THE MURDER ON THE BARRON RIVER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5192, 12 November 1877, Page 3

THE MURDER ON THE BARRON RIVER.

The prisoner Cunningham, charged with the recent murder near the River Barron in Queensland, recently arrived at Hodgkinson in custody of two mounted troopers. The Jlodyldnson Mining News says:—He was brought before the Police Magistrate, charged “ that he did on the evening of the 22ud of August feloniously and wilfully murder and kill one Frank Steinhreoker, alias Frank the Austrian, near the Barron River.” The prisoner, in answer to the Police Magistrate, said he had nothing to reply to the charge. Warrants for his arrest were produced by Sergeant Devine; and the deposition of the Brisbane detective, who arrested prisoner on the Florence Irving, was taken. In reply to the charge made against the prisoner at the time of his arrest in Brisbane, he answered, “ I am as innocent as the child unborn;” also, “ I can prove I was in Thoruborough on the 21st and 22nd of August.” The hearing of the case was postponed for the accommodation of Mr. Sub-Inspector Icely, who is expected to conduct the prosecution. The evidence for the Crown has been completed by the discovery of the revolver which prisoner had in his possession when ho arrived in Smithfiold. This weapon, a Tranter, prisoner succeeded in getting raffled on hoard the Florence. The bullet extracted from the cheek of the murdered man corresponds with those used for this revolver. Cunningham appeared distressed at his position, but not at all conspicuously so considering the ignominy he must feel from the serious charge preferred against him, and from being compelled to wear leg-irons. He states that he ran as far as the slaughter-yard—less than half-a-mile distant from the lock-up—and afterwards pursued his journey leisurely. On

their journey to Thornborough the police . camped for some time on the spot where the Austrian was murdered.