THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 36, 8 October 1886, Page 3

THE GREAT BARRIER MURDER.

Hydn*t, October 5. A man named Joe Adams, alios Caffrey, has been arrested at Femtnouiit on suspicion of having committed the murder at the Great Barrier Islands. A revolver, some cartridges, and a piratical flag have been found in his Bwag. The prisoner denied ever having been in New Zealand, but his appearcuce exactly answers the description of Caffrey. His mate Penn has uot yet been traced. A quantity of the wreckage and ship's stores have been found at Port Macquarie, as well as a board bearing the name “ Auckland." The prisonur has been remanded.

Auckland, October 5. Information to hand, per Manapouri from Sydney, leaves not the slightest doubt as to the fate of the cutter Sovereign of the Seas, wreckage of that vessel having been indeutified by oertain well-known signs, names and numbers. The following particulars appear in the Kydnev Morning Herald, September 29:—f’ort Macquarie, Tuesday. Last Saturday afternoon Pilot Kingsford received information that some wreckage had been washed upon the bunch north of Port.Macquarie. He at once proceeded to search Uie beach and found part of a deck beam, with combing attached. In the beam was cut the tonnage. 81, and also the official number 62,415. The pilot sent his men out again on Sunday to search the southern hunch. They discovered a board, evidently from the stent of a teasel, with the name

“ Sovereign of tho Seas " painted on it. It hint been painted over with black paint except •* r.-tgn " It will lie remembered tlrnt on tlie llith of -lime a munhr w ta committed on the Great Barrier Island, New Zealand.

by John Caffrey and Henry Albert Penn, who had charge iff a cotter bear ing the above name. The man murdered was Robert Taylor. No doubt this wreckage is the remains of the same vessel which left the island cutter rigged, and flying a black flag. She was occupied by tlie two men named. The New Zealand Government offered a reward of £BOO for their apprehension. The finding of the beam, with the tonnage and the official number cut upon it, and also the board with the name of the vessel, appears conclusive proof that she has finished her career." The Auckland police authorities have forwarded a fuller personal description of Caffrey to the Sydney police for identification of the man in custody, and have also communicated with old Aucklanders now resident in Sydney acquainted with Caffrey.