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Three New Zealanders placed at the bar of
the Police Office; charged with murder.

August 24, 1837.
SHIP NEWS.
.  .  .  . 

      On Thursday the three New Zealanders, two of whom were brought up in the Achilles, and one in the Earl Stanhope, were again placed at the bar of the Police Office, charged with the murder of several seamen on board the U. S. whaler Ploughboy. Captain Richard Lee, of the Achilles whaler, deposed, that on the 1st May he picked up on the ocean the three prisoners in a whale boat, together with some whaling gear and three harpoons marked P.S.B[sic], there was also a water keg, and some potatoes. He was subsequently informed that these New Zealanders had arisen upon the crew of the Ploughboy, killed five, and then made their escape in a boat. This statement having been fully explained to the prisoners through the interpretor, Mr. Charles Fulloon, they were called upon to account, if they thought proper, for the circumstances under which they were found adrift upon the ocean. Their names are Teepati, Tyapoo, and Tideroo. Tyapoo took upon himself the office of spokesman, and stated that they had been on board the Ploughboy two months, and had commenced the third when Ibo circumstances occurred which led to their being found in the boat; Tidoroo was the only man out of the three who went in a boat for the purpose of fishing; they had approached the whale very closely, and the striker was upon the point of putting his iron in when Tideroo caught a crab which caused the loss of the fish, the captain who was in the boat took his oar, and beat him severely with one of the lines; upon going on board he went aloft, when the Captain (Brown) brought a musket out of the cabin and fired at each of them Tyapoo fell into the boat, Teepati fell into the water, and Tideroo escaped over the side; it was about the same time as then, 11 o'clock — when it occurred; Tideroo, who appeared to be impatient during the long-winded statement of his companion, clapped a stopper over all by an emphatic wave of the hand, and observed that they were the only New Zealanders on board, and about twenty white men. That some time ago he was on board the Clarkstone, when he was informed by a young man that the same Captain Brown had shot a while man who was looking out aloft. One day previous to this, Tideroo was pulling at a rope, Captain Brown ordered him to belay it, but not understanding English he continued pulling, upon which the Captain drew a knife upon and cut him on the small of the back. Tideroo uncovered, and exhibited a ghastly scar. On another occasion the Captain stabbed him at the back of the head, he here exhibited another cicatrice. Tideroo said nothing. This closed the examination for the day, and they were ordered to be remanded till Monday next, but it was not necessary that they should any longer be kept apart. The men are each of them wounded, especially Tyapoo, who is crippled for life, a musket ball having passed through his thigh. Mr. Williams, the American Consul, attended to watch the interests of his countrymen.


Sydney Gazette, August 26, 1837). Page 2.     


Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Jun 11, 2023