Sullivan's betrayal - the Maungatapu murders

Sullivan turns on the gang

Without bodies the case was circumstantial. On 22 June 1866 searchers found the dead packhorse and the missing men's swags. Rewards for information were offered in vain, but a breakthrough occurred when the government promised £200 and a free pardon to any accomplice (not the actual murderer) who would turn Queen's evidence. This reward poster was placed where the prisoners could see it.

Sergent-Major Shallcrass separated William Levy from the others, suspecting he was most likely to be an accomplice only. Joseph Sullivan, fearing that Levy was prepared to take this offer, decided to act first. He claimed he was only a lookout for the gang, and informed the police about the killing of James Battle, incriminating the others. On 28 June the bodies of Mathieu, Dudley, Kempthorne and de Pontius were recovered as a result of Sullivan's evidence. The body of James Battle was recovered on 1 July.

Sullivan also told police about the murder of Dobson. His body was found and a man the gang had met on the West Coast, James Wilson, was charged with his murder. Sullivan gave information about the attempts to rob Fox and the Hokitika police camp raids, and clearly identified Burgess as the ringleader.