The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-25 00:00:00

MURDER OF CAPTAIN REARMS.

The following particulars, given by a rebel named
Jack, show the circumstances under which the late
unfortunate Captain Hearne, 12th Regiment, lust his
lite. Ho was shot, it appears, by liens Brander,
at the time this ruffian had entered the colony in
rob and murder. The articles taken from the second
dead body mentioned were the property of the de-
ceased officer. The first dead body alluded to was
that of Mr. Riley.
Frederik Jack said he was living at Theopolis when Hans
Brander and Jan Andries came and took the people there
with them to the Amatola. He did not wish to go over the
Kei, and so he joined Hans Brander, who was going to reside
in the Addo Bush with about 40 followers, having only 17
guns between them. They arrived at Drivers Bush one
evening at sunset more than a month ago, and slept in a
kloof near the road, half a mile only from the military
post. On that evening Brander sent Jan Specimen, Snit
Jager and two mere to report if any waggons acre out-
spanned, and they reported in the affirmative. At day
light next morning they proceeded up the kloof towards
the road, where they heard the rambling of the waggons
proceeding towards Trumpeters. Brander then sent two
men to see if there was an escort with the waggons, and the
answer again in the affirmative. When the wagg,,ns had
passed the bush they sat down at the river, whilst Brander
and another went to the road. Soon afterwards Brander
seat for them, saying there was a man riding along the road
after the waggons on • sort of yellow horse. Before they
got to Brander they heard a shot, and then another, and
when they got to Brander they found that he had shot a
whit. man, whose body was lying in the road, and whose
hone Brander had. The deceaseiiwore a long hip jacket, a
pair of tanned trowsers, and a black wide-awake hat.
The body was stripped of the clothing. They then went
along the road about 20 paces when they perceived two men
coming along on horseback, upon which they turned into
the bush, but Brander told them to remain quiet. The
riders were coming along the old road and saw them run
into the bush, and turned off the road to the spot where
tiny wire. Being startled by the appearance of the two
riders they had separated, end Jack then heard two
shots fired in quick succession by Brander's party, and
soon afterwards three more shots were fired, and Brander
called the men out of the bush and told them he had
shot one man, but the other had ridden in the direction
of the post, sad a party went along the road to over-
take him. Jack went with this party, and when they came
to the rise they saw the two horses galloping towards
the post, which for the first time they discovered was
there. Hans Brander and others joined them, when they
saw a soldier come from the post wearing only his trowsers,
shirt, and cap, and carrying • saddle cover. This soldier
came up to them and asked what had occasionedthe firing?
These words were addressed to Flink Oerson, a Cape
Corps deserter. Jut at that time four or five mounted
people were coming along the road, Jack ran into the bush,
leaving Oenon talking to the soldier. Jack then beard
shot fired, and the men who rode up fired into the bush.
The party that had gone to the spot where Brander said
the dead body was, found it, And brought back • single-
barrelled rifle, a rifle pistol with a sort of round wheel
with imps (revolver), a very small powder flask, a dagger
with a carved handle, • pair of tanned trousers seated
with leather, • black wide-awake hat, and • cap marked
with a number. Jack did not see any of the bodies of the
two persons who had been murdered last, but only the
body of the man who rode the yellow horse. The articles
were divided amongst the people. The party left Driver's
Bash that day, and reached Blnekrante that night, and
early next moeaing they gait° taher's place, near Robey's,
on Hanley's flat. Brander here with three others left his
party to reconnoitre if cattle were in the neighbourhood.
About the middle of the day he came back, and said he
bad waited until the cattle had been turned out of the
kraal, and had driven off four head. An English bey was
herding the cattle whom he had tried to catch, but the boy
saw him, and called out, and three men who were acsi-
dently riding came to his assistance, and he had been
obliged to leave the four cattle behind. They then went
to the Kareiga near Webber's place, sleeping that night in
the bush. Whilst there they saw a white man with a gun
and two dogs walking towards this place. At this time
Brander was picking up wood to make • fire, and they sent
to him not to make a noise in consequence. Brander sent
them word to shoot the man, but as they had been living
upon berries and honey for five days, and should not pro-
cure any cattle the next day if they shot him, they
spared his life. Brander was very angry at this
forbearance, and threatened to shoot Jack. The
next morning Jack and three more men were
told to watch when the cattle were turned out
of the kraal, which they did, and pointed out the
direction where they had gone. Brander said the rattle
were too far off to take, as it was • large fiat, and men were
posted on an elevation to report the nearer approach of tha
cattle. Brander afterwards took the cattleand went towards
the Howie, where he had 7 head killed. He had alas taken
the Kaffir herd prisoner. Jack, it appears, had gone to
drink when the cattle were taken, and Brander threatened
to shoot him if he again absented himself when ordered to
take cattle. They cooked some of the flesh and carried
away the remainder. Brander liberated the herd, giving
him some meat. They went that night to the Kowie busk