ESCAPE OF THE MURDERER OF MR VOLKNER.

Evening Post, Issue 106, 12 June 1865, Page 2

ESCAPE OF THE MURDERER OF MR VOLKNER.

We (New Zenlander) have received the following statement of Tiwai's version of the escape of Ephraim, the half-caste, who put the rope round Mr. Volkner's neck, and of other matters. Tiwai has stated, though not publicly, that when the Eclipse was at Waikatane, a man of the name of Poua, the same who had condemned Mr. Volkner to death, came on board, and stopped there for two days, and was allowed to go on shore at Opotiki without opposition. Tiwai also states that when he applied for two of the best men in the ship to assist him in apprehending Ephraim, he was given two of the ship's boys as assistants. When they all three got ashore, and Tiwai pointed out Ishmael to him, they seized him ; he threw them off easily, and escaped into the bush, receiving a shot from one of their revolvers in his back. When Tiwai was at Waihou a man of the name of William King showed him a letter from the Opotiki natives stating that his (Tiwai's) property was confiscated, aud that he would be Killed if seen anywhere in the direction where the letter could be circulated, on account of his assisting the Government in the matter. The above statement contains things which of course are not to be hastily accepted without further enquiry ; the responsibility of I them rests upon Tiwai, the narrator, whose statement is our justification for publishing them. _«___«___«__