THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1400, 6 November 1886, Page 2

THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY

* Auckland, November 5, The Magisterial inquiry into charges against Oaffrey, Penn, and Cleary (or Graham) in connection with the Great Barrier murder commenced at noon before Mr H. G. Smith, B.M. After the opening speeches of Mr Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, the girl Grace Graham, charged with being accessory after the fact, was placed in the witness bos. She gave an account of what transpired. During the voyage of the Sovereign of the Seas from Auckland to the Barrier Cafirey and Penn discussed plana by which they were to carry off Mrs Seymour (Oaflrey’s former sweetheart), and if Taylor resisted they were to out ofi her ears or tongue so that she should not tell who did it. The men landed very early in the morning and slept (? stopped) a short time qn the beach before starting for Taylor’s house. The girl gays she saw them, she being still on the cutter. Fean went first,

as according to arrangement he was to go, and ask for butter to put Taylor o 3 his guard, while Caffrey secured the girl. If Taylor, or his sons, offered resistance, weapons were to be used. At this stagq Mr Napier, counsel for Penn and the girl, objected to the girl being farther questioned, until the charge of being accessory afthe fact was withdrawn. The Bench disallowed abe objection, but cautioning the girl noa to criminate herself. The adjournment for luncheon followed. There was again a great crowd both inside and outside the Court. After the luncheon adjournment the girl Graham was farther examined. She said that Penn steered the vessel, and she was on deck with him, and Cafirey below asleep. She saw three new revolvers on board. After giving details-of the trip down to the Barrier, she said on morning they got there they dropped anchor. They palled the sails down, but did not tie them up. They left them loose, and Caffrey said, “So as to be ready to get oat of the boy quickly.” After they had done the work something was said about a murder. Cafirey said he would try to get the girls and if he could not get them be wonld shoot the father for revenge. Before they went ashore Cafirey loaded the revolvers in the cabin. Penn was then on deck. Cafirey had soma brandy—about three glasses. Pehn did not have anything to drink. Witness saw Cafirey put the revolvers in his pockets. He did not give any to Pann. She then described Cafirey and Penn leaving the vessel for Taylor’s with new sheath knives in their belts, and Caffrey with a cord in his pocket to tie up Taylor if he got the girl. She beard Penn tell Cafirey he would go op to Taylor’s and ask for some batter, and Cafirey said “ all right.” He was to get the girls while the father was procuring the batter. The gid then lost sight of the men on their landing, bat in describing their return she said Cafirey had blood on his clothes and hat, and a revolver in his band. When he came on deck he showed the revolver, and she said “ Ob, Jack, what have yoa done?” and ha said he bad pat the old carse oat of the road. She asked him where the girls were, and he said they had jumped out of the bedroom window. She asked him if Harry had anything to do with it, and the words he said to her were that be had told him to fire, but “ The fool fired at a picture, but not a man.” The blood on his right arm was above the elbow, and looked as if Taylor had osaght hold of him. On examining Cafirey’s revolver she saw five shots had been fired. She saw no blood on Penn’s clothes, or anything unusual about him. Afterwards she saw a second revolver in the cabin, but did not know who placed it there. The giri described the voyage to Australia pretty much as already published, Cafirey regretting he had done the deed. She knew Caffrey had feelings against Taylor, for he used to talk abont him. He said he was engaged to Taylor’s daughter, and when she came np to be married Taylor bad put it off, that he got on the spree, and was run in for three months, and while there Taylor persuaded her to marry Seymour, and she beard him say he would shoot Taylor the first chance be got. Penn knew what Gafirey’s intentions were when on board, lor Penn told her Cafirey got him drank and got him to promise to go with him to get the girl. She had heard Caffrey say on the voyage to Australia if he bad got the girls he wonld have thrown both overboard on leaching the Australian coast. When the examination in chief of the witness closed, the Crown Solicitor withdrew the charge against her, and she left the Court in company with Mr Napier, solicitor. Mr Napier will cross-examine her to-morrow. Cafirey and Penn were then taken back to Mount Eden gaol, a large crowd surrounding the Courthouse as they were driven away. Penn seemed less defiant and jannty than hitherto, and seemed to realise more distinctly the gravity of the position, while Caffrey, on the other hand, was more cheerful and less depressed, smiling to the crowd as he left the Police Court.