The prisoner, who gave his name at first as John Warden, and subsequently as John Gallagher, is said to be iv comparatively new ariivul m the pro vince, he having run away from the ship City of Dunedin a few mouths ago. It appears that a little more than a week ago he came to the tent occupied by Craig, the storekeeper above-mentioned, and since then remained about tlie place, doing odd jobs m return for his board. During this period he had frequent opportunities of seeing that (. raig purchased gold, and that he had money about him. On Monday evening he went with Craig to tether a horse belonging to the latter. Craig carried a piece of umid for a tether pin, and prisoner a touii.havk with which to drive it into the ground. While Craig was holding the pm, winch the pri soner «as driving m, he suddenly received a blow on the head which partially stunned him. The prisoner declared that the blow had been caused by a piece of wood flyiug from the post he was driving into the ground, and which Craig was holding. The latter, though not convinced, allowed it to pass, and the prisoner was most attentive m dressing the wound. On the following day (Tuesday) Craig felt his head very painful, and was unable to sleep. The prisoner was anxious to give him some opium, and asked Mrs Craig if she had any, but none could be procured. Craig and his wife and infant child went to bed early that night, but the prisoner sat up by the tire, which was m the same room, a lighted caudle beiug near the bed. Presently pri soner said he had made them some tea, of which all three drank. Almost immediately after doing so Mrs Craig and the child vomited, and Craig fell asleep, though up to that time be had not been abJe to do so. Ue had only been at>leep a few minutes, when he received a blow on the head ; then Mrs Craig received a blow, and Craig another. Both of them saw the prisoner standing over them with a tomahawk m his hand- m fact, after the first blow, Craig saw him strike bis wife, j and then himself again. 