THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1459, 18 January 1887, Page 3

THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER

[by tklehraph.] Auckland, January 18 John Caffrey and Hy Albert Pann were charged tc-day at the Supreme Court with the Great Barrier murder. The Cmrt WBs densely crowded, and there were some women and children m the gallery. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr Williamcon—^with him hie partner, Mr Govler (?) — prosecuted. Mr Na;ier appeared for Perm, and Messrs Palmer a d O'Meagher for Caffrey. The prisoners pleaded " .Not guilty" m a firm voice and appeared perfect y composed. Counsel exarcißed their full right m challenging jnroro, and Mr Napier said after hla right was exhausted that a jaror had been heard to make a statement about the case and express his determination regarding it. He suggested that the Judge should dismiss the wholo jury and empaunel a new one. Mr Justice W»id eaid that the application for such Ixtr a ordinary action should have been mv3o before the jury were sworn and tha prisoners delivered over to them. It did not appear to him that an exprersisn of opinion by a man upoa a c:tee which had been very prominently before the pub'io constituted any disqualification. If so, it would he hard to fiad a properly qualified jurcr m the city The app ioation was dismissed and the trial proceeded, Mr Williamson opening the proceedings at great length.

LatbrJ Grace Oleary gave evidence of a very incriminating kind showing that $he murder had been fully planned before leaving tbe vessel. The understanding was that the men should abduct Taylor's daughters and maim the old man, but that if the latter prevented tnem carrying out this design he was tp b 3 murdered m revenge. The girl still shows a strong disposition to screen P<v>n.