THE LATE MAORI OUTRAGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XV, Issue 763, 16 March 1867, Page 3

THE LATE MAORI OUTRAGE.

Information of witnesses taken at the Resident Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, on the 9th day of March, 1867, touching the death of John Beady.

George Elmsley Will, sworn, said : I am a Staff Assistant-Surgeon. lam now quartered at Warea. On Wednesday the 27th, or Thursday the 28th February, I saw a European leavo the camp at Warea in the afternoon abonfc 4 or 5 p.m. He left in company with a half-caste named Jackson. Neither of them had'arms. Jackson had afelling axe with him. The European was mounted, Jackson was walking. On Monday night last a report "was brought to the camp that a whiteman had been killed near Tipoka. In consequence of that report, a party went oufc on the next day, Tuesday, to search for the body, and I accompanied them. We found the body five and a half miles from the camp, a few feet from the road, amongst some flax. The body was very mnch decomposed, and covered with maggots. Private White, 50Lh llegfc. was one of tho party who recognised the body as that of Brady, late of the 65th Ecgfc. I examined the body on the ground before it was brought in. I found a gunshot wound in the abdomen about three and a half inches above and three and [a half inches to tho left of the umbilicus. The bullet had passed round and came oat quite close to the spino. The wound would "not have caused death. There were marks of two blows on the head, one of them knocking in the teeth, and the other on the right side of the head, over the right temple. Such blows would have caused death. The blows appear to be inflicted by a blunt iustrumenb. The body was brought to the camp and buried there immediately on account of the decomposed state it was in. It was too far gone to bo brought into Town, or kept for the purposes of holding an inquest. The trowsers were unbuttoned and quite open. ,

John Bryan, sworn : I am a private in the 50th Regt. lam at present stationed at Warea. I went with tho party on Tuesday last to search for< the body of a man reported to have been killed. We found the body about five and a half miles from the camp. I had seen the man at the canteen at Warea. 1 was drinking with him on the 27th or 28th of last month. By his clothes I recognised him to bo the same man . 1 heard him at the canteen offer Jim the Maori £2 to show him to Opunake. Jim went to look for his horse, but could not find it. Then' a half-caste came there. Jim advised the man to employ him. I saw him give him £2. He showed his money, which appeared to be upwards of £30, to the half-caste in the presence of Jim the Maoi-i, Walton, the late canteen 'keeper, and myself. The money consisted of gold, silver, and notes. The half-caste and tlia man left together about 4.00 p.m., as near as I can guess. I heard one

of tho Military Train call him Brady. Brady had a pistol in tho long boots he woro. Ho was tho worse for liquor when ho lefc, and took a bottlo of grog with him. After tho body was found it was turned over to examino ifc by tho doctor. It was in a very offensive state. Tho trowsers wero unbuttoned and down to tho hips. When Brady left the camp ho had a bundle with him tiod up in a shawl. Whon wo found tho body thoro was no bundlo, the cap was gono, and also tho money. Tho half-casto asked Brady to show him tho money, saying that in case ifc was lost he would bo blamed. That was when Brady gave him the £2. John Callaghau, sworn : I am a Borgoantin fcho 50th Q. 0., stationed at Warea. I was with tho party on Tuesday last that went out to find tho body. We found the body about five and a half mile 3 from the camp. I did not know the man. 1 beliovo I was the second man that saw the body. I went to post sentries as the doctor was examining the body. John Oliver, sworn : lam a carter. I was afc Warea on Tuesday last. The body of a man had been brought into camp, aud was afterwards buried. I saw tho body. I could not recognise ifc, ifc was so disfigured. Tunnicliffe, sworn : I am an accountant. Wttmi at Warea on Tuesday last. The body of a man was buried whilst I was there. I saw a pass that Corporal Moore said ho had taken from the body. Id had the letters " ady" on ifc. Ifc was a paper allowing him to pass. I believe "no firearms to bo carried" was on tho pass. I havo seen that pass in tho hands of Brady— that was on Wednesday the 27th ultimo. I saw Brady show his money to a half-caste called Dick Jackson. Brady said he had about £30. Brady and tho balf-casce were making arrangements to go to Opunake. Brady was to give the half-oaste £1 10s. He was to have given Jim the Maori 'iEa. I did not Roe a pistol with Brady. Brady aud the half-caste left together. Brady had a bundle with him. Tbe half-casto had a swag aud an American axe with him. John White, sworn : I am a groom afc the Taranaki. I knew a man named John Brady. Ho left New Plymouth on Monday tho 20th ultimo. He had a pair of plaid trowsors on. I saw no pistol or other arms with him. Hori Pipi, sworn : I am a native living at Oaknra. I went to Warea on Sunday, 3rd March. I left; Warea the same evening. I went down as far as Ikaroa, when»ifc got dark. I then went on to Waitalm, when I met three natives—Taikomako, Ngaungau, and Hone. They belong to Ngatoto. Taikomako came forward and took hold of fchobridle,ofmy horse. He told me to go back to Town. I said I would not, that I would go on to Opunako. I said I should havo to go on to Opunake to get a pass. They said, you must go up with us to our place inland. I agreed to ifc. 'When I got to their place they told mean>European had been killed. I then said, why did you not fell me this when I wae down on the beach. Taikomako said we did not, as we were afraid you would bo frightened. I replied lam frightened afc staying where I am. I asked them might I not go and see the body and ascertain for myself whether it was correct. They said, no, you had better not go, lest some of the "twelve" might see you and kill you. Taikomako said, the place of ovil is from Waitaha down to Warea. They told mo Dick was taken prisoner by the " twelve apostles." I mean the men who have been told off to, go down to the beach to kill people I then said 1 would go on to Opunake and come back the same night, that the people at Warea may know that the European had been killed. They then said that Mr. Parris might have got back to Opunake. I then said I should take Mr. Pan-is back with me. Ngaungau said, " You had bettor not lake Mr. Parris — go back by yourself, so that you may not have any incumbrance should you meet with the " twolve." 1 then said " Good-bye, I am going to Opuuake." 1 tuon went on to Umuroa, William Kingi's place, and W. Kingi accompanied me to Opunake. When I got thero I found they had heard that the European had been killed. Mr. Parris asked me to take a_ letter to Warea. I consented. I then came right on to Warea, and gave the letter to Captain Clarke's orderly. I saw no natives on my way. Taikomako told mo that the European had been killed by seven of the " twelve." There wero two names told me — one was Whetu, the other I havo .forgotten. _ Whefcu bolongs to tho Patnkai tribe. Dick is a half-casfco. I don't think he belongs to the Palukai tribe. Montague Clarke, sworn : lam a captain in the 50fchEegfc.,*and am now stationed afc Warea in command there. I recollect seeing a man at Warea leaving the place with a lmlf-casle, going southward. They had passes. They left in the afternoon between 5 and 6 o'clock. The European was ou horseback and the native on foot. My impression is the European was the worse for liquor. I received a letter late one uight from Mr. Parris, informing me that an European had been killed, the letter specifying about tho place where it, was supposed to have been done. I took out a party the following day to search for the body. I found it half-a-mile from Tipoka, lying on the edge of the cliff about six yards off the road, lying amongst reeds, flax, and grass. The cliff is from ton to fiftoen feet high and close to a gaily. The trowsors were drawn down to the hips, exposing about six inches of tho thigh and groin, as though the body had been rifled. I saw a bullet wound. The bullet had entered in front and passed out behind. I saw two wounds, on the head, but cannot say by what instrument inflicted. Tho body was in such a state of decompositon that it was impossible to make a minute examination. The' features were all eaten away. Tho body had a pair of good Wellington boots on, with one spur on the right boot. The trowsers wore shepherd's plaid, a blue woollen jacket, and a thick jersey shirt with another over it. I don't think there was room in the boots to conceal a pistol in ifc. They appeared to fit tight. The European when he left camp had two or more swags with him, one strapped to his saddle and ono or two besides. Tha half-caste had an axe with him. I had tho body interred at Warea. On Thursday morning the enquiry was resumed. Thomas Walton, deposed : I am' a private in the Taranaki Volunteer Cavalry. I knew John Brady. I have known him for upwards of six years. It wna on a Tuesday evening I last paw him alive. On that day he accompanied mo from Town. This was the Jasl Tuesday in February. We went together as far as Oakura. Brady stopped ab Oakura after me. Ho was drunk. The next day he rode up to Warea. He went to a Maori named Jim, pulled oufc a purse, and showed him tho money. The puree conlairiod about £GO. He offered Jim £2 to accompany him to Opuuake. Dick tho half-caste, saw the money and volunteered to accompany Brady. I saw the two leaving tho camp together. Brady carried two swags on his horse. I did not sco any arms with him, I don't think he had any. I saw the remains of Brady when brought into the camp. I conld idontify him by' the clothes he had on. They wero tho same that he had on when he left. A shepherd's plaid shirt, and light grey trowsers, long Napoleon boots, with only one spur, and a blue jumper. I saw James Parry cut the pocket out of t6o_- trowsers of deceased. It contained four penny pieces, a piece of tobacco, a box of matches, a pass, and a letter addressed to a comrade at Waingongoro by Private Kennedy, which had been given into Brady's charge On the pass wo could only mako out tho letters " ha" and Brady. The body was in astato of putridity. I think thoro was room in the boots for a pistol to bo concealed, but ho said nothing to me about one, and I should say by the reckless way in which he rode he would not have had ODe. 110 was the worse for liquor when he left the camp. I think Brady arrived afc Warea about 4 or 5 p.m. aud left again between 8 and 9 p.m. Nobody ever travels hei'e by daylight. George White, deposed : On Wednesday, 27th February, I was in the camp afc Warea. I saw Brady afc the canteen. I saw him with Jim the Maori, and afterwards with Dick Jackson, a halfcaste. Dick Jackson came into camp about 4 p.m. Brady went to him, and they left the camp together at about 6.15 p.m. I saddled Brady's horse for him. He had two swags, ono in front and ono behind. Ho had on a pair of Wellington boots. I asked him if he had any arms, and he said he had not. Ido not think he had room for a pistol in his boots. I recollect the time of Brady's leaving, becauso it was a short time after

mounting guard, which is done at \ before 6. I saw them cross the river. On Tuesday, sth March, I went with a party to search for tho body. Wo found it botwoon five and six miles from tho camp, about 20 yards from tho road. It lay on the bank abovo tho beach. I was ono of tho first to sco tho body. It had on a blue jumper and plaid trowsers, Wellington boots, with spur on tho right boot. I pub on the spur when ho left tho camp, and know that tho ono found on tho body was tho same. I saw tho body bofore it was disturbed. The drawers wore pulled down below the hips. Tho pockets I think were outside, as though they hud been searched. The jumper was pulled up. The body was laid on its back. Tho arm was stretched out over tho head. He had no cap on. Wo could see no traces of blood, but tho body wa3 too much decomposed to notice this. We saw no signs of the horse. I did not notice whether the ground in the neighbonrhood of the body was trampled. It was lying close to some rushes. Thero were flax bushes near, between the body and the road. I accompanied tho body to the oamp. I did not see anyone soarch the body beforo we got to tho camp. I aftorwards saw a letter or a pass, which Corporal Moore told mo wore taken from the pocket of deceased. Brady was sober when ho left the camp with the half-caste. Ho had been drinking that day, but not to excess. He came into tho camp about 11 o'clock, with the orderly who brings tho -otters. Corporal Moore, sworn : lam a corporal of tho Military Train. I know Brady. I saw him in camp on the morning of tho 27th. He remained in camp till a littlo after six in the evening. I was at the canteen with him at intervals during the day. I did not sco him show his money. Ho told me he had no arms. Ho could not have concealed a pistol in his boots. They wore short Wellingtons, and his pistol must have been scon if ho had ouo there. When ho left camp he was not drunk, he seemed to be recovering from theeflects of tho liquor lie had taken in the day. Hetalked sensibly. On Sunday March 3rd I was in charge of the dray, sontto fetch tho body. I saw it put into tho dray ; this was after Dr. Will had examined it. The body was not searched until we got back to camp. I was present and gave orders for the search — I saw taken from the breast pocket of the jumper, a match box, four pennies, a piece of tobacco, a letter and a pass. The trousers were in such a state that we could not be certain whether thero wero any pockets in them. The letter was fastened and directed to a man at Waingongoro,— *-I examined the pass and saw the man's name John Brady on ifc. Ifc was in such a bad state that it fell to pieces when I put it into water. lam certain it was on Wednesday, February 27th that Brady came to the camp, because he came with the orderly who brought letters to the camp, this orderly always arrives on Wednesday: James Parry, sworn : lam a drummer of the 50th, stationed at Warea — I knew John Brady. I was with him on Wednesday, February 27th. He told me that he had to show the money to Jackson before he would let him go with him. Ho did not say how much he had shown him. I did not see him show his money to anyone that day.