; and Sullivan stales that ho had the double barrelled gun at his shoulder ready to shoot Birrell if he turned his head and saw them or any of them as he rode pa*t. Providentially Birrell rode straight on looking neither to the right nor left, and totally unconscious of his danger. On as slight a, chance depended the life of Jem?. After the tnurdera were committed, and (we are repeating the substance of Sullivan's statements), after he and his mates had divided the spoil as they sat at the old chimney where they took tea, the question of their safety from detection was carefully discussed, and the danger they underwent from beihfif known to Jervis was long debater 1. He was the man whom they chiefly feared, and as events proved they were right, for he it was who gave the alarm, and led to their detection. It Was proposed that the party should divide, two going on to Nelson, and two going back to Canvastown to kill Jervis, and make it appear as if the Maoris living near by had killed him, as they would have planted some of his property beside their warre?. They then proposed to go thence to Havelock and Picton, where they could again meet and carry out; a projected operation-on the bank in that town ! passing by the Pelorus Bridge Hotel, and Wilson* accommodation bouse during night, so that no one could see them. Councils were equally divided; the arguments for and against, the return to Canvastown being evenly balanced, and at last it was resolved to settle the question by tossing up. The result was, that Jervia's life was spared, for the coin decided that the meu should come into Nelson.

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