Tragedy at Great Barrier Island.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1848, 23 June 1886, Page 2

Tragedy at Great Barrier Island.

A dreadful murder was committed at Tryphena Harbour, great Barrier Island, on Saturday morning last, by which a settler named Robert Taylor was ahot dead by John Caffrey, master, and Henry Penn, mate of the cutter Sovereign of the Seas. Caffrey. who is an old trader to the Barrier, paid addresses to Miss Jane Taylor about four years ago, but her father (the murdered man) refused to give his consent to the marriage Breaking off the match seemed to rankle in Caffrey'e breast, though he has not expressed any feeling against the family since his stay in town. After the last trip he gave way to drink. On Saturday morning last Penn went to Taylor's house, and asked for some butter. Taylor told him he could have some, and asked Penn what cutter he was in. Penn told him it was the Teviot. Taylor replied, Oh is it ” Caffery, is it said, then walked up and told Taylorto put his hands up, and fired one chamber of his revolver at him which did not hurt him. Penn then seized Taylor and, it is alleged, held him while Caffery fired three more shots, which killed him. one shot going through the poor man's head. While the tragic scene was being enacted the other members of the family, winch consisted of three women and a boy left the house, and Penn is reponed to have run out calling Mrs Taylor back, and threatened to shoot her if she did rot come. He (Penn) thenasked her where the girls were. Mr* Taylor told him they were dinirg at Seymour’s Then Caflery is alleged to have replied, " We'il go out there and do for them." They then went on board the cutter and tried to get at Seymour's place at Herataungs, but the wind being unfavour* unie they could not do to. The sovereign of he Stft* was la>l st-ea cruising off the island. Prom threats made previously, it appears the crime had been premeditated by Caffery, «ho Las taken in a stock of provisions for the cutter, and the owners state that he is behindhand in bis account*. Hi always egrneg a revolver.