THE MURDER, AND SUICIDE ON THE BALLONNE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 387, 21 June 1866, Page 2

THE MURDER, AND SUICIDE ON THE BALLONNE.

(From Tuesday’s Maitland Mercury.)

In our issue of 24th May, we were enabled to publish a short account of the murder of John Hickey, and subsequent suicide of Henry Sadler or Sadlier, his murderer, at Mr Willow Baldwin’s station on th« Ballonne Elver, on the borders of Queensland. We have now fuller accounts of the sad affair.

The first writes us dating St. George, May 9 :—“ I have no doubt that you have heard of this affair before now, but in case you have not I send you the truth of it, as both parties are well known to many of your readers. Henry Sadler was manager of a station for Mr Willow Baldwin, on the Ballonne, and had a wife that did not bear the best of characters for virtue. He employed a stockman named John Hickey, of Maitland ; and it appears Hickey cohabited with the wife, and he was told of it, Sadler started from home to go a journey, and turning back unexpectedly, tied up his horse at a distance, and went to the man’s bedroom barefoot. Not finding him there, he went to his wife’s room, and asked her to open the door. She said, ‘ Wait until I get a match,’ giving Hickey time to escape. But Sadler being too cunning, looked out for Hickey, and shot him, as he came out, with a small pocket pistol he was in the habit of carrying about with him, through the side. He died shortly after. Sadler sent the cook to the nearest J.P. to report it, and then put a gun and blew the top of his own head right off. In the enquiry the woman that caused this sad affair committed perjury, and she is now ia St. George’s lock-up, waiting a hearing; no bail allowed. I may further state that Hickey was well respected by all that knew him, previous to his taking up with this woman.”

The Tam worth Examiner, of Saturday, has a letter from its Barwon River correspondent, giving some additional features. After alluding to Sadler’s unexpected return, it states; —“ Not hearing any stir in the house, he called to his wife to open the door. Hickey then rushed out, and as he did so, Sadler shot him under the arm. He theu slabbed him twice in the loins with a dagger, which latb r caused his death hi less than half ap hour. "Whilst Sadler was doing this, his wife made out at the back and ran over to Mr Grover’s, and reported whut had taken place. Some men went over to apprehend Sadler, but he dared any of them to come near him under paiu of death. In this manner he defended himself all night. Next morning he sent twice for his wife to Mr Grover’s, but she would not come. He sent the third time to say that he wanted her on particular business, and would not hurt her. On these conditions she went over. He told her he was going to shoot himself, and walled over his properly to her, aud had her reading prayers to him for about an hour. He then sent her to Mr Grover’s on some pretext; when she was gone he put a pistol into his mouth and blew off the top of his skull. Hickey was born, 1 believe, somewhere in the Hunter River district, and used at one time to be a carrier on the roads. — Sydney Mail, June 2.