The Great Barrier Murder.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2023, 28 January 1887, Page 3

The Great Barrier Murder.

PRISONERS' CONFESSIONS. Caffrey, in his first confession, confessed to the belief that he and Penn had fired two shots simultaneously, and he was in doubt whether his ball bad not also struck although he did not intend it should dso. He was firing wide merely to intimidate. In his eonfsasion as it now stands, he states his belief he did not bit Taylor. Both Caflrey’s and Penn’s confessions now agree on all salient points. The documents completely exculpate Caffrey from having any part in the actual homicide. The petition for the reprieve of Caffrey has been large’y signed in Auckland. It reads: —1 bat whereas John Caffrey and Henry Albert Penn hare been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Robert Taylor, at the Great Barrier, and whereas it has since appeared that the raid John Caffrey was not, in fact, the actual murderer of Robert Taylor, we. the undersigned, humblv pray that Your Excellency will extend Tour mercy to the said John Caffrey, and grant him a commutation of the extreme penalty of death ; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, Ac.