GREAT BARRIER ISLAND MURDER.

Kumara Times, Issue 3104, 14 October 1886, Page 2

GREAT BARRIER ISLAND MURDER.

ARREST AND CONFESSION OP OAPFREY. HOW CAFFREY WAS CAPTURED. The New Zealand Herald correspondent sends the following particulars re Caffrey in a cable message, dated Sydney, October 7th : The prisoner John Caffrey, who is charged with the murder of Robert Taylor, at Tryphena Harbour, Barrier Island, on the 18th June, and who was arrested at Fernmount, a small town on the Bellingen River, was brought up on remand before the Magistrate at Boat Harbour, the principal town in the district, on Tuesday. The arrest of the chief actor in a crime of so tragic a diameter and invested with so many novel elements, has naturally excited intense interest throughout the district, and the Police Court was densely crowded. The prisoner was brought to Boat Harbour in charge of Policeconstable May, who apprehended him at Fernmount. His appearance at that pW following so quickly upon the discovery of the wreck of the Sovereign of the Seas, which had revived the story of his terrible crime, roused the suspicions of the local constable, who, comparing the stranger with the printed description of the murderers, issued by the Auckland police, felt satisfied he was Caffrey, and forthwith arrested him. When examiued at the Police Station it was foand that although bearina; the marks described in the police notice, a scar on the left eyebrow, a star tattooed on the right forearm, and an anchor on the left aim, he had other tattoo marks not in the police descrip. tiou, notably tha figure of a woman upon his breast. When arrested, the prisoner denied all knowledge of the murder and of New Zealand. He said his name was Joe Adams, and that he was a swagsrnan in search of work. On bis lodgings being searched, a swag was found containing, among other articles, a revolver and a black flag. The police authorities at Sydney were immediately communicated with, and they forwarded a photograph of Caffrey which they had in their possession, and which wa« an unmistakable likesss of the prisoner. When confronted with this evidence he acknowledged his identity, and made a full confession of his guilt to Constable May. After narrating particulars of the murder, Caffrey continued cleard out of New Zenland in the cutter Soverpign of the Seas, and made for the coast of America. We encountered some severe gales, and had to lay-to four days. Finding it impossible to reach America, we made for Australia, and after being three months at sea, we sighted land near Brisbane. We then made down coast for Sydney, but finding it too hot there (meaning too many ships about), we made back for Queensland. The vessel was leaking, and was in a sinkino state, and we had to make for tbo

shore the best way we could. I succeeded in landing some things in a dingy, which we had with us, and then went back to the vessel for Penn and the woman. When landing, the dingy capsized, and threw us all into the Burf. I was washed ashore, bnt Penn and the woman were drowned. It being dark at the time, I never caught sight of them afterwards. I remained where I landed till the second day, but conld not find any trace of them. It is now between three and four weeks ago since it happened, and the place was the first point north of the Macquavie. The female was Penn's paramour, and her name was Lizzie Graham. She was twenty years of age, and was brought on board against her will, and on the voyage she fretted very much. We encountered a great many gales, and at one time would not have given much for onr chance. We sighted several vessels, bnt always kept out of their way, and never spoke a vessel the whole time we were at sea. "We had plenty of provisions but ran short of water, but were successful in catching some from rain that fell. The vessel belongs to Henderson and Spraggon, of Auckland, and I was master of her. The woman has relations in New Zealand, so has Penn, who is a married man. lam a single man, and a native of New Zealand." At the Police Court, Caffrey acknowledged his guilt and the correctness of the statement which he has made to Constable May, and which was read in Court. Prisoner was then remanded, pending the arrival of a police officer from New Zealand with the necesaary extrudition papers. Sydney, October 6. On Saturday afternoon, September 25th, Pilot Kingsford, at Port M«cqnarie, received information that some wreckage had been washed up on the beach. He searched, and found part of a deck beam, with combing attached, also a board evidently from the stem of a vessel, with the name " Sovereign of the Sea" painted on it. It had been paiuted over with black paint, except the letters " reign." The wreckage was no doubt the remnant of the cutter in which Caffrey and Penn left New Zealand after the murder of Robert Taylor on the Great Barrier Island. The police have since discovered, about «twelve miles distant, the greater portion of the hull and gear of the Sovereign of the Seas, which, with a portion of the cargo and stores, were scattered about the adjacent rocks and the beach. There are bags of sugar, rice, salt, potatoes, &0., and several pairs of men's boots, with a quantity of empty sacks covering them, which look as if they were piled up by some person. On the following Saturday, Constable May, of Port Macquarie, arrested a man going by the name of Joe Adams, on suspicion of being John Caffrey. The constable, disguised as a swagsman, had a convereation with the prisoner, who was engaged painting a bridge over Deep Creek. The prisoner said he had walked from Sydney, but conld not give a description of the road. He said he had no firearms, bnt the constable found a six-chambered bulldog revolver (loaded) in his swag, also eleven cartridges, a gold ring, a lock of hair, and a piece of black satin, evidently used as a piratical flag at sea, a heavy overcoat, muffler and socks, such as are used in colder climates. He said he might want the revolver on the Queensland diggings. He declared he had never been in New Zealand. No papers whatever were found in his possession. He said he did not know a vessel called the Sovereign of the Seas. When asked how he came by the black flag he said it had been given him by a man to make a sash. Accused does not wear earrings, but his ears are pierced, and otherwise he answers the description fully. Accused could not satisfactorily account for his movements since June. He said he worked on the Sydney wharves since June last on a small vessel, but was not acquainted with anyone in Sydney. On Monday the man was fully identified by a photograph of the Great Barrier Island murderer, which was forwarded by the Sydney police. Kbmpsey, October 6. Caffrey stated he had promised himself that no man should ever 'nice him alive, and gives Constable credit for the way he acted at the tim<« o' the arrest in taking him completely off his guard. Had he known May was a constable he would have shot him.

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