The Maungatapu Murders

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1921, Page 4

The Maungatapu Murders

DEATH OF SULLIVAN. '['he reported death in an Auckland institution of Sullivan, the man who turned "t/uoon's evidence” ill cniineetimi with the M 'iingataj it murders which took place in Nelson in lßtib. resulted in a con c-i'iindent of the AtteliLiml •’Star” sending a pliotogra]ili of the noloriotts quaitol. lie wrote: “How T cam,, hy it 1 cannot remember, but many years ago in the early seventies. an old digger mate of mine. a. We.-t Coaster, had a. silk handkerchief which lie picked up whilst travelling through the hush at Maungatapu. He asserted that at the time he passed the place the gang were at work, tor others travelling ahead of him were not seen again olive. .1 think it must have been from my old mate that 1 got the plmto, which is probably tin* only copy in Auckland.”

Mr P. J. O’Regan writes to the '’Dominion” challenging (hu probability of the story that Sullivan died in Auckland under, an assumed name.

“To anyone acquainted with the facts’", Mr O’Regan says, “the story to say Lite least, will Appear most ininrohible. It is just lifly-five years since the murders. To he accurate, Battle was killed on .lime 12, 18(5(1. Mathieu, Keinpthorn.c. Pontius and Dudley on the following day. and Burgess, Kelly and Levy were hanged at Nelson on Friday. October 7. of the same year. Sullivan was the oldest of the gang, and his age was given as forty-two, whence lie would now lie ninety-seven years old. That he lett. this country is certain; indeed, he was pardoned in 1871 and was liberated from Dunedin gaol conditional on his leaving New Zealand permanently, and lie embarked from Auckland for England in a vessel called the Hindustan.' As a matter of fact, the British Government stipulated subsequently by the Royal Instructions lo Colonial Governors that the pro rogative of pardon was mil again lo be exercised subject to the condition that the criminal should leave the country. Though I am unable to give the details of Sullivan’s subsequent movements there is no doubt that he went to California from England, hut being recognised there he returned to Victoria, and I well remember that the late Mr |l. Richardson R*ie published u story of nn interview with the murderer oil Christ mas 'Eve. 1880. w hen he was living a wretched, loivly life Mary- j borough. Moreover, f have always mi- I derstood that Sullivaji’s death in Vic- ! t-oria was well authenticated.” j