THE NARBETHONG MURDERS,

Temuka Leader, Issue 2192, 23 April 1891, Page 4

THE NARBETHONG MURDERS,

Melbourne, April 14,

The .biding place of Colston during tile period of bis disappearance has at last been discovered. It will be remembe r ed that -Colston was traced to the property owned by the Premier, Mr Muoro, after which he disappeared as if the ‘earth |ia<i opened and swallowed him up. It has now come to Jight that on the Monday following the murders <’olston made his way to the residence of the Premier and took up bis quarters in ’the attic over the house, and with the exception of a few midnight rambles remained there until he robbed the premier of his purse of thirty sovereigns, when he made his escape to Yarra Glen. St. Fillans, the country, residence of the Premier, is about' two miles from Narbethong, and the junction of the Buxton, Maryville, and Narbethong roads. There are several buildings, occupied by- the -manager and about twenty men employed on the station. The house in which the Premier and family reside when at Narbethong is situated about fifteen chains away from the main building, and during the absendebf the family is only opened* housekeeper occasionally for the purpose of airing the rooms, and is generally kept well atobked with provisions. The house is two-storied, and has a large cellar, in which is stored fruit, etc. Colston had been employed daring the building of the house as a carpenter, and tbui

knew the run of the place.’ On the Monday night he cut off with an axe a portion of a ladder, got into the house, and with the aid of the ladder climbed into the attic, afterwards drawing the ladder up after him. 1 From the attic he could see the men working, and all that waa goings oh In the attic was found a pillow, some clothing, several books and papers, empty jam and fish tins,, a kettle of water, a table knife, and a pair of scissors, with which he had cut off his beard close. Also, amongst various other articles abstracted from the rooms below was a piece of green, ba ze, out of which t 'olstan had manufactured a pair ''of slippers for the purpose of deadening the sound of bis footsteps when walking about the house, 'the slippers were found a day or two ago in the bush with a pair old boots stolen from St. Pillan’s: I he men working on the station express great relief at the finding of Colston’s lurking place, as numerous petty thefts had taken place which now can be traced to Colston. Through a hole in the cent'e flower in the ceiling of Mr Munro’e bedroom, Colston could see anything that occurred, and he no doubt had waited with the intention of robbing anyone who slept, there, and with the aid of the money making bis escape.