HORRIBLE MURDER AT FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 402, 25 April 1871, Page 2

HORRIBLE MURDER AT FIJI.

(Fhozu: the " Fiji Times," March 10.) By the arrival of the two Messrs. Kelt from Suva, we receive the sad intelligence of the murder of Air. William Gray Bailey, who was found in bed with his skull beaten in, on the morning of Monday, the 13th instant. The deceased gentleman waa formerly a stock and sharebroker of Collins-street, Melbourne, and at one time represented Castlemaine in the Victorian Parliament. He came down here in the s.s. Alhambra. He was a married man, and liis wife and daughter lived in one Fiji house, whilst he and his partner (Henry \ Scot!.), by trade a joiner, and late of Collingwood, lived in another, the houseß being about ten yards distant from each other. On the morning in question Mrs. Bailey noticed that the (ire was not lighted at the usual lime, but was not at all alarmed in consequence. Mr. Sellers went into the house the deceased occupied for the purpose of getting some fire, and shortly afterwards Miss "Bailey went in ; but it would appear that neither of them had noticed anything wrong. Mrs. Bailey was the next to enter (lie dwelling, when her attention was arrested by noticing some blood stains on the mosquito-screen, and upon approaching the bed for a closer examination, she found that her husband was dead. From (l;o appearance of the body, it would seem as if the deceased had been seized by the throat, and his head beaten in wii.h a tomahawk or other heavy weapon. There could not have been any struggle, for evidently lie had been attacked "suddenly and without the least warning. The body was still warm, and as the deceased had been reading until about 3 o'clock in (ho morning, it is supposed that, the murder wa3 committed about an hour afterwards. An inquest was held on the body the same day, at which Mr. "W. H. O. H. Brewer presided, when a verdict of wilful murder was returned against Scott, who has disappeared, taking with him a rifle, revolver, and 110 sovereigns, the latter being the property of the Messrs. Kelt, who had deposited it with the Messrs. Bailey and Scott for safe keeping, their plantation being about two miles in the bush. A reward of £5 has been oflVr.-d for Scott's apprehension, and every effor; . being made by the Suva people in conjunction with the natives, and it is thought impossible that he can escape. His likeness has been loft at the British Consulate, and if the search for him is attended with success he will be brought down to Levuka and handed over to the Consul, who will send him to Sydney by the first vessel leaving after his arrival. Scott has for some time past, and is still suffering from ulcerated legs. About ten days previously the deceased and Scott were at Rewa, when they had a dispute, and they had some words on the day preceding the murder. The greatest sympathy is felt for the btreaved family iv their affliction and sorrow at the awful and untimely end of Mr. Bailey, who, as an old resident in Victoria, and as v recent settler here, commanded the respect of all who knew him.