THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1414, 23 November 1886, Page 2

THE GREAT BARRIER TRAGEDY

Auckland, November ‘ 3. The Great-. B-rr'er Murder case was resumed this morning before Mr Seth Smith. The Crown Prosecutor said ha had nine witnesses tp call whose evidence would be short. Jane Memans deposed to having arranged on 17 June last to go with Geffrey In the Sovereign of the Seas, bnt she changed her mind and -refuse! to go in consequence of what she was told bv a man named Lowides, whom she had s-'en speaking to Geffrey. James Lowndes, master of the ketch Lucy James, gave evidence regarding a drunken spree on board the Sovereign of the Seas the night before she left for the Barrier. Oaffrey when drank told witness that Mm Seymour bad consented to g > with him and he was going to take her right away south in the cutter. Witness lent Oatfrey a large water kag for his cutter. He heard the girl Memaua tell i Vffrey she would not go till next trip and the la'ter said “You will have to stay then.” George Palter, waiter in an oyster saloon, deposed that Penn and the girl had supper at the saloon a night or two before ;the Sovereign of the Soaa left Auckland. In paying for the supper Penn said “Th s is the last three shillings you will have from me for a long tine, ” There wag a dispute ai to the charge, )

Adam He'ideron, part owner of the ■iovereign of theSsas, said Geffrey worked the cutter fo one-thid of the earniqgs He saw Caffrey on Monday, >h) 14ti of June, when ho promised to c»U next day and rquare op, hH»'g about £ 7 behind in the »ecouut, OnfFcey did not oaU and witness felt unetay and W3"t down 'o •he cutter acid told Penn on no aocon'-t was the cutter to leave for the Hairier ’UI Geffrey saw witness, Despite 'ho; notice the cutter Bailed without Caffe, y calling. John.B'O't and Samuel Robertson drpo ei to sanding stores to the Sovereign of the Sevi. Frederick Somerc, quarryman at Rang’* titi islands, depose.) to the enter •ioing a'f’ora thee on toe morning of the 18»h June. Wituena went board and saw Off ey, Penn and and the girl Graham. Ho helped to get the vessel off, for which Oaffrey thanked him and his mates. 0 R Ohspm'n, stationer, deposed that, -’affray, in Jane ..»sc, bought f om him a chart of the south west coast of South America. That was a about a week before the Sovereign of the Seas left Auckland, and CLffcey was then accompanied by a young man, whom he took to be Penn.