OLD AUCKLAND CRIME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17524, 29 April 1925, Page 6

OLD AUCKLAND CRIME.

WINIATA MURDER RECALLED. DEATH OF ONE OF CAPTORS (Special to the “Star.") AUCKLAND, April 29. Recollections of a crime which was. one of the sensations of Maori and European intercourse of fifty years ago arc revived by the death, in Auckland, of Mr Francis M'Govern, formerly inspector of police. Mr M'Govern, when a sergeant stationed at Hamilton, was one of those instrumental in bringing to justice the Maori murderer Winiata Taurangaka, alter he had been for years a fugitive in the King Country—-then closed against access by Europeans—with a price of £SOO upon his head. The murder took place on January 27, IS7G. at Epsom, which was mainly a farming district. On the farm of Mr W. G. Cleghorn were employed Winiata and a young man named Edwin Packer. Winiata murdered his fellow-workman by attacking him with a bill-hook, and, after concealing the body, fled to the King Country. There lie was given sanctuary by the then Maori King, Tawhiao. In return he gave an assurance that the crime had been committed by another person, a half-caste. For six years the fugitive was safe

under the protection of the Kingites. J Then in June, ISB2, Sergeant M’Gov- | ern, a half-caste named Robert Barj low, whose home was across the aukati (boundary line of civilisation), and Constable Gillies conceived a scheme for | procuring the murderer’s arrest. The idea seems to have originated with Bar- | low, who was described in the Press of the time as a man of herculean stature I and strength. Winiata. possibly iuiled to a sense of ! security by his long sojourn in the interior, attended a Native meeting at Whatiwhatihoe, near Alexandria (now Pirongia). and Barlow met him there. The police officers provided Barlow with money with which to carry out his part of the scheme. At this time Winiata s home was at Te Ivuiti. Barlow visited him there and bought from him a number of pigs. The bargain made was that Winiata should deliver' the swine at Barlow's settlement, twen-ty-live miles nearer the frontier. Winiata fell into the trap, and brought down his pigs. On the evening of June 27, ISS2, when he and five friends who accompanied him had been well primed with grog. Barlow seized him and tied him hand and foot and lashed him across a horse s back, and, mounting another horse, rode with him in the dead of night to Te Awamutu,

where the prisoner was handed over to Constable Gillies. Barlow's wife and children had also to flee to Te Awamntu to escape the vengeance of Winiata's friends, two of whom, roused from their drunken stupor by the prisoner's cries, started out in pursuit of the little cavalcade, but by mistake took the road to Alexandria. Winiata was brought on to Auckland by train and duly tried before Mr Justice Gillies, sentenced and executed. To the last he declared that the actual murder had been committed by his half-caste friend, but admitted that he had been a part}- to it. Mr M'GoA r ern, who lived to the remarkable age of ninety-two, had had nine years’ experience in the Irish police prior to his arrival in New Zealand in 1863. Very early in his colonial career he was stationed in Hamilton, where he served for twenty-two years. After the capture of Winiata, Sergeant M Govern rose rapidly in the force, and attained the rank of inspector before he reached the age for retirement. In the last twenty-five years he has lived at Victoria Avenue, Retnuera. where his death occurred. lie is survived by Mrs M'Govern and one son, Mr Frank M'Govern. manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Tirnaru.