THE WEST COAST MURDERERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 January 1931, Page 3

THE WEST COAST MURDERERS

Mr D. MacDavitt writes to the pTt not quite correct that “George Dobson was missed, and no trace of him afterwards found,” and that Sullivan afterwards confessed to liis murder. Dobson’s body was found, and bullivan never confessed to his murder. ; I was a fellow-passenger of Sullivan s from Hokitika to Greymouth in December, 1866, under the following circumstances : It is not generally known in connection with the career of this notorious quarter that the party actually numbered five when operating in Hokitika. The fifth member was a runaway sailor named Taylor, but lie appears to have kept well in the background. Dobson was murdered in May. loob, but his body was not discovered for some months after —October, I think. In the meantime, Burgess. Levy, and Kelly had received their reward in Nelson .and Sullivan was a free man. He was questioned by the police regarding Dobson, and admitted the gang s guilt, putting the blame for the actual murder on Taylor, who had returned to Hokitika. The latter was arrested, and tried in Hokitika in December, 1866, and was committed for trial in the following February. Sullivan had come down from Nelson to give evidence for the Crown, and was on his return in the same boat as we were as passengers from Dunedin on our way fo Greymouth, in the steamer Airedale, Captain Kennedy. Sullivan was smuggled off the beach in a small boat (disguised as a woman), accompanied by two detectives. We had a large cabin, and my mother was asked by the purser to change our accommodation, and our cabin was occupied by Sullivan and the other two. lie kept up this disguise till lie reached Nelson. Taylor was duly tried and acquitted. Sullivan was again there as a witness against him. Taylor swore in the box that Sullivan was the actual murderer, as he (Sullivan) had told him so. At the trial, the evidence pointed to this statement being correct.