The Queensland Murders.

Manawatu Herald, 4 February 1899, Page 3

The Queensland Murders.

• CLAIRVOYANT EDUCATION. The following description says the Brisbane Telegraph) was given by a well-known and very popular lady whilst in a clairvoyant condition at a private seance held the other evening at the Australian Hotel :— There were four men concerned in the Gatton murder. One of them, the ringleader, is tall and dark. He is 28 years of age and weighs about i2st. Two of the others are dark also, while the remaining one is fair, and inclined to be reddish. The ringleader is the eldest of the four. All of them are evil-looking men of the larrikin type. All four lived at Gatton before the murder was committed, and some of them have respectable parents. The fair man did not actually murder any of the Murphys, but he assisted to outrage them. After the foul deed was committed the murderers disposed of their clothes by enclosing stones in them and throwing them into a brook or small river close by. At present the murderers are seeking refuge in a place west of Toowomba, about 40 miles distant from any civilisation. They are hiding in the mountains and caves. They never move from their hiding place, because they are atraid of being seen. They are livipg in couples, being distant about five miles from each other. They, however, visit one another during the night time. They are very anxious to secure the papers, but cannot get any. They are terribly afraid of being caught. Consequently, they are always on the alert. They can see anyone approaching from a consideaable distance. Their fear, also at times, compels them to climb trees, so that they may get a better view. A man knows of their hiding place. In fact, this man was aware of the intended murder of the Murphys before the murder was actually committed. He resides at Gatton, and is either a blacksmith or connected with the blacksmiths' trade. The police up to the present have been entirely on the wrong track in search of the murderers, and it rests entirely with the murderers themselves whether they will be caught or not. The perpetrators of the foul deed have very little money. They are, however provided with horses, but their provisions are fast giving out. In their seclusion they are afraid to light fires outside the caves, in case of being J?, consequently they are compelled "^*to light their fires inside the caves, anc as a result, they are nearly stifled with the smoke. The murder was commit ted about n o'clock on Boxing night The brother Murphy was shot first o all, and put in the botton of the dog

cart. The murderers then tried to gag the girls, but they found this no easy matter. Both girls struggled valiantly, and pinched and scratched the men severely. The murderers then told them that if they were not quiet they would blow out their brains There is no road to the place where the murderers are hiding, just a wild bridle path. They will be arrested shortly.