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[OFFICIAL STAMP] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE 783 3 attch 79 Commissioner of Police QUEENSLAND Replied P M Thursday Island re Murder of Price at [OFFICIAL STAMP] Musgrave Island COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 769 Previous 25.2.79 4467 QUEENSLAND 18 Dec 78 34 - 79 Thursday Island 12th February 1879
[Left margin] [Signature] 23/2/79 Sir, In accordance with your request I have the honor to furnish the following particulars re the murder of Mr I.F.Price at Musgrave Island. Mr. Price was sent by Capt. Cadell to form a fishing Station on Musgrave island, and took with him a boat's crew of aboriginal natives of Port Essington. These men were engaged by Capt. Cadell for one year and had only about three months more to serve. The motive of the murder appears to have been the desire to seize the boat and return to their own Country. From my knowledge of Lt. Price I am convinced he did not give them any provocation. The body was temporarily buried on Musgrave island, but will be bought here in the course of next mpnth for interment. A monument has been forwarded by his family for erection over the grave. The Commissioner of Police Brisbane.
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Crime if any - 2 whether the body was recovered and was buried. 3 What steps have been taken to apprehend the murderers and with what result. 4 What steps have been taken towards administering to the results of any accelerated If you decide Yours faithully Your thrice Capl [Medical] Staff corp To The Colonial Secy [State][Struck out] Queensland Australia.
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The murderers seized the boat and have in all probability returned to Port Essington. I am not aware whether any steps have been taken to apprehend them, but it was useless to pursue them at the time as they had several days start before news of the murder reached Thursday island.
The estate is in course of collection by the Curator, but I am unable to state what steps have been taken to administer it.
I have the honor to be Sir your most obedt. servt. Henry Jn. Chester P.M.