The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-09 00:00:00

A Tale of Horror from New Zealand

Ever and anon we are startled by a crime of the deepest
dye. It furnishes the public with a narrative of interest,
a matter of wonder, and a sensation of horror. But, taking
English society as a whole, crimes of murder are compara-
tively rare. Those which do occur attain to so great a
publicity and create such a noise throughout the com-
munity that the event appears magnified, and what would
be consigned in silence in other European countries to the
gallows is with us prominently blazoned abroad. When
wo consider in this cold dampland how keen is the struggle
for the means of existence, how many perish from absolute
want, 'and how numerous therefore are the incentives to
crime, it must be allowed that the English nature shrinks
from murder. The story then which fills the columns of the
New Zealand papers is one of unusual occurrence in the
annals of English crime. In atrocity it transcends the
liveliest imagination of the novelist, and will yet furnish
the groundwork for many tales of horror. It is impossible
to conceive a story more replete with every incident of
diabolical crime than that furnished by the gang whose
history is now before us. The west coast of the middle
island of New Zealand is among the wildest tracts of the
world. From Nelson down to the extremity of Southland
runs an unbroken chain of snowy mountains, which attain
to their greatest height in Mount Cook, whose peak is ele-
vated 14,000 feet above the sea. While towards the east
a broad bare plain runs between this chain and the sea,
towards the west the mountains send precipitous ranges
to the coast, forming valleys which make a most rugged and
broken country covered with forests so tangled and dense
that a pathway can only be hewn through them axe in
hand. While the settlement of Canterbury throve, spread-
ing its countless flocks over the broad prairies of the east,
the wild regions to the west remained a terra incognita,
penetrated only by a few travellers,whose accounts tended
to impress a mysterious awe on the minds of all. When

fairly involved in the deep gorges of the unknown
country the traveller became separated from the
world. Around him was an impenetrable forest—
before him a storm-lashed coast, on which no ship was ever
seen, and behind him towered up the gigantic mountains
white with their coat of eternal snow. No animal broke
the stillness. Torrents rushed down the mountains—
swollen by a' downfall of almost ceaseless rain. If the pro-
visions he carried failed, scarcely a hope remained of escape
from starvation. It required a powerful spell to break by
settlement the solitude of so uninviting a country, but

that spell was furnished by the discovery that gold in
wonderful abundance lay strewn around. But yesterday
the albatross winged along the beach a flight as solitary
as on the frozen continent of the Southern Pole ; to-day
along that beach stands the city of Hokatika, with its
main street three miles in length, containing a hundred
licensed grog-shops, hotels, court-house, and even an Eng-
lish theatre. This marvellous transformation was worked by
the all-powerful attraction of the auriferous soil. The Wes.
Coast became the centre on which the adventurous eyes of
a roving population became fixed. From Australia and the
settlement of New Zealand—from Asia, Europe, and Ame-
rica, came the men whom no difficulties could daunt, and
no hardships deter in their search for the yellow metal.
At first small parties penetrated through the giant ranges.
Many perished from want, many were precipitated down
huge precipices, or buried under avalanches, which
swept whole forests away in their descent to the ravines.
Several were drowned crossing streams, the impetuosity
of whose torrents deceived even the experienced eye of an
old New Zealand settler. But their places were quickly
supplied, and the stream, gathering force with time, rolled
over the mountains and cleared for their successors pathways
through the bush. The dreary coast, in spite of its cease-
less gales, became alive with shipping, where the casual-
ties increased in number the already long list of those on

land. The passengers by sea on the West coast
held their lives in their hands. Scarcely a day passed
without adding one more to the list of shipwrecks, and
the vessel which managed to escape for a few months was
a lucky and a well-managed craft. Still Hokatika grow—
new fields were opened, and the adventurous diggers
spread themselves in small mining parties all over the
land. It was on such a scene that the gang whose story
. .

we now tell appeared. When arrested it consisted of
four members, named Burgess, Kelly, Sullivan, and Levy.
The first three were convicts; the last, a famous putter-up
or planner of crime. All were well known in Australia.
All, except Levy, were under former convictions, and were
ticket-of-leave men. Three of the party first proceeded to

Otago, where they became known to the police, underwent
a sentence of imprisonment, when that province was made
too hot for them, and they wore eventually driven across
the border into Canterbury. So villa i nom was
their character that notice was sent to Christ-

church that the party had entered the province,
and henceforth the surveillance of the police traced
as far as possible, in so wild a country, the move-
ments of the gang. Hokatika was the geld to which such
ruffians naturally drifted, where they were joined by
Sullivan, who had some three months previously lauded in
that port. Almost immediately after their arrival a daring
robbery of a bank agent was perpetrated on the 14th of
September, last year. This was followed by an impudent
robbery of the Police Camp at Hokatika, when a quantity
of accoutrements and firearms were abstracted almost from
under the noses of the police. So daring were these
scoundrels—so reckless did they become, or so secure,
having acted consistently on the principle that dead men
tell no tales, that they were often conspicuous in the dress
circle of the theatre. They were never known to work ;
yet they lived on the fat of the land. Often the party
were absent.for a period, but only to reappear with plenty
of money and to enjoy themselves on the choicest dainties
that Hokatika, could furnish. Burgess was their leader,—
a calculating ruffian, who never drank to excess, or was
betrayed into any other weakness dangerous to himself.
Nature had furnished Kelly with all the requirements
necessary for the perpetration of the most cold-blooded
villainies. Sullivan was cast in a softer mould. He had
been known, when in a maudlin state, to shed tears,
and regret, the life to which he had been driven by the
faithless conduct of his mistress. Levy was a Jew, usually
found as the schemer and calculator of these desperate
gangs ; the brain from which emanates the strategy re-
quired for the success of the most daring projects ; the
calculator by which the booty is secured and turned to a
profitable account ; a sanctimonious and cowardly' ruffian,
the foremost to scheme, the last to act, in the fearful enter-
prises. Robbery succeeded robbery. Parties disappeared
and were never more heard of, and the gang lived and throve
in the neighbourhood, freely mixing with their fellowmen.
Almost immediately after the police had been surprised in
their camp at Hokatika a great bank robbery was per-
petrated at Okaritka. The pol ice became:alarmed, and
notice was given that a gang of bushrangers had landed
. from Australia. In the wilds of these provinces there are
almost constantly employed parties of surveyors and well
known as a leading member of that profession was a young
gentleman named Dobson. He was out surveying not far
from the mouth of the Grey, where the gang were at that
time lurking. Their plan was to intercept Mr. Fox, a gold
buyer, who they knew to be on the road. Unfortunately
for young Dobson he went the way that Mr. Fox ought
to have gone, while Mr. Fox took his passage down the
River Gray. Mr. Dobson was known to the gang, and
although they could have expected nothing from his murder,
they appear to have perpetrated the deed more from afeeling
_of annoyance than from any other motive. He was strangled
and left sitting under a tree, as if he had died from ex-
haustion ; but, on a second thought, it was considered
safer to bury him, which was accordingly done. The
body was only found after Sullivan's confession, and
after weary days of search. The loss of this gentle-
man excited the liveliest sense of emotion throughout the
whole Province of Canterbury, where he was so widely
known and respected. He lay under a few inches of
earth; his coat had been taken-off, and was thrown over
him in the grave, his gold chain hung on his vest, and a
silver watch was in his pocket, stopped at 20 minutes to
four o'clock. In the same grave lay his compass, his field-
book, and tape. The party appeared to have proceeded to
Hokatika ancrembarked for Nelson, where Levy sold a
quantity of the plundered gold to the Bank of New South
Wales. It was then planned to murder all the inmates of
this building, and after plundering the premises to aban-
don the colony. In the mean time there was a little busi-
ness on band. Four men were known to be on the road
to Nelson with their gold. The party decided to intercept
them, and took up their position over the Maungatapu,
where high banks on both sides and dense scrub prevented
the possibility of escape. Two barred the road in front,
while two closed it behind. When the travellers were
secured they were marched into the bush on the upper side
of the road, while Sullivan took on himself the destruc-
tion of the horse which carried the baggage of the party.
When the bodies were found the four were lying about
250 yards from the track, and about 50 yards apart: They
wore in no way decomposed, untouched by vermin, and
only bleached by rain. The first lay calm and placid, the
shot through his head having produced instant death.
The next was dreadfully bruised by heavy stones thrown
by the murderers on his body. The fourth had evidently
offered considerable resistance. He lay at the stump
of an uprooted tree, with his head thrown back,
his eyes staring, his mouth open, as if he had
died struggling and crying out against his .murderers.
The first bullet fired into his body had been turned away
from a vital part by striking against a rib. Then his coat
had been turned back and a knife plunged into his breast
at a point, as if the heart had been felt for. As neither
proved fatal, the legs of the murdered man had been
strapped, and as he lay helpless, but still alive, a pistol bul-
let had been fired into the knife wound, from which the
blood was oozing. It is, indeed, a horrible picture. But
one murder more remained before the cup of these villains
was filled to overflowing. Poor old James Battle came
- upon the ruffians, who were sitting by Tin-tine bridge.

Sullivan joined him, and learned that he had no money.
On telling his companions so, the cowardly and sancti-
monious Levy declared that no living soul should be suf-
fered to pass that day. Sullivan returned, and stopped the
old man till the others came up. One said, " Old man, you
must have gold." Jamie drew a sheath knife, but was
overpowered, dragged into the bush, and despatched by a
pistol shot. The disappearance of the four diggers, the
excitement throughout the colony at the daring robberies
perpetrated, and the suspicion that foul play had ended
the career of Mr. Dobson, induced the police to arrest the
gang when on the very eve of perpetrating anther mur-
der. They were lodged in Nelson gaol, and a more jaunty
set of ruffians, considering the awful nature of their crimes,
could hardly be conceived. But a change came o'er the
spirit of their dream. They were lodged in separate cells,
and• the weaker minded began to tremble for the truth
of their companions. Sullivan, fearing to be anticipated
by Levy in his confession, sent for an officer, and turned
Queen's evidence. For some time ho had planned to
abandon the party. He knew be was suspected, and Burgess
and Kelly had a quick way of dealing with those they
feared would turn approvers. When first examined they
looked with disdainful eye on the proceedings satisfied

that there were but few proofs of their guilt. When next
brought up the catalogue and proofs of their crimes was
almost complete. They felt the horrors of their position,
and the shrinking detestation with which they wore re-
garded by all mankind. Their cells were lined with iron,
their persons loaded with chains, and night and day in
each a sentinel kept watch. The whole country had been
roused to a frenzy of indignation. The bones of more than
thirty victims lay bleaching in the woods, and buried in
the sands of the wild coast they had made the scene of
their atrocities. A bottle of strychnine was discovered as
one of the agents for effecting the more wholesale mas-
sacres, when the party to be dispatched were too strong
for the knife and the pistol. When the mail left the
colony the people had joined in one cry for a Special
Session to sit at once, and relieve the world from• the
burden of these murderers.

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