BALLINA RUFFIAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1814, 21 July 1906, Page 2

BALLINA RUFFIAN.

BROWN’S SILLY STORY. I’RESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Sydnoy, July 20. Since his arrest Brown hus talked freely. Ho said tho whole thing was the result of a secret society formod in Ballina to keep up Whito Australia. The plan was to havo a revolution against thoblaoks and Chinese and kill thorn off. There wore a numbor ill the society, but they kept quiet till they got money to buy arms. Ho mentioned the names of several boys of his own age. They drilled and practised with bayonets, using pumpkins as targets. He agreed that tho money he wont to O’Koofe’s to get was for that purpose. It was not with the intontion of killing thorn that he went there. They were his best friends, and be was troatod like one of the family. When he got there tbe old people were glad to eee him. Ho described how ho waited an opportunity to attack them. Tho etory of the seorot society will be well oiftod by tbe police Brown’s associates aro respectable lade. He says some of those pledged to tho sooiety are of the best families in the district. During his flight be bad a terriblo time in a swamp, wading for hours up to bis waist, and he continued walking right through tho day.

THE INQUEST,

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE,

PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Received 11.23 p.m., July 20Sydnoy, July 20,

At the inquest on O’Keefe’s body a companion of Brown’s deposed that three weeks ago Brown asked him to go with him to sand-bag the O’Keefes. He explained that by sand-bagging he meant to hit and render them insensible. Witness refused. Later in the day Brown asked him to go bushranging, adding that ho knew some others who would go. A man with whom Brown camped gave evidence that the day before the tragedy his uniform and bayonet were taken out of "the hut by Brown without permission He identified the bayonet as that with which the murders were committed. Tim O’Keefe stated that sometimes his father reprimanded Brown for neglecting work, but generally they got on well together. Hhortly before he left their employ Brown quarrelled with Gillick, who knocked him down. Brown got a revolver and attempted to shoot Gillick. Once Brown broke open a box belonging to his father and stole money, for which he was sentenced to six months, but he subsequently returned to work for them.

A HOBT BLOODTHIRSTY CRIME. PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 1 a.m., July 21. Sydney, July 20. The Coroner, in committing Brown for trial, oharaotcrised the crime as the mOBt bloodthirsty in tho hieiory of the State.