PARTICULARS BY MAIL.

Manawatu Herald, 17 January 1899, Page 3

PARTICULARS BY MAIL.

From further files of the Brisbane Courier to hand by the Waikare we take additional particulars of the, so far, futile efforts of the police to track the murderers, and the uneasiness that pervades the Gatton district. UNREST IN THE DISTRICT. On the 3rd inst. the special reporter of the Courier wrote : — The police are moving with the utmost caution, but all reports are followed up night and day by constables and trackers. The police are in receipt of letters and telegrams from all parts of Australia from clairvoyants, astrologers, cards fortune-tellers, etc., volunteering information. The excitement in Gatton in connection with the sad aftair is over outwardly, but there remains still a deep sense of horror and dread, and men even abjure the locality of the murder at night. Though mystery remains, some important developments of the case are pending. A THREATENING LETTER. A somewhat startling statement has been circulated, and appears to be well-founded. It is said that some few years ago some of the members of the Murphy family were threatened by a local resident of more or less enviable reputation, and that a female member of the family actually received a threatening letter. I have made inquiry inI to the reports, and believe that they are true. The information has, no doubt, been in the hands of the police for some time, and of course the revival of threats of years past can only be taken for what they are worth. THE MOTHER OF THE VICTIMS. The members of the Murphy family are as well as can be expected after the fearful shock of last week. Old Mrs Murphy is a very devout woman, and rests on the Great Rock ot her religion for consolation. Her chief prayers during the first bitter hour of the tragedy were for the souls of those who had destroyed her children, and blasted the happiness of her home. What a sermon that prayer of the grief-stricken mother is ! The Rev. Father Walsh has, indeed, been a comforter to the family in their bereavement, and during this week I be* lieve, the nuns at the Convent at Helidon will visit Mrs Murphy at her home.