THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 401, 9 August 1866, Page 3

THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS.

FURTHER EXAMINATION ob WITNESSES.

MORE DISCLOSURES BY SULLIVAN. (Prom the Nelson Colonist, 27th July.)

Bit by bit are additional circumstances being brought to light, showing how cheaply all the four prisoners now in custody viewed the life of a fellow-creature; that is always giving credence to the statements which from time to time Sullivan is making; and as the most of these bear the appearance of probability, as his important confessions have all been borne out by subsequent discoveries to which they pointed, it is to be concluded that in other and less important details his statements may be trusted.

It appears then, that Birrell, who rode in from Canvastown, and spoke to the murdered men at Franklyn’s Flat, had a much more narrow escape with his life than was at fifst supposed, while Jervis’s existence hung literally upon the tossing up of a shilling. Sullivan states that while his three fellows in crime were hiding behind Murderer’s Rock, he was himself at his accustomed post of keeping the road. He saw Birrell coming up from the flat on his grey horse, and knew that he must have spoken to the doomed men. He hastened to his mates and told them of the fact. A hurried consultation followed, and it was agreed to allow Birrell to pass, providing he did not see them or any of their belongings, for they had no time to get concealed in the bush before Birrell came up; and Sullivan stated he had the double-barreled gun at his shoulder ready to shoot Birrell if he turned his head and saw them or any of them as he rode past. Providentially Birrell rode straight on looking neither to the right nor the left, and totally unconscious of danger. On as slight a chance depended the life of Jervis. After the murders were committed, and (we are repeating the substance of Sullivan’s statements), after he and his mates had divided the spoil as they sat at the old chimney where they took tea, the question of their safety from detection was carefully discussed, and the danger they underwent from being known to Jervis was long debated. He was the man whom they chiefly feared, and as events proved they were right, for it was he who gave the alarm and led to their detection. It was proposed that the party should divide, two going on to Nelson, and two going back to Canvastown to kill Jervis, and make it appear as if the Maoris living near had killed him as they would have planted some of his property beside their whares. They then proposed to go thence to Havelock and Picton, where they could again meet and carry out a projected operation on the bank of that town; passing by the Pelorus Bridge Hotel, and Wilsons accommodation during the night, so that no one could see them. Councils were divided; the arguments for and against the return to Canvastown being evenly balanced, and at last it was resolved to settle the question by tossing up. The result was that Jervis’s life was spared, for the coin decided that the men should come into Nelson.

The four prisoners were again brought up before Mr Poyuter, Resident Magistrate, bis Honor the Superintendent, and a few other Justices. The attendance of spectators was greater than at last hearing; but those who expected to hear a statement from Sullivan were again disappointed.