SUICIDE OF AN ALLEGED MURDERER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1164, 20 June 1884, Page 3

SUICIDE OF AN ALLEGED MURDERER.

Considerable excitement was caused on board the s.e. Adelaide to Melbourne (says a Melbourne paper) by the determined suicide of a passenger who was on his way in custody to Sy mey on a charge of murder The prisoner, whose name. was Francisco Sntfofa, an Austrian by birth, and about 33 years of age, was permitted to walk about the deck during the day while under the close surveillance of the police. About 6 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when the vessel was about seven miles off Lady Julia .Percy Island, Snttora seized the moment when both constables were out of view, and, making a rnu, sprang over the low bulwarks, and plunged into the sea. The alarm was immediately given, and one of Holmes patent life-buoy rescue-signal, with a life-buoy attached, was thrown over a few seconds after the man disappeared. A boat was got ont with the utmost despatch, hut nothing could be seen of the missing man. The patent signal burned admirably, showing a bright light for fully 23 minutes. Finding the search hopeless, the boat was recalled, and the ship proceed on her wny, having oeen detained about half an hou,. Francisco Snttora was charged with the murder of bis mate, Andrea Osyilnack, on the 16th February last, at the railway works tiirilamboue, between Nyang and Dubbo, N.B W. The two men arrived in Sydney, some months before, having worked their passage from the Cape of Good Hepe. The day before the alleged murder took place, the two m- n drew the orders for their work and left the railway. A few days after the body of a murdered man was found, which proved to be that of Osyilnack. Two men were arrested on suspicion, but discharged at the inquest, there being no evidence against them. It was then found that Snt-. tora had cashed his comrades order, and suspicion at once fell on him. He was traced to Sydney, whence he appeared to have lettfor Adelaide, and a full description of his person was telegraphed to the Sou hj Australian police. The case was put into the hands of Mounted-constable Walter Lfppington, who traced Sattors from his arrival at Port Adelaide to the railway W'irks at Stratballan, on the Nairne line. So expeditious was hj« that he left Ade'aide e-rly one morning and returned that night with the prisoner incusto iy; William Cow ley ot the New South Wales police, whs sent to Adelaide He identified Snttora as the man charged with jthe murder of his mat, au extradition warrant was granted for his remand to Sydney. The prisoner quite threw the constable off their guard by the ease and cuntidence of bis demeanor, but they seldom lost sight of him wirne on the passage. He must have been winching for an opportunity to make the fata! plutige, for no sooner had Constable Cowley disap peared than he jum: ed the bulwarks. The only persons wuo saw the act were two steerage passengers, and they con'd do nothing to prevent it. When .the prisoner wns arrested he bad in his possession 22 s wereigns, live £1 notes, and some si'ver; .among other articles was a ca vas nag. wbi'h constable Cowley can identify as having belonged to th-i murdered man.