The Great Barrier Murder I

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 57, 23 October 1886, Page 3

The Great Barrier Murder I

■ .» — •—- --; ;..:.': Sidney, October 14. jCaftrey** two companions on board ttie cutter Sovereign of the Seas, after th« murder of Taylor, arrived in Sydney this morning by the darencG and Bichmond Biver Navigation Cotapany'a a.a. Queen of the South. Perm, the mate, was leg-ironed and handcuffed. The prisoners were brought down in charge of a couple of mounted constables. They were conveyed at once to the Water Police lock-up, and charged before Captain Fisher, D.S.M., Perm with the murder of Robert Taylor, and Grace Graham or deary, as an accessory after the fact. On the application of the police both prisoners were remanded until Monday next. Perm states that the girl Graham had been living with him on' board the cutter for some time prior to the murder. On the day it was committed Caffrey and himself went ashore to Taylor's place, and he was in the doorway of Taylor's house when Caffrey shotTayiori- Peuii acknowledges that he was- carrying a revolver at the time, but, in -explanation,, says that it was his habit- jilwaya to hava a revolver on him. -The girl was left on board ibe cutter while they, went' ashore, and was totally unaware ol< the object of their trip until some time After ! thew return^ whien tiiey told what had happened, On learning it, and being told that they intended to make away from, the New Zealand coast in consequence, she pleaded hard to be landed, but, under the circumstances, they decided to take her with them . .As already stated by Caffrey, Perm says they tried to reach the American coasV where they thought they could be safe from discovery, but, meeting with five or six ; severe gales, and the cutter becoming in such a leaky conr dition as to inspire them with great, fears for her safety, they eventually turned back, and succeeded in fetching the New, South Wales coast. ," Penu confirmed Caffrey 'a statement . that they came as far south as Sydney Heads, but finding too many crafts about, went northward again in. hope of affecting a landing on the Queensland coast. Whether- 'they were afterwards wrecked^*' er landed and. wrecked the "cutter 'afterward, Perm did not .say ; but aocording to His accpimt^ he,and'Cftffiey . commenced: to quarrel over the girl almost immediately after they set sail. Gaffrey, ; oh the principle that dead, people tgiluo ta.es, wanted to shoot Grace "Graham, but Penh, between whom and the girl there appears to exist a strong affection objected, and he saved her. After then ihe dread of juuider being ever present, Perm and the girl came to an arrangement by which, one of them always remained awake whilst the other slept, Perm, throughout ihe yVoyage keeping . his revolver loaded ready to use in the event of any cruelty on the part of Caffrey. After they landed near Bellinger River, Cdffrey, Perm, and the girl camped together ior "i fortnight.- The same quarrels About the giil, which had taken place uninterruptedly on board, continued on shore,' Caffrey arguing that it was necessary for their safety that she ehotxld be put out of the way. At last on the fourteenth day, CafErey asked Perm to go for a walk with him oa ho .had .something particular to folk to him about. Perm made up his mind that Caffrey' s only object was ib get him away from the girl into the bush, and there shoot him, and on that account he refused to stir from where he was. High words followed which culminated in Caffrey parting company from them. It was the intention of Perm and the girl to ■■■ get married as ; coon as they could possibly manage it. Continuation of reading matter on Uh page '