OLD-TIME ILLUSTRATIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 225, 23 February 1928, Page 3

OLD-TIME ILLUSTRATIONS.

INCIDENTS OF THE MAUNGATAPU MURDERS. An Interesting Record. Mr. Samuel Adams, of Killinchy, lias in his possession a very interesting document of some historical value. It is a series of drawings, made away back in the sixties, relating to various incidents of the Maungatapu murders committed by the noted Kelly gang. In those days the art of photographic reproduction in newspapers had probably not started in New Zealand, or if it had it was very much in its infancy. Realising the great interest that was being taken in the murders, two Nelson men, Hodgson and Friend, hit upon the idea of issuing a sheet containing illustrations taken from sketches and photographs. The drawings were evidently transferred to a copper or zinc plate, from which copies were printed and sold at a shilling each. A very appropriate quotation from Hamlet appears at the head of the sheet : “ Murder most foul, as in the best it is ; But this most foul, strange and unnatural.” Immediately, below the quotation j there are sketches of the four mem- j bers of the gang, Burgess, Kelly, j Levy and Sullivan. The many inci- J dents depicted are as follow : The I Murderers’ Rock, volunteers conveying bodies through the bush, discovery of a horse and swags by Messrs. | Owens and Martin, the bodies of Mathieu, Kempthome, Dudley and Pontius lying in the engine house at Nelson, the funeral of the victims, Levy arrested in the bar of the Wakatu Hotel, arrest of Burgess by Constable Murphy on the night of June 18, 1866, James Battle attacked by Sullivan, apprehension of Sullivan at the Mitre Hotel, Nelson, arrest of Kelly by Mr. Owens, Dwyer’s accommodation house, Mr. G. Jervis, who gave the first information which led to the discovery of the murders, Mr. ] T. Mabille, the first volunteer of the | search party, a sketch of the country in which ■ the murders were commit- j ted.—Leeston Guardian. |