THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1270, 22 June 1886, Page 2

THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY.

Auckland, June 21. Later details regarding the Great Barrier murder state that Penn held Taylor while Caffrey fired three shots, one penetrating the brain. Mrs Taylor, who was fleeing, was told by Penn to stop or he would shoot her. He asked her where the girls where, and being told at Seymour’s, Caffrey said, “ We’ll go there and do for them.” The wind being adverse they coaid not reach that part of the island, bat chased the cutter that went to report the crime. Caffrey has women on the cutter with him. A waterman in Auckland says that Caffrey threatened two months ago to “ put a head on Taylor.”

Later Details.

Auckland, Jane 21

Further details regarding the murder at Great Barrier report that on Saturday morning last Penn went to Taylor’s house and asked for some butter. Taylor told him he could have «ome, and asked him what cutter he was in. Penn told him it was theTevlot, Taylor replied, “Oh, is it V Caffrey, it is said, then walked op and told Taylor to “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 Caffrey fired three more shots, which killed him, 'one shot going through the poor man’s head. While this tragic scene was being enacted, the other members of the family, which consisted of three women and a boy, left the house and Penn is reported to have run out, calling Mrs Taylor to come back, and threatened to shoot her i£ she did not come. He (Penn) then asked her where the girls were. Mrs Taylor told him they were living at Mr Seymour’s. Then Caffrey is alleged to have replied, “We’ll go out there and do for them.” They then went on board the cotter and tried to get to Seymour’s place at Herctaunga, but the »lad being unfavourable they could not do so. Meanwhile, Lincoln Taylor, the son, rode over to the Seymour’s place with thasd neb-go ice, and Mr Seymour started for Tryphena. Previously to this the postman, Mr Blair, had despatched the cutter Tairua to Coromandel fir assists? cj, but shot ly after she stait d the wind changed, and the Tairua ran back to TrjphenrJ On Sunday morning, at ten, the Tairua sgain started, and brought the news here to Sergeant I i<set--1 There seems to have bean no ro?on

whatever for this terrible oatrnge, as Mr Taylor was one of the moat respectable men on the island. He was a native of Orton, in Lancashire, and several of his relatives occupy leading posit or s in his native town. There has n:>t been a vessel in Tryphena for the last eight years whoso offi'ers and crews will not bear testimony to tho kindness and hospitality of the Taylor family. Superintendent Thompson, on receiving an in'lraatioa from Wellington, chartered the a s Rowena for the island, to convey a Coroner and Doctor to conduct the inquest to morrow. A posse of police, consisting of Sergeant Clarke, three con stables, and Detective Twohey, also go by the steamer, fully armed, to arrest Citfri y and his scoomplice Penn. The Sovereign of the Seas was last seen cruising off the Island. From threats made previously, it appears the crime was premeditated by Oaffrey, who has taken in a stock of previsions for the cutter; and the owners state that he is behind hand in his accounts. He always carried a revolver. There Is one girl on the cutter named Beid, said to be belong to Gisborne. The Bcwena leaves at 10 p.m.