THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 381, 5 May 1908, Page 4

THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS.

Letter Written by Burgese. An Eketahuua Express reprej sentative was recently shown a unique memento by Mr D. Dick, of Kaiparoro, which recalls memories of the operations of the Burgess, Bevy and Kelly gang of bush-rangers on the West Coast in the early sixties. The paper is inches by 3 inches, on which is closely written in ink the xxvii. chapter of St. Matthew and the xxvii. chapter of Revelation, and was from Richard Burgess, who was in prison, awaiting bis execution. To Mr Yelverton, Inspector of Police, Burgess penned the following on the front of the paper, “ I wrote this, being at a loss what to leave you of a souvenir of your past kindness to me. May the truths that I have written here be of service to help you on yoiir way ; for remember that all flesh is as grass.” .Mr H. Walton, late of Waikanae, has also a letter written by Burgess, and has permitted us to make a copy of it. It is written in a good hand, but, as might be expected, the document is frail and age-stained. It reads as follows : Nelson Gaol, October 4th., 1886, Thursday.

Christian Friend, Most willingly do I write you, thanking you for your kind and Christian letter. It will give you joy to hear, that on reading it, it caused me to shed tears of gladness, to think the word of God should produce such a feeling of love for my poor soul’s welfare. You are a true follower of your despised master, Jesus Christ. In your good and pretty letter, you have emphatically set before me the sinner’s refuge and trust, Jesus, and Him crucified. He, as you have truly said, fias completed the finished work, in His own precious body on the tree. So that all the sinner has to do, to work out his salvation, is to believe on Him, in order to be reconciled to God the Father. O, what simplicity there is in the religion of Jesus. You have doubtless heard what an egregious sinner I have been, and a terrible load of guilt I have to account for. But I trust that through the way that Jesus has been set forth to me, that a merciful and loving Saviour will accept me, after all my sinful and wicked life. What does the hymn say ? There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins ; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Dose all their guilty stains. This blessed truth is the ground of my faith and love, for, be it known to you, I am not ashamed of it being known, that I am seeking Jesus. You must infer from my awful life, that I have hitherto disregarded God and his blessed son Jesus. The mail that brought me your sweet letter also brought my death warrant. What an ugly companion accompanied your message of comfort. Sweet soul, rest assured, though the pulse will have ceased to beat in the hand that answers yours, I trust it will be beating in Heaven. May God in His wonderful kindness ever bless you. —Yours in Christ,, Richard Burgess. Addressed: Wellington Post Office, for the person asking for the initial letters H.H., New Zealand.