MURDER OF CAPTAIN MOLLER.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 68, 18 January 1879, Page 2

MURDER OF CAPTAIN MOLLER.

The arrival of the brigantinc Meg Ml- - rilies last niglit, from the Line Islands, brings news of n most shocking murder having been committed by one white man upon another, and, what appears the strangest part of all is, that the accused has received on several oecassions acts of kindness from the man whose death he caused.

The deceased, Captain Charles Mollr, was master Ot" the brigantine in ipiestio.. —one of Mi-am McArtlmr's trading vessels—and was a resident of this city, having traded out of Auckland for many years and, was was not only respected by his employers, but also by all seafaring and business men with whom he hail transactions. The accused is one Thomas Reunells, or Itennels, aged 42, who had charge of Messrs, McArtlmr's .station at Boutaritari, one of the Gilbert group of islands, and he was placed there on tho previous voyage by Captain Mollcr, who took Itennels from Samoa forthe purpose of establishing him on the station, lieuneles is a very intelligent and highlyeducated man, having traded on the African coast, the Island of Madagascar, and tho islands of tho South Pacific. Jle came to Auckland about two years ago, from Australia, but remained only a short time, when he proceeded to the islands, and was there picked up by tho deceased, and taken to Boutaritari on the hist occasion the Flirt wont there. We understand that ho has a brother residing in New Plymouth, but beyond that he is reticent as to his antecedents.

Tho circumstances of Uio affair are as follow:—(in Monday, October 7th, the vessel was at Kuma, Boutaritari Island, where *ho had been for several days, as MoArtlnir's station was here, ami t!ie copra which had been collected by Rennells had been sent aboard, Imt not without some disputation as to tho per-centago whieli was to bo allowed to the accused for collecting it. This, however, had been settled, and on the day in question Captain Moller had determined to break up tho station unless Kennels would square up his accounts with tho firm more satisfactorily than appeared likelv. \Vith this in view, (,'aptain Moller prooeeded on shore in the boat, along with three of the seamen, named Ohas. Edwards, Wra. Sherwin, and John Ashby, tho two former being witnesses ol tho sad occurrence, while Ashby, was away for water. Mollor went into the storo and produced his account against RennelN, asking him to pay the difference, which the latter refused to do, or could not. Moller then laid his hauds on some o. tho trade, and put it to tho door for the seamen to carry tothe boat. Taking some beads, Kennels said, " Leave me thoso ; McArthur won't miss them." But, this Moller refused, and ho then laid hands on a small keg of beef. Ronnells objected to lot this go, and planted his foot upon it, when tho captain said, " Pay me, as you must have money, and I will leave you any amount of provisions." Accused thon took off his foot-, and said, "Take it," and immediately went behind Moller, ami took up a double-barrelled gun that was in the corner, and, while the captain was tolling it to tho door Rcniiclls said, " If you tako that you am a dead man." Before the last word was out of his mouth ho discharged one of tho barrel*, which took effect in the elbow ol lb* J.-ft anu of poor Moller, when he was iu the »»tf

of turning round to fact- his antagonist Moller than felt tht) wound, and .-aid " \ou have broken the bono, and, ii doing what I have, I am only obeying my letter of instruction.'' He then went outside, and sat down with Sherwir alongside, while Edwards ran to the boat for some canvas, and on returning mei Moller and Sherwin, and they all went to the boat, and were joined by Ashby. They pulled otf to the vessel at once, and Moller fainted on the way. Mr. Breves the chief officer, seeing the serious naiure of the WOUtti), sent Capt. Moller and three men to the residence of the Hawaiian missionary, 18 miles away. In the .meantime, to secure the assailant was the matter uppermost in the thoughts of the officers ami crew, and it was decided to attempt his capture that night. After dmk, Mr. lirevin, FVedk. Disney, Aleg. •Seudder, and the cook, a stalwart darkey named Henry Grant, [tended on the shore hidden from ReuuuH's house by a point of land, and here the darkey was dressed as a native and shambled up to the store, where he found Round's lying before the door, and before the latter discovered the stratagem, Grant was upon him, and said : "In the Queens name, I apprehend you for shooting Captain Moller." Rennells made no resistance, and the party then took him and the gun on board, where lie was confined until given in charge of the police yesterday. The boat returned from the mission station next morning, and reported thai nothing could be done for tin- Captain, and Mr. Bre'ven then set sail for Ebon, in the' Marshall group, and arrived on the 11th, only to find that Dr. I'earce had left three days before. Poor Moller was then taken to the house of the AmeIriean missionary, tho Rev. Mr. Witney, who used every effort to relieve the poor fellow, but lock-jaw and put refaction supervening, ho died in great pain at 4 p.m. on Sunday, the loth October, and was buried on shore the same night, in pre.once of the ship's company, the burial service being read by the llev. Mr. Whitney. As the vessel came up the harbour last night there was nothing to indicate anything unusual, and Mrs. Moller proceeded onboard, to find that, instead of welcoming her loved husband home to his children, she learned or his death, and the scene on the vessel is more easiiv imagined thin described. Ho leave-. behind to mourn tie- loss of a good husband a wife and four children. Tin' police were apprised of the circumstances, and Sergeant. Martin took Rennells in charge, who will no doubt be brought up at the Police Court this morning. Rather a melancholy incident took place while the vessel lay at Appamauia, on November 14; topsail schooner was sighted in the morning, and as she bore up it proved to be the Auckland schooner Gael, (.'apt. Ohlsen, Mr. lirevin ran up the ensign to half-mast-and the Gaol passing (dose aongside, Captain Ohlsen cried out, "What's the matter? Do you want assistance \" The reply went," Captain Moller has been murdered," and immediately ou the deck of the Gael there was a commotion, the chief officer fainting, he being a brother of the deceased, Captain Moller. Those ou board the Meg Merrilies forget this fact in the excitement of hailing a sister ship, and hence the result of the sadden unfavourable news. .Mr. Moller recovered consciousness after a short time.—-New Zealand Herald.