The Gatton Murders.

Manawatu Herald, 19 January 1899, Page 2

The Gatton Murders.

«_ William McNeill, brother-in-law of the Gitton victims, who is oi medium height, thick set, and aboui 80 yean of age, has made the following 3tatement to a reporter :— On the night of the murder, aftei returning home from the races, 1 said to Xorah, " You had better gn to the dance." She replied, •• No, 1 will stay at home and look after the child." The child was never content at home unless either Norah 01 I stayed. Norah was more careful of the child than of her own health or enjoyment. I then said, " No, 1 will mind the child. You oan go." Michael came into the room and said to his mother, "I am going to take the girls to the dance." Mrs Murphy said, smilingly, " Thej had better stay at home." Mick then said, ••Oh, get ready and come." The girls then got ready. While they were doing so Michael and 1 harnessed up the horse, and while we were doing so Mick put my whir. in the trap, which also belonged tc me, and I said, " Ob, this is a bettei one, take this," meaning Murphy'c whip. Mick took the whip witb him. They then started for Gatton, and I stayed with the child. I nevei went out at all that night. There were also in the houoe the two old people, my wife, and Katie, Jack and Bill Murphy and my two childr n In the morning, finding that th? girls and Mick had not come back, mother got anxious and told im to go and look for them. I s'aHni away on horseback, and lookd carefully for wheel tracks, h^cauae I knew the particular tracks that the wheels would make; one wheel wobbled, as the result of an accident I once had near Helidon. When 1 got to the Bliprails on the Tent; Hill Road I saw at once that the trap had turned in there. The sliprails had been placed in position Again, but there were marks which showed that the trap had been driven ovet them while on the ground. I did not suspect anything wrong, as I thought they might have turned in there to go to a friend's house. Of oourae, ] do not know the locality, as I have not been here a fortnight. Well, ] went straight on until I oame to the top of a slight ridge ; then I saw the cart, and then the bodies oame into view. Still, I did not think they had been murdered. £ thought they were sleeping in the sun. After I got a bit closer, I saw that the clothing of the girls was disarranged, and then I could see the ant 3 crawl ing all over them. I did not go any further, but turned and rode into Gatton, and told the police. One thing that makaa me think Mick did not go into the paddook bf his own free will was that he was not the sort of man to put his horse over the rails while they were. on the ground. He would have moved them to one side, unless be was in a hurry. Ido not think any of the men coming here at Westbrook committed the murders, but I don't know what to think about it." It is supposed, from the nature of Michael Murphy's wounds, that he was first shot, and that the smashing in of his ekull was done subsequently. It will be remembered that two .850 revolver cartridges were missed from a case in the shop of Mr Hargraves, ironmonger, in Gatton, and have not been accounted for. It is suggested that possibly one of these was used to shoot Murphy's horse, and the other to kill Michael Murphy himself. The discovery of absolute evidence of the shooting of Michael Murphy has caused /a considerable sensation in the district. It has been suggested that a small bore rifle was used in the tragedy instead of a revolver. If so, it must have been fired from an elevation, a 3 the bulled took a downward direction. Whf»n a revolver cartridge is used in a rifle of the same bore the report, is relatively slight. It is now considered probable that Michael Murphy was shot on the road, and that the girls were bound and th" oarfc then driven into the paddock by the murderers.