THE CONFESSIONS OF CAFFREY AND PENN. Copies of the Documents Considered by the Executive.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 130, 26 February 1887, Page 4

THE CONFESSIONS OF CAFFREY AND PENN. Copies of the Documents Considered by the Executive.

Wellington, Feb. 21 The Minister of Justice has placed at my disposal the full confessions of Caffrey and Perm, who were executed this morning for the Great Barrier murder. I send you the complete text. It is as follows :—: — H.M S. Prison, Mount Eden, Auckland, 24th Jan., 1887, 7.15 a m. John Caffrey, a convict, undar sentence of death, asked for an interview with the gaoler. He wa9 brought into the gaoler's presence, and made the following request :—" 1 would first request Perm to make a public statement with me to acknowledge this deed that has been done I think it would only be fair towards* the public who have taken an interest in the case that wo should make a true statement of what did occur, from the time wo left the vessel until we got back to her. I am aware, sir, that we have had a very fair trial, both by the jury and the judge, and I cannot cay too much in praiseof my solicitors forthe manner in which they have worked in my favour to prove the guilt of the party who committed this crime. After that I shall b« quite satisfied to meet my fate like a man."

PENN'S FIRST STATEMENT. 9.30 a.m. Convicfc Henry Albert Perm was called into the Gaoler's office, and the above read to him. He said, " Vee, lam quite willing to make a true statement ot what did occur." Convict CafFrey was sent for, and in hie preeonce Perm made the following statement : — u When we left the cutter we went ashore for the purpose of getting Mrs Seymour by fair means or foul. I went to the house, and asked Mr Taylor for some butter for the purpose of getting them all inside the house— that is' if atiy should be outside — so as t > enable John Caffrey to obtain admittance, which I succeedoct in doing. I was invited inside by the Tayler family, and sat down just inside the door. I had been there four or five minutes when Johnny rushed in, and, as stattd in the Court, he challenged Mr Taylor, and he not responding, Caffrey fired one shot, He attempted to fire several times afterwards, but the revolver missed fire During that lime Lincoln Taylor tried to wrest t he other revolver out of CafFrey 's hand. I stepped up behind John Caffiey to preveut the Taylors crowding on him, and kept them atbay, Mr Tayloraurceedingin getting away into the bedroom He opened the door, and both Caffrey and myself fired a Bhot at him. He either shoved the door to or fell againet it. Johnny tried to force the door open, but could not manage it. He called for my assistance to force the doov open. I was juec in the act of shoving the door and it opened by his force. Ho ruphed into No. 1 bedroom. Just ac he was inside the door Taylor caupht hold of him. He tried to force him off, but did not succeed, and they boch together staggered into No. 2 bedroom. I noticed that Mr Taylor was smothered with blood Caffrey still tried to throw him off, bat did not puo ceed. I said to him, " CnfFrey, why don't you put him out of the road at onoe ?" He said, "I can't; my revolver won't go round." I heard the revolver k^ep clicking, that is it would not work. I presented my revolver at Mr Taylor and fireil. Mr Taylor released hie grafcp of Cnffrey and fell. When I was going out of the door, Caffrey told me to go and stop the old woman, and not let her run about. I did so, and while I was with her CafFrey came out ot the house and went round to the right of the houee, toward the foot ot tho hill, while I was there with Mrs Taylor. CafFrey went into tho houee again to search if any of the girls were under the bede. After leaving the house he came across to where Mrs Taylor and I were standing, and asked if she knew where the girla were, and I told him she did not know. Mrs Taylor asked him what I was going to take her lito for, and he replied, 'He is not going to touch you.' Mrs Taylor then said, • Johany, what have you done V He said, •I have done it tnia time. 1 ' She said, •Yo> have killed an innocent old man,' and Johnny said, 'No, a bad old b .' We then left Mrs Taylor, and went to the cutter, getting unde* way with the intention of eailing for America. During the time we were in No. 2 bedroom Tohnny was very excited, and it was through that that I fired the last shot at his command." The foregoing statement was made to the undersigned in the presence of Mr M. Flannery, Chief Warden. (Signed) G. S. Reston, Gaoler. January 24, 1887.

CAFFSLEY'S FIRST STATEMENT. John Caffrey then desired «o give hia ptateraent, and eaid : "As I hope to see Heaven I am going to give my statement true. I shall not cay anything but the truth. If I do it will be unintentionally. Well, in starting, I had two revolvers ; Perm had one. I also took some cord, and said if Taylor phould resist that we should make him fact, and so as he should not tell who don© it ; that if he made any noiee I would cut a bit off hia tongue, or the tip off his tongue." fA note in the margin reads as follows: — " Perm denied that Ciffrey made this statement at the time of going on shore, but several days afterwards at sea ; and he also said he would have ear- marked him." Caf frey would not be certain, and said it might have been afterwards, and he might have mentioned ear-marking him.] I had no intention of taking the knife for that purpose, but said, 'I will take the knife with me, because I might have more than him to tie up ; Seymour might be there also.' As we were leaving the cabin, I said to Graham, in the presence of Perm, 'Don't look scared, Grace, because though we aro taking those re-

volvers/.it' is merely ,to :giv,e' them a, scare; they might also have such things as I believe they will have (meaning firearms). It will also prevent them using any if they have them,' Then Perm and I left the vessel. It was arranged that he was to ask for butter ; to say that he belonged to the Teviot, and it was for the Tairua It was not daylight at the .time we went ashore. It was arranged that Perm should place himself in sight of the door, so thafc he could see who came out or who went in. I was to go round to the back of the house, and place myself so ■ that 1 could see Perm coming towards the house. When he was sure all the family were out of bed, he was to can y out the plan of asking for butter. I baid I knew when a boatman goes to the nouse that their attention is taken up in talking to him, and then I should rush down off the hill and take them by surprise, and I Mas not afraid they would be fit or willing to resist me, because I should present the revolvers, and that would make it an easy affair for us to tie them up — meaning. Taylor and Seymour, if the latter were them. If they did not resist there would be no ocj casion for making them fast. Where I placed myself was about 80 or 100 yards from the house. In running that distance as quick as I could, I fell headlong down the hill some Bor 10 feet. I then got up and climbed over the fence as quick as possible, and rushed into the house. I challenged Taylor to put up his hands (before that as I entered the house, I noticed Taylor with a piece of iron in his hand). I did not know what it was. I repeated the challenge several times. He said " Johnny," and ruched at me In doing so be caught my left wrist. The boy at the same time rushed over and caught hold of the revolver in my left hand. His mother and sifter Janie also rushed on me to the father's assistance. While thia struggle was going on I noticed Perm standing between the door and the fireplace. I twice struck Taylor with my right hand which clenched the revolver and ordered him to get out of my way. In the meantime the boy had wrenched the revolver out of my left hand, My attention being taken up with Taylor,! did not notice what became of the boy. Through hitting Taylor I succeeded in forcing him brick from me, and as I did so I laid my revolver across his face and fired between him and his wife as they stood. It had the effect of sen ring Taylor. He stood and looked at me and hesitated. As I fired this shot I heard a rush and screaming through the rooms. I never intended the sho'. should hit Taylor or anyone eke I never saw the boy going through the door, or pointed my revolver at hi:n. I next saw Punn put his revolver to Taylors head and fire in the kitchen. Taylor staggered and rushed for the bedroom. I knew he was wounded. I was intent upon getting Mrs Seymour. I looked round the k'tehen and ruohed for the bedroom also. I noticed Mrs Seymour running about with her hands together, and her/head down. I tried to force ihe bedroom door open, but found I could not. Perm was close to me. I paid, " il.irry, give me a hand to force this door ; quick, because they are in here " I was first into the room. 1 cannot say if Perm did help me or not to force Ihe door. As I entered the room, Taylor had been leaning; against the door. 1 saw him bleeding. The blood was rushing down his face. He clutched hold of me as soon as I entered the room. I looked through the room while he had hold of me, and then tried to throw him clear of me. I made for bedroom No. 2, and did not succeed in throwing Taylor clear out of me unril I wasin that door, when I chucked him clear of me. I looked aronnd the room as quick as I could, but paw no one, only heard a young&ter crying. I was in the act of going" into bedroom No. 1 whin I saw Taylor and Perm wrestling with each other in No 2 bedroom near the door. I saw Perm with hi- »evolver to Taylors hoad, and he fired. Tj3lor fell, and as he fell I saw the black nv<rk on his head where the bullet struck I then ruehed into No 1 bedroom, «nd F on followed me clo°ely. I said, 'Hun- i^ a fix. Sea what's done, and she has vnt -^ay after all ; let us hurry a? quick a* p )s-tb!e and provent hor getting away altoge'her ' We» both loft through the kitchen cU>...', Perm being ahead. I ran up the gnl'y Ting the kitchen door, and looked arounu, but could not find anyone up there I tht ti returned to the house, looked quick through the kitchen and No 1 bedroom, and looked mm No. 2 bedroom. Through the do.>r I paw Taylor in a sitring position against ihe box He appeared to be dead. I felt pretty certain ho was. I remember looking through the house to see if I could find ."he scno.id revolver, but; did not succeed, i then left by the kitchen door again, and utood lacing the same for two or three minuha. I can remember feeling strongly tempted to shoot myeelf, as 1 was ao much grieved at what had taken place I looked along the beach and saw Mrs Taylor and Pena fucing eacli other. I ran toward* them. As I was doiug so I heard Mrs Ta>lor say ' Are you going to pee an old woman killed/ or 'This man will kill me.' I will not be certain which it waa or the exact words. I said, 'Don't be afraid, Mrs Taylor, no one will harm you.' I have no recollection of having said 'I have done i* Jf * but might have said co. If so, it wag alluding to not getting the womt.n. It could have meant nothing else Ido not recollect having ?aid I wat going outside cq. kill anyone there, because I never th .>ughfe of such a thing She said, 'Johnny, you have killed an innocent old man ' Being vexed as I was at r.ho time, I said, ' Ha waa a bad old horaethintj'—l won't cay what* Perm paid, 'Wa bad better get away aa quick as we can.' I said, 'As things haven't gone as I expected, still we will go/ as we had arranged to clear our. Going towards the dingy, Perm held up hie b&ndsand said * Look at our hand?,' let us wash them. I then first noticed that both of us had blood on our hands. He said, *W« must not let Grace see thie, nor don't say anything to her about what has occurred.' I euid ' All right ' While Taylor and I had wrestled from No. 1 to No. 2 bedroom his blood got upon my hands, and [ that is how I got the blood upon them. The tido had risen, and the dingy was afloat out of our reach. We had to wade for- her. I am not certain whether I or Perm brought her in. I think it was Perm. [P«nn admitted that he brought her in, and that the water was up to hia waist] I hart the cord in my pocket. The pocket was full «p with it, and in running about, a small piece fell out of my pocket, and I picked it up and wound it round my wrist. I don*t kc.ow which wrist. This accounts for Mr* Taylor seeing it on my wrist. I wish to conclude that this is a true and correct account of the murder, as before my Maker, and as I hope to enter heaven." By Perm : I did say " We had better get out of this as Lincoln Taylor might have gone on the hill and taken the dingy to prevent us getting aboard." The foregoing etatemoni waa made to the undersigned in the presence of Mr Mi Homery, chief warder. (Signed) G. 53, Keston, guu«,r. January 24, 18S7.

SECOND STATEMENTS BY THE PRISONERS. At the prison, Auckland, on 25th JanaJ

ary, 1887, at 11 a.m , at. the suggestion of the i*e*' Mr Hill, I visited the convicts, J hn Caffrey and Henry Albert Perm. I called Caffrey iuto Perm's cell, and then in the presence of Mr Hill, gave thiffi the opportunity of correcting what appeared to be discrepancies in their statement*? yesterday. Convict Caffrey Btated : "It is correct we went nshore for the purpose of getting M'n Seymour by fair means or foul. Tie meaning of the term foul was that if i twisted we should tie up Taylor and Seymour if the latter were there. As to 'Vim's statements that both he and I fired u shot at Taylor at the No. 1 bedro-m door it is quite possible I fired the secon i shot, but it 1 did the first one was as I was struggling with Taylor. 1 haveon'v recollections of firing one— that r one bet»' 2 8n Mr and Mrs Taylor.' Conviru P«nn states: "I will not affirm iK A Caffrey did fire at the time I 'fired fi-' at Taylor, but I believe so. I know I h mnded him my-elf with that shot, ' but I ea'itirit say in what pirt of the head. <J. believe he was facing me at the time. He never ep ko after I fired the firat shot. I - saw Men dirompt to but could not. I saw ' him niovi ng 'hia mouth as if to speak. With regard io the statement of Caffrey that there vi<» a struggle between me and Taylor r.eforo I fired the last shot -there was a » Iwht struggle. He attempted to clutch t:u> revolver from my hand." By CtffVey : M -I went voluntarily with you. I volunteered to join you in the abduction of Mra Seymour, and against the world "^ The foregoing corrections were taken in the pre?or.oo of the Rev. Mr Hill, and read over to the convicts by the undersigned. G S. Reston, Gaoler. January 25th, 1887. Caffrty' awi Porm attest the above ac follows : " We v the undersigned convicts, hereby declare that the foregoing etatementebv ns are given voluntarily, without any infUwnco by anyone. We expressed a desire t.< Mr Reston to do co, and we have gi^ en him what we each believe to be a true ft- .tement of what did occur on this mo-r iamon table circumstance as witness our ,'iauds the 26' h of Jjinoary ISS7. John Caffrey Henry Amert Perm. Signed in the presence of Joseph Hill, visiting* • yr^ymao.