The Arrest on a Charge of Murder.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5191, 23 December 1884, Page 2

The Arrest on a Charge of Murder.

♦ SOME DETAILS. RELATIVE TO THE" SHEEHANS. [Per Pbess Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 23. Last night a reporter was despatched te interview Mrs Sheehan, to ascertain par- - ticulars as to her knowledge of her bttsban d prior to her marriage. She, however, - persistently refused to give information. There were some female friends with her, . and they supported her determination. The house in which she resides with her children is a two-roomed cottage in Ponsonby, where they hare been for about two months, in fact, almost since the return of the family from the Bay of Islands, Without a personal interview with Mrs Sheehan the following facts were gathered : * — She was married to Sheehan in Castletown Eoche, about a month prior to the disappearance of the relatives whom lie is now charged with murdering, and they lived on the farm for about five years.. Afterwards they rented a farm of about sixty acres, but in consequence of their • landlady pressing for rent they concluded to emigrate to New Zealand, and arrived in Auckland by the Doric about * a year and a half ago. They "were paying £2 per acre for sixty acres of land, and the family consisted of the husband, wife, and two children. Mrs Sheehan is a woman of about 30 years of age, of robust habit, and, although of course greatly upset by this sudden torn of affairs, is certainly self-controlled, and resolutely refuses to answer any questions. On their arrival in the Colony, Mr and Mrs Sheehan had two children (girls), who are now about six and four years of age respectively, and since their arrival in Auckland another child has been born. Sheehan is about 85 to 40 years of age, of medium height, well-built, florid complexion, and dark hair. He is a respectable looking man, and was comfortably dressed when aA-ested yesterday. So far as his career in Auckland is concerned, he appears to have been temperate and industrious in his habits, and to have been of a saving turn. A personal description of Sheehan was recently sent out by the Irish police authorities to the police authorities at Wellington, and the particulars as to height, [age, and build correspond very fairly. A detective, accompanied by a constable well acquainted with Sheehan was expected to have arrived by the Kaikoura, but he did not come. Itt all probability the officer -will come by the next boat, or by some of the steamers to Australia. He will bring not only a warrant, but certified copies of the depositions at the inquest.