ARREST OF A SUPPOSED MURDERER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1412, 23 December 1884, Page 2

ARREST OF A SUPPOSED MURDERER.

.William Sheehan was arrested yea tervy at Waik mito by Superintendent hompson and Detectives Walker ana wohey, on a charge of murdering hta lother, Mrs Sheehan, his brother, homas Sheehan, and his sister, Mary heehan, at Castletown, Rocke, Ireland, i October, 1877. He is about forty, and ving with his wife and family on a farm t Waikomito. He was recognised by the urnished description. He appeared anoncerned. It will be remembered that he details of the murder appeared in'the* sails a few weeks ago, and a recent leuter cablegram stated that a warrant lad been issued, and Sheehan was snplosed to be in New Zealand. Sheehan arrived here by the Doric on ier first trip to Auckland. He has been rorking at the Bay of Islands until the aat two months, when he returned 'to Auckland. He had bought a farm at uVaikomito, ten miles from Auckland, ast week. He bears the reputation of a iteady hard-woraing man, and he strenuously maintains his innocence, but he idmita he is the William Sheehan referred to in the newspaper accounts. The alleged murderer declares that his missing mother, brother and sister emigrated to America, and have never seen or heard of the newspaper reports or cablegrams, not being reading people. Further particulars. [by telegraph.] Auckland, To-day. Last night a reporter was despatched to interview Mrs Sheehan, to.ascertain particulars as to her knowledge of her hatband prior to her marriage... She, however, persistently refused to give any Information. There were some female friends with her, and they supported her determination. The house in which she resides with her children is a tworoomed cottage in Ponsdnby, where they have resided for about two months, in fact almost since the return of the family from the Bay of Islands. From a personal interview with Mrs Sheehan, the following facts were gathered :—She wav married to Sheehan in Castletown, Rocke, about a month prior to the disappearance of his relatives, whom he 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 ptbtsing for rent, they concluded to emigrate to New Zealand, and arrived in Auckland by the Doric about eighteen months ago. They were paying L2 per acre for- sixty acres of land, and the family consisted of husband, wife and two children. Mrs Sheehan is a woman of about thirty years of age, of robust habit, and although of course greatly upset by this sudden turnof affairs, is certainly self-consoled, and resolutely refuses to answer any quaatloil. On their arrival in the colony Mr and Mrs Sheehan had two girls who are -now about six and four years respectively, and since their arrival in Auckland another child has been born. Sheehan is about 35 to 40 years of age, of medium height, well built, florid complexion, dark hair, ia a respectable looking man and was comfortably dressed when arrested yesterdaySo far as his career in Auckland is .concerned he appears to have been temperate and industrious in habits, and to have been ef a saving turn. The personal description of Sheehan was recently sent out by the Irish police authorities to the police authorities at Wellington, and particulars as to bis height, age, and build correspond very favorably. A detective, accompanied by a constable well acquainted with Sheehan, was expected to have arrived by the Kaikoura, bat he did not come. In all probab Jity an officer will come by next direct 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. Later. Sheehan was brought up at the Police Court to-day charged with murder and remanded till the 31st.