THE NEW SOUTH WALES MURDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 187, 25 July 1900, Page 3

THE NEW SOUTH WALES MURDERS.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST ON THE MAWBEYS. MRS. MAWBEY NOT YET DEAD. [PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Received 24, 9 a.m. Sydney, July 24. At the inquest on the Mawbeys, Jimmy Governor's wife gave evidence to the effect that she quarrelled with her husband the night of the murder, Jimmy and Jacky Underwood bid Joe Governor and Jacky Porter good-bye, seating their intention of leaving enmp. Thoy came back about sn hour later, and Jacky said he had killed three of the Mawbeys and Jimmy the other three. Hearing Mr. Mawbey coming they all left camp. The reported death of Mrs. Mawbey is premature, but she is in a very low state. (Received 24, 9.50 p.m.) Sidney, July 24, At the inquest on the Mawbeys, Jimmy Governor's wife said she wanted to see Joe and Jacky Porter cleared, because they had had no hand in the murders. She said Jimmy had a grudge against Mrs. Mawbey for making him pay a few shillings for rations. Jimmy said if Jack Underwood had not been so slow they would have killed Mawbey and the two sol's sleeping with him. He got a rifle and ammunition, and declared that he, Joe Governor, and Jack Underwood were going to their native haunts to kill some of the tribe against whom they had a grievance. They would steal rifles and ammunition, and take to the mountains and shoot anyone who came to take them.

THE FIENDS' MURDEROUS MARCH, A WOMAN AND CHILD KILLED. (Received 24, 7 p m.) Sidney, July 24. News was received this afternoon that the black fellows concerned in the Mawbey massacre killed a woman named O'Brien and her child ten miles from Merriwa to-day. HARROWING DETAILS. , Received 25, 1.20 a.m. ' Sydney, July 24. Mrs. O'Brien, her boy (18 months of age), and Mrs. Bennett (a nurse staying with Mrs. O'Brien, who was near her confinement) were sitting in the kitchen at eleven in the forenoon, when two blacks, armed with rifks, rushed in and fired several shots. Mrs. Bennett was wounded in the shoulder, breast, and thigh, but escaped through a window and ran to Mr. O'Brien, who was a short distance away, and told him to go for help. The nearest neighbour was seven miles away. When Mr. I O'Brien returned there was no trace of | the blacks, but be found Mrs. O'Brien [dead in the kitchen, shot through the i breast and tomahawked in the head, and the child dead, tomahawked in the head. Mrs. Bennett's condition is serious,

THE MACKAY MURDERS. (Received 24, 11.30 p.m.) Sydney, July 24. The Mackays were, stuck up early yesterday afternoon. Both the old people were terribly mutilated with a tomahawk. An adopted daughter escaped, and gave information. Another girl, aged 10, was unharmed on promising to find the murderers two horses.

The blacks stole Mackay's horses; and accoutrements and ,£8 in money. They subsequently stuck up an Indian hawker in the Gulgong road and demanded his boots and ammunition. Both were armed with rifles and tomahawks, and boasted that they had killed the Mawbeys and Mack-iys, and were then off to kill Henry Nevill, of Wollar, a few miles distent, near their native haunts, which is described as the roughest country in Australia. If they reach it their capture will be extremely difficult. The police left Gulgong to try and intercept' them. Hundreds of settlers are assisting in the chase,

:, Prior to visiting the Mackays, the natives stuck up two settler/ houses and demanded food, and threatened to kill the inmates if they informed the police of their whereabouts. They declared that they intended to kill others, and never to be taken alive. (Received 25, 1.31 a.m.) Sydney, July 24. At the inquest on the Mackays, the evidence of the wife and daughter clearly established the identity of the slayers. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against Jimmy and Joe Governor. Gulgong reported late to-night that Jacky Underwood had been captured and lodged in gaol.

THE MURDERERS' INTENTIONS. Sydney, July 24. A rumour is current that the blacks, at the instigation of Jimmy Governor, resolved to attempt to kill all the settlers in the district, because they alleged they had stolen the blacks' ■ country.