THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1503, 23 October 1886, Page 3

THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY.

(Per steamer at Auckland). Sidney, October 14. Caffrey’a two companions on board the cutter Sovereign of the Seas, after the commission of the murder of Taylor, arrived iu Sydney this morning by the Clarence and Richmond River Navigation Company’s s.s. Queen of the South, Penn was leg-ironed and handcuffed. Prisoners were brought down In charge of a couple of mounted constables. Th«y were conveyed at once to the Water Police Look-up, and charged before Cnptain Fisher, D.P.M., Penn with the murder of Robert Taylor, and Grace Graham on a charge of being an accessory af*er the fact. On the application of the police, both prisoners were remanded until Monday next. Penn is a young fellow, of medium height, and in manner «nd appearance more like a criminal than Caffrey. He is exceedingly communicative, and apparently most anxious to unburden himself of everything concerning the tragedy in which he is implicated. The girl Graham is only eighteen years of age, and appears to be little troubled by the charge that is hanging over her. After the remand was granted in her ease she smiled and chatted away freely with those near her, avoiding, however, any reference to her experiences. She is of rather prepossessing appearance, wears her hair cut off at ner eyebrows, and her frank face, youth, and good spirits make it difficult to realise that she has recently gone through weeks of hardship, which would have told a serious tale on the health of most women. She belongs ‘ to Napier. ! ■ Penn states that the girl Graham had been livine with him on board the cottar for some time prior to the murder. On the day it was committed Caffrey and himself went ashore to Taylor’s house, when Caffrey shot Taylor. Penn acknowledges he was carrying a revolver at the tine, but in explanation says that it wm his habit always to carry a revolver. The girl was left on board the cutter while they want ashore, and was totally unaware of the object of their trip until some time after their return, when they told her what bad happened. On learning it and being told that they intended to make away from the coast in consequence, she pleaded hard to bo landed, but under the circnmstanceß they took her with them. As already slated by Caffrey, Penn says they tried to reach the American coast, where they expected they would be safe from discovery, but meeting with five or six severe gales, and the cutter becoming in such a leaky condition as to inspire them with great fears for their safety, they eventually turned back, «od succeeded in fetching the New South Wales coast, Penn confirmed Caftrey’s statement that they came as far south as Sydney, but finding too many crafts about went northwards again in hope of effecting a landing on the Queensland coast. Whether they were afterwards wrecked, or landed and wrecked the cutter afterwards, Penn did not say, but according to his account he and Caffirey commenced to quarrel almost immediately after they set sail over the girl. Caffrey; on the principle that dead people tell no tales, wanted to sheot Grace Graham, but Penn, between whom and the girl there appeared to exist a strong affection, objected, and saved her. After this, the dread of murder being ever present, Penn and the girl came to an arrangement by which one of them always remained awake whilst the other slept, Penn throughout the voyage keeping his revolver loaded ready to use in the event of any cruelly on the part of Caffrey. After they landed near Bsllringer River Caffrey, Penn, and the girl camped together for a fortnight. The same quarrels about the girl, which had taken place flinintetrnptedly on board, were continued on shore, Caffrey arguing that it was necessary for jbheir safety that she should b« put out of the way, At last on the fourteenth day, Caffrey *skdd Penn to go for a walk with him., as he had something particular to talk te him about. Penn made up his mind that Caffrey’s only object was to get him away from the girl auto the bueh, and there shoot him, and on that account refused to stir from where b« was,. High words followed, which culminated in Caffrey parting company from them* It was the intention of Penn

and the girl to get married as soon a« they coeld possibly menage it, John Caffrey, the Barrier Island murderer, arrived in Sydney on tbs 10th insf. by ihe Clarence and Richmond Company’s summer Neraki. Notwithstanding the fact that there was no intimation in the press when Caffrey would arrive, the news got bruited about, and thousands assembled outside the wharf gstes, hundreds on the tops of numerous roofs, and even in the rigging of vessels lying in the immediate vicinity. After the vessel same alongside a feme of water-police went on board, and no time was lost in bringing Caffrey ashore. He was strongly masaoled, both by the hands and ankles. When outside the gates the police had some difficulty in keeping the crowd back. The police conveyance, an open twowheeled deg cart, was waiting, and into this he was immediately hoisted, as having the shackles on he could not freely raise his bands- The driver had s difficulty in piloting bis way through the surging mass of people, and on the road from the wharf repeated groans were given by the people. Caffrey evidently felt his position very keenly, and he evidently did not care about the thousands of eyes focussed on him. He pulled his slouched wideawake bat as far over his face as it was possible to go, and also bent his body inward, so as to bide himself as much as possible from the public gaze. A large crowd followed the vehicle to the Police Court, where he was duly arraigned on the capital charge. The arraignment, however, was merely of a formal character, and he was remanded, pending the necessary extradition papers from New Zealand. From one of his captors it was learned that Caffrey has been most quiet and submissive, and has occasioned no trouble .whatever. He was of course watched continuously on the way down from Kempsey, and Reynolds had little or no sleep for over three days or nights on account of the unremitting guard he kept over the prisoner. It was the intention of the Inspector-General to have sent Caffey to New Zealand under escort to-morrow, but the news of Penn’s arrest haviig arrived, it was decided to forward a cable message requesting the New Zealand authorities to forward a sufficient escort for both prisoners.