A FEARFUL TRAGEDY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1523, 24 June 1886, Page 3

A FEARFUL TRAGEDY.

Great excitement whs caused in Auck- j land last Monday by the receipt of news I that a dreadful murder was committed at | Pyrphcdia Harbor, Great Barrier Island, V on Saturday morning by which a settler named Robt. Taylor was shot dead by John Caffrey, the master, and Henry Pent, mate of the cutter Sovereign of the Sens, 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 tp their marriage. Breaking off the match seemed to rankle in Caffrey’s breast, On Saturday morning last Pent went io Taylor’s house and asked for some butter, Taylor told him he could have some and asked Pent what cutter he was in, Pent told him it was the Teviot. Taylor replied “Oh!is it V’ 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. Pent then seipd Taylor, and it i? alleged held him while Caffrey fired three more shots, which killed, one shot going through the poor man’s head. While this tragic scene was being enacted tfie other members of the family, which consisted of tbpee women and a boy, left the house, and Pent is reported to have run out, calling Mrs Taylor back and threatening to shoot her if she did not come. Ho (Pent) then asked her where the girls were, Mrs Taylor told him tfiey were living at Mr Seymour’s. Then Oafi’rey is alleged to have repljed, “WVHgo° ut there a h 44° f° r them.!' They then went ou board the cutter and tried to get to Seymour’s place at Heretaunga, but the wind being unfavorable, they could not do so. Mr Taylor was one of the most respectable men on the Island. Superintendent Thomson, on receiving intimation from Wellington, chartered the s.s, Rowena to convey the coroner and doctor to the island to conduct the inquest. A posse of police, consisting of Segemt Clarke, three constables, and Detective Twohey, also go by the steamer, fully armed, to 'arrest Caffrey and his accomplice Pent. Caffrey always carried a revolver. There is one girl on the cotter named Reid, who is said |p belong to Qiaborno.

A ifilncr-un dated Tuesday says the murder at Great Barrier Island is causing great excitement in that city because the whereabouts of the murderers are not known. it Ins transpired that Geffrey made every preparation for a long voyage by purchasing stock, a stove, charts, etc., and openly’ avowed his intention of causing a sensation.