SULLIVAN IN AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3436, 25 February 1874, Page 3

SULLIVAN IN AUCKLAND.

{Prow tfa Star. ) The knowledge that Sullivan, the atrocious murderer, whose name is indelibly written in blood in connection with th© W©§t Coast murders, was let loose from tho Mikado in o Auckland yesterday, created a profound sensation, and. caused a thrill of horror to pass through the minds of a number of persons, especially of the weaker sex. It would seem, however, that this hardened and cowardly villain was equally afraid of a section pf th© people, aa hj? desired to be placed under the protection of the police; this evidence of prudence we learnt since was not the murderer’s own suggestion, but o of the warder who accompanied him. Sullivan Waa well dressed, very communicative to those about him, and actually o^iri 6 fVi popularity as a murderer, and that he had realized the idea that many hero ’ but one murder makes am. , ulhvan considers himself a hero, and one would suppose him to be such judgperannlety of P erson2 hanging anxious to ilatch a 8 im m e thres. He' tells long yarns of early Lolonikl days and murders with a gusto that astonishes and paralyses the feel- £ g +i° f f hOS ! W r°rf Ve n ° fc been accustomed to that sort of life, fl e evidently has a hying catalogue of all the more notable criminals of the Colonies at his tongue’s end and speaks of Burgess iq terms df highest ?r a iu e ’ ty* arowa, was a‘man, cue of the finest bushrangers that ever graced the' West Coast.' He thought no more of

murdering half-a-dozen men than he thought of eating his dinner; he was a glorious fellow that Burgess ! We understand that Sullivan will be conveyed back by the warder to Dunedin. It was generally understood that he had a free par don, hut it was only on condition that ht left the Colony. Had he been fortunate enough to have reached San Francisco, his conditional free pardon would have been given up to him. . Various rumours were abroad in town last night with regard to this wretched man. It was confidently asserted by many that the story of hia being put ashore was a fiction invented to allay tbe dissatisfaction expressed by the passengers of the Mikado at having his company during the voyage to San Francisco. Another ston ran that he had taken apartments at one of the best hotels in the town, and was going to do the swell, either at his own or the Government’s expense till an opportunity was afforded him of quietly sloping in one of the ocean-going steamers. One gentleman was extremely alarmed at hearing him described last evening. Five feet nine, check trousers and waistcoat, and bushy brown beard! Goodness gracious 1 Why just such a man has been closeted with me this morning. He said his name was Smith, and I have promised to use my influence with the Board of Education to get him a berth as teacher in one of the district schools ; and dash my wig I’ve already sent the letter’ The old gentleman when last seen was striding away towards Wyndham street as fast as he could hobble, A rather novel but rich hoax was perpetrated last night in Queen street. It appears a party of young men stationed themselves on. the middle of the road just opposite the Exchange Hotel and hailed passers-by whom they knew, telling each one (with great seriousness) that Sullivan was inside. A frantic rush into the Exchange followed, when, much to their chagrin, they discovered not the Maungatapu murderer, but the landlord of tbe hotel. Uf course a speedy retreat followed, the majority being so disgusted that they forgot to order their drinks.