JOHN CAFFREY, THE BARRIER ISLAND MURDERER.

Kumara Times, Issue 3098, 7 October 1886, Page 3

JOHN CAFFREY, THE BARRIER ISLAND MURDERER.

The following description, vvitfi some particulars of the career, of John Caffrey, the murderer of Mr Robert Taylor, a settler at the Great Barrier Island, on the 19th of June last, was published in the Auckland Herald shortly after the murder, and will be read with interest at the present time: — "John Caffrey was born at Pan mure in 1850, and is therefore in his 36th year. His parents, whey were of Irish birth, are both dead. He stands about five feet seven inches, has a fresh complexion, light brown hair, and blue eyes. He is a powerfully-built man, and can, it is said, swing and carry a 2005). bag of flour with the greatest ease. His occupation has always been that of a coasting sailor. A man named Eggington, who had sailed with him on several previous trips of the cutter (Sovereign of the Seas), was fortunately detained in Auckland this time in order to give evidence in a case coming before the Court, and Penn took his place as mate. According to Eggington's account, Caffrey is entirely ignorant of navigation, and any charts he may have on board will be quite useless to him. For some time past, however, lie has been studying the bearings of the different groups of islands in the South Pacific, and inquiring also about the course he would have to steer in order to make the Australian coast. He is described as being a man of unbridled passions and stubborn determination. Some four fears ago he shipped in a barque for an Australian port, and on arrival required the master to pay him his wages immediately. On this being refused, he procured a revolver and went after the master, whom he at length encountered in a cab with his wife. Seizing the reins and stopping the cab, Caffrey levelled his revolver at the master's head, threatening to shoot both him and his wife if his wages were not at once paid, which they were without more delay. He has appeared before' the Police Magistrates here several times on various charges—the first, on the 21st January, 1885, when he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for obscene language and assaults on constables, one, on Constable O'Brien, being of a very savage nature. His last appearance was on the 20th of last Mareh, when he was fined for drunkenness. He has several times stated that he was anxious for a brush with the police, and that if he ever again got into trouble he would either seize the Customs cutter Hawk, killing anyone that might be on board, and make for one of the Islands or for Australia, or that he would get off in the Sovereign of the Seas. People at the Barrier who knew him well state that his leisure moments for some time past have been occupied in studying the American Police Gazettes; that Ned Kelly was his ideal of a hero; and that there also he had frequently announced his intention of seizing a craft some day and making for Australia to join or to organise a band of bushrangers. Eggington says that Caffrey has for some time been very restless and unsettled in his mind ; that he seemed never to sleep; and that the least drop of intoxicating liquor sent him beating his head against wall?, and otherwise demeaning himself like a madman. He further states that in the last voyage but one of the Sovereign of the Seas, Caffrey put chased £5 worth of ammunition, ostensibly for settlers at the Barrier, but that none of it was ever landed from the cutter. Although the boat is well-stocked with provisions, it had when it last sailed but one barrel on board that would hold water, and that but imperfectly, as it leaked. Eggington says that there is certainly not more than sufficient to supply their ■wants for a week."

Some days ago, it will be remembered, the police authorities at Wellington received a cable message from the Superintendent of the New South Wales police, stating that a man answering to the portrait and description of Ciiffrey had been arrested. This man gave his name as Joe Adams, but the police are not particular about names when they have a good deserip. tion, and " Joe Adams " was detained pending farther information. From a telegram published in last evening's issue it would bo seen that CnffVay has been fully identified by some nerson or persons who knew him. Intelligence by the s.s. Manapouri is conclusive that the wreckage found is the that of the Sovereign of tho Seas. The tonnage (31) and the official number on the deck beam (52,415) are identical. No trace has been found of Caffrey's companion Penn, although it is believed he also has been seen in New South "Wales. No mention is made of the girl Lizzie Graham, who is known to

have been on board when the cutler was last ,;seeui offc he Great-Barrier Island. The New Zealand Government joffered a reward of £2OO for the apprehension of Caffrey.