Arrest of a Supposed Murderer

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 83, 23 December 1884, Page 2

Arrest of a Supposed Murderer

— » [PBB UNITED PEEBS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, December 22. William Sheehan was arrested to-day at Waikomiti by Superintendent Thomson nnd detectives Walker and Tooliey on a charge of murdering his mother (Mrs Sheet. an), his brother (Thomas Sheehan), and sister (Mary Sheehan), in Custletown Roche. Ireland, in October, 1887. This Day. Sheehan who arrived by the Doric on her first trip to Auckland, has been working at the Bay of Islands until the last two months, when he returned to Auckland. He had bought a farm last week at Waikomiti, 10 miles from Auckland. He bears tho reputation of being a steady hard working man, and strenuously maintains his innocence, but he admits he is the William Sheehan referred to in the newspaper accounts of tho alleged murders. He declares his missing mother, brother, and sister emigrated to America, He had never seen or heard of the newspaper reports or cablegram, he not being a reading man. Later. Mrs Sheehan refuses to give any information whnt ever a* to her knowledge of her husband prior to her marriage, but the following facts were gathered : — She was married to Sheehan in Onstletown Roche, abo at a month prior \o tho disappearance of his relatives, and lived on a farm for about five years. Afterwards emigrated to New Zealand when they arrived 18 months ago. The family consisted of husband, wife, and children. Mrs Sheehan is 30 years of a^e, and resolutely refuses to answer auy questions. The cl i Jrcn are »ix ;inJ four years of age. Sheehan is about 35 to 40 yenrs old. An Irisli police officer is coming out with the necessary warrant to arrest Sheehan.