The trial - Maungatapu murders
The executions - Maungatapu murders
The executions, 5 October 1866
Aftermath - the Maungatapu murders
What becomes of Sullivan?
When Joseph Sullivan returned to Hokitika to give evidence about the robbery of the Hokitika police camp and the murder of George Dobson, a mob called for him to be lynched. Chamberlain was sentenced to four years for perjury in the case of the stolen revolvers; one of the accused police 'insiders' was acquitted. James Wilson was acquitted for the murder of George Dobson; the jury indicated that Sullivan was the most likely killer.
Legacy of the murders
'Even before the famous Maungatapu murders in 1866, swaggers were looked upon with distrust on the West Coast, and after that date hardly any one travelled in those parts without carrying a small revolver in his breast-pocket.'
Trial report - Maungatapu murders
Trial summing up, 17-18 September 1866
Use the scroll bar at the top of the article to increase the font size. Move around the article by click and dragging your mouse.
Report of executions - Maungatapu murders
Execution of Burgess, Kelly and Levy
Use the scroll bar at the top of the article to increase the font size. Move around the article by click and dragging your mouse.
Report of the executions on 5 October 1866. The report leaves out the gruesome detail that the hangman had to jump to the ground and swing on Kelly's legs until his 'struggles ceased'.
Court of inquiry - <em>Wahine</em> disaster
Chief Inspector George Twentyman, who was in charge of the police response to the Wahine tragedy, realised that a court of inquiry was bound to follow. He ensured that a comprehensive and accurate paper trail existed. Every decision and communication was documented, and these records, together with the personal reports of the officers commanding sections, formed the basis for a very full debriefing report on the police organisation during the disaster. This was a first as far as police procedure was concerned and is now standard practice.
Finding the cause - Erebus disaster
Reports of the Minnie Dean case
These newspaper reports cover the arrest and sensational murder trial of Minnie Dean in 1895. By the time of the second report, on 21 June, all of the charges against Minnie's husband, Charles Dean, had been dismissed.
Minnie Dean was executed on 12 August 1895.
Creative Commons License Type:
-None-
Execution of Minnie Dean
Newspaper report of the execution of Minnie Dean on 12 August 1895
Evening Post, 12 August 1895; made available through the Paperspast website
Other Ministry Websites
