The Arrest of Penn. His Romantic Story.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 175, 23 October 1886, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Arrest of Perm. His Romantic Story.

Kemfsey, October 11. Perm, who wag implicated with Caffrey in the murder at the Great Barrier Island, waa arreßted by Senior-constable McClelland yesterday evening within two miles of the Macleay bar. The girl Graham was ■with him carrying a gun. Perm had a sixbarrelled revolver fully loaded. The pair have been about the beach since the cutter •was scuttled in August last. Caffrey parted company with Perm consequent upon a quarrel about the girl. Perm and the girl were lodged in Kempsey lockup to-day. When Perm was charged by Mr McClelland j with the wilful murder, he replied that the charge should be " implication in the crime." Perm was brought before the police magistrate at Kempsey at 2 o'clock. Senior* condtableMcClelland gaveevidence as to the circumstances attending the arrest of the prisoner. Peon asked no questions He "was remanded to Sydney. The girl Graham, or Cleary, was not brought before the Bench. Sydney, October 14. Caffrey's two companions on board the cutter Sovereign of the Seas, after the commission of the murder of Robert Taylor on the Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, arrived in Sydney at 8 o'clock this morning by the Clarence and Richmond River Navigation Co.'s steamer Queen of the South. Perm, the mate, was lsg-ironed and handcuffed. The prisoners were broueht down in charge of a couple of mounted constables. Thay were conveyed immediately on their arrival to the Water Police lockup, and at 10 o'clock were charged before Captain Fisher, D. S. M. : Perm with the murder of Robert Taylor, and the girl Grace Graham, or Cleary, as an accessor after the fact. On the application of the police both prisoners were remanded- until Monday next. Perm, who ia 23 years of age, is a young fellow ot medium height, and ie, in manner and appearance, more like a criminal than Caffrey. He id exceedingly communicative, and apparently most anxious to unburden himself of ever} thing concerningthe tragedy in which he is implicated. The girl Grace Graham is only 19 yeara of age, and appears to be little troubled by the charge that is banging over her. Both on landing and after the remand was granted in her case, she smiled and chatted away freely with those near her, avoiding, however, any reference to her experiences from the time she left New Zealand. She is of rather prepossessing appearance, and her frank face, youth, and good spirits make it difficult to realise that Bhehas recently gone through weeks of hardship which would have told a serious tale on the health of most women. Peira's Statement. Perm statee that the girl Graham had been living with him on board the cutter for some time prior to "the murder. On the day that it was committed Caffrey aAd himself went ashore to Taylor'B place, and he was in the doorway of Taylors hauae when Caffrey shot Taylor. Perm acknowledges that he was carrying a revolver at the time ; but in explanation says that it was his habit always to bave a revolver on him. The girl was left on board the cutter while they went ashore, and was totally unaware of the object of their trip until some time after their return, when they told her what had happened. On learning it, and being told that they intended to make away from the New Zealand coast in consequence, she pleaded very bard to be landed, but under the circumstances they decided to take her with t^hem; As already stated by Caffrey, Perm says that they tried to reach the American coast, where they expected they would be safe from discovery ; but meeting with five or six severe gales, and the cutter becoming in such a leaky con* dition as to inspire them with the greatest fears for their safety, they 'eventually turned back and succeeded in fetching the N.S. Wales coast. Perm confirms Caffrey's Statement that they came as far south as Sydney. Heads, but 'finding too many, crafts about went northwards again, in the hope of effecting, a landing on the Queensland coast, Whetherthey wer« afterWads wrecked, or landed and wrecked the cutter afterwards, Perm did not say, but according to hi« account he and Caffrey comjnenood to quarrel almost immediately

alter they sot Bail over the girl. Caffroy, on the principle that dead people tell no tales, wanted to shoot Grace Graham'; but Perm, between whom and the girl there appears to exist a strong' affectfon, objected and saved her. After then the dread of murder being ever present, Perm and the gul came to an arrangement by which one of them always remained awake whilst the other slept, Peon throughout the voyage keeping his revolver loaded ready to hand in the event of any cruel act on the part of Caffrey. After they landed near the Bellinger River, Caffrey, Perm, and the girl camped 1 together for a fortnight, the same quarrels about the girl which had taken place uninterruptedly on board being continued on shore, Caffrey arguing that it was necessary for their safety that she- should be put out of the way. At last on the fourteenth day Caffrey asked Perm to go for 4 walk with him, as he had something particular to talk to him about. Perm made up his . mind that Caffrey 'a only object was to get him away from Grace Graham into the bush and there shoot him, and on that account refused to stir from where he was. High words followed, which culminated in Caffrey parting company from them. It was the intention of Perm and the girl to get married as soon as they could possibly manage it. Caffrey in Sydney. John Caffrey, the Barrier Island murderer, arrived in Sydney on 10th inst., by the Clarence and Richmond Steam Navigation Co. 'B steamer, Coraki. Although the fact of his being on board had been kept as seoret as it was possible under the circumstanoes, a very large crowd assembled both on the wharf and outeide the gates, in the hope of catching a glimps eof him. Shortly after 12 o'clock the Coraki came alongside, and was at once boarded by some water police constables Caffrey was shortly alter landed and placed in a spring cart, in which he was driven to the Water Police Court. During the voyage down the coast he was kept handcuffed and leg-ironed, and was closely guarded by two troopers. He has conducted himself very quietly since his arrest and eeema perfectly selt-possessed, readily answering any questions put to him. At the Water Police Court, at 11,45 a.m., the prisoner was charged before Mr Addison, H.M., and Captain Fisher, D S.M., with wilfully murdering Robert Taylor on June 16fch. Mounted Constable John Reynolds produced the depositions taken in the court at Kempsey. Sub-InapeGtorDonohoe applied for a remand for eight days. The prisoner raised no objection, and the remand was granted. The following is a copy of the evidence of the arresting constable, given before the Police Magistrate at Boat Harbour, on the : 4th instant : — Edwin May deposed : lam a first-class mounted constable of the New South Wales Police Force, in charge of Boat Harbour. About 12 noon on the 2nd instant, from in-, formation I received, I proceeded along the road to the south arm of the Bellinger River, near tbe Heads. When crossing the punt at S'uth Arm, I saw the prisoner coming down the road, from the direction of Namouccra. He was carrying a large swag. When I got over in the punt I went up to him and had a conversation with him. I said, " Are you looking for work?" He replied, "Yt>s." I said, ••Where were you working last?" He answered, "With Mooro at Deep Creek." I said, " How long have you been working there ?" He answered, •' Ten days " He then went on to the punt, and I followed him and came back to this side of the riven I then said, 'I want to have a yarn with you. What money did Moore pay you while you were there?" Prisoner replied, " A cheque. ' I said, " Show it to me." He showed me a cheque signed for £2 (one of Mr Matthews'e) on a Fernmount Bank, I atid, " la that all the money you have got ?" He said, •• No I have a few shillings besides." I asked him how he came to Mr Moore's. He replied, "Along the beach." I eaid, "Where were you working before you came to Moore's ?" Ho replied, " Nowhere since I left Sydney." I then said, " Which way did you come from Sydney?" and he answered, "Along the beach ; I crossed the river in boats " I Baid, " What was the first place you came to after leaving Sydney?" He replied, •' Port Stephens." I then said, " The next place?" and he replied, "Camden Haven." I asked him his namo and he said it was "Joe Adams." He also said he had no arms on nim. I told him 1 was a constable looking for a man answering to hio descriping the ueeleasneee of a denial, he admitted the purchase, and one of the detectives raising the mattress of the bed the stolen jewellery was revealed. Twenty-two gold chains and eight silver bracelets belonging to Mr Blashki were discovered in the bed. Orcond was found wearing a watch and chain, which one of the officers recognised as part of tbe proceeds of a robbery committed at tbe Otago Hotel, Flinders-atreet, on the sth instant, when a seaman named John Anderson was robbed of a watch and a ring. Whilst three of the detectives were searching Omond's bedroom upstairs, another was examining the premises down-stairs. From a box underneath the bar counter Carter produced one gold and five silver watches, together with other jewellery, all of which waa a portion of the stolen property.