POLICE REPORT. April 3, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 79, 11 April 1846, Page 3

POLICE REPORT. April 3, 1846.

As soon as information was received in Wellington on Friday of Gillespie's murder, Mr. St. Hill, P.M. proceeded to the Hutt to inquire into the circumstances, when the following witnesses were examined : — Charles Gilletpie deposed — I am the son of Andrew Gillespie, and live at Wellington. I have been up the Hutt about a fortnight assisting my father in cultivating his land. Yesterday afternoon about four o'clock, I saw a party of about a dozen soldiers crossing the river in a canoe opposite Storah's house; the canoe was owned jointly by James S tor ah and my father. One of the soldiers belonging to the 58th regiment asked me to go down to Burcham's public house for some grog, and offered to give me a shilling if I would go; I accepted the shilling and went to Burcham's for the grog. While I was at Burcham's two of the soldiers came in and said, I had been a long time getting the grog. They returned with me, and when we were opposite the turning to Mr. Swainson's house, I gave

them the grog. I met all the other soldiers at that spot, and walked with them up the road to the path that leads to my father's ware. I there bade them good night and left them. Tt was just dark when I bade them good night. When I came home I saw the body of my brother who is now dead (Andrew Gillespie the younger) lying at the door of the ware. I at first took the body for a native, as I fancied I had seen a native about two o'clock in the day in the bush near Storah's house. My father was lying in the same position he now is; I proceeded to get a light. My brother spoke to me, and bade me take care of my mother. He never spoke afterwards, but drewVa deep breath. I laid my brother on the -J&Lufifc near my father, and then took an iron pot to get some water to wash the blood from my father's facji.. Near the river I found my father's cap. I returned to the ware and washed the blood from my father's face. My father never spoke. He caught me by the wrist and kissed me. Dr. Turnbull arrived at the ware about half an hour after me. I was alarmed when I saw the figure move into the bush, but the soldiers crossing the river shortly after, I thought no more of the circum stance. It was not long after I saw the figure that the soldiers crossed. My reason for thinking it was the figure of a Maori was the notion I formed that he had seen the soldiers coming, and had darted into the bush to conceal himself. All the soldiers that I saw cross the river were sober. I did not observe that any of them had weapons in their hands. I asked my father when I found him laßt night in the condition I have before described whether he had been wounded by white people or natives. He did ' not give me any answer, nor could T obtain from him any sign or intimation whatever of any of the circumstances that had occurred during my absence from the ware. I judged the deed had been done by natives in consequence of all our blankets and bedding having been stolen, as were also two sheets and one quilt. My brother I think had a shilling in his pocket, which is now missing. Ido not think my father had any money about his person. There was a tomahawk of ours near the spot where I fancied my father and brother must have been at work at the time they were attacked. The tomahawk now produced is the same I saw this morning. James Storah and his wife were from home yesterday. They went to the Porirua road, and asked me to keep a look-out for them. I saw them in the evening after they returned home. They called in at our ware on their way, and requested Dr. Turnbull to allow a militiaman to be left with them for protection as they were alarmed. I have no notion whatever of any circumstance that could lead me to form an opinion as to the manner in which the attack was made upon my father and brother, or as to the cause of the attack. William Milne — I am a private in the Hutt militia : yesterday afternoon on returning from Takapu in the valley of the Hutt, I passed the ware of A. Gillespie, when I heard a moan, and on looking round observed a man lying on the ground. I was acquainted with Gillespie, and on approaching knew it was him. It must have been between six and seven in the evening when I reached Gillespie's house. I did not see the body of young Gillespie at first, but my attention was attracted to it by his moans. He was lying near to his father. I spoke to both of them, but received no answer. Andrew Gillespie caught hold of my arm when I got up to him. I became alarmed on obtaining no answer from either of them, and proceeded to Storah's house about 300 yards above Gillespie's, on the opposite side of the river. On receiving no answer from Storah, I returned to Gillespie's, and found him in the same position I had left him. I raised him up, and with my assistance he walked to the ware, which was about 20 yards distant, I laid him on the bunk in his ware where he now lies. I then returned and carried his son into the ware, and laid him by the side of his father, and then went to Doctor Turnbull for assistance. Dr. Turnbull deposed that yesterday evenings on being informed by the last witness that he had just found Andrew Gillespie and his son severely wounded near Gfllespie's ware, he immediately proceeded to the spot accompanied by William Milne and four other men of the Hutt militia. On his arrival at Gillespie's ware he found him lying on his back perfectly insensible. On a cursory examination of his wounds, finding he could be of no service to him he proceeded to examine his son whom he found lying on his back on the floor of the ware evidently dying. He died a short time afterwards. Had been unable to obtain any information from Gillespie as to the person or persons who attacked and mutilated his body and that of his son. At day break this morning examined the spot where the bodies of Gillespie and his son were first seen, but from the continual rain during the night all traces of footsteps, had there been any, were obliterated. From examination of the wounds on the bodies of Gillespie and his son, was of opinion they must have been inflicted by some instrument similar to a tomahawk.* Henry Elliott a private of the 99th regiment, depcsed that on Thursday evening about a quarter of a mile past the Hutt bridge he met about twelve soldiers ; some were his comrades and some were of the 58th regiment. After he had seen the soldiers he returned across the bridge to Burcham's in search of Charles Gillespie, and returned with him across the bridge and joined his companions ; it might then be about six o'clock in the evening. Charles Gillespie left them about midway between the camp, and where witness joined the soldiers. On the following morning one of the militia came to the camp and reported that Andrew Gillespie had been murdered. When at Burcham's he saw three soldiers there, one of them Donnelly was missing from the camp that night. J. N. Burcham stated that on Thursday evening last Charles Gillespie came to his house and purchased some spirits. While Gillespie was there two soldiers came to his house, at this • time there were three other soldiers there who came about 5 o'clock in the evening; two of them left his house about 9 o'clock in the eveningin company with two Milita men ; the other, Donnelly, got very tipsy, and was put to bed, and remained in his house all night. S. Lindsay, private of the 58th Regt., and F. Keir, private of the 99th Regt. deposed to having crossed the Hutt with their comrades in a canoe on Thursday evening, and to having en-

icrcd into conversation with Gillespie, who was thrashing wheat ; they sent Charles Gillespie to Burcham's for some liquor, and followed him a little way, and then stopped until he returned with the liquor. The next morning they heard Gillespie had been murdered.