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Cyrus Haley

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Cyrus Haley
Born
John Cyrus Haley

(1832-09-22)22 September 1832
Died4 October 1875(1875-10-04) (aged 43)
Cause of deathshot dead during escape attempt
Conviction(s)three life sentences for

Cyrus Haley (22 September 1832 – 4 October 1875) was a New Zealand arsonist.[1] He was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England on 22 September 1832 and migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1870.[2]

Haley burned down the Music Hall, the ship City of Auckland, a kerosene store, part of the New Zealand Insurance Company building, and the Choral Hall, which had been built to replace the Music Hall. On 22 January 1872 he fired eight shots into businessman Thomas Russell's home at the Pah farm. He was apprehended by police officer Thomas Broham on 28 January 1872 after setting on fire haystacks at the farm.[2][3] He was convicted of attempted murder, threatening to kill and threatening to destroy property, and sentenced to life in prison.[2] He was shot dead in 1875 while attempting to escape from a labour gang.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Arsonist: the story of Cyrus Haley". RNZ. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Green, David. "Cyrus Haley". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  3. ^ "CAPTURE OF AN INCENDIARY IN AUCKLAND". Nelson Evening Mail. Vol. VII, no. 35. 9 February 1872. p. 4. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Cyrus Haley Shot Dead". Auckland Star. Vol. VI, no. 1759. 4 October 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  5. ^ "CYRUS HALEY". Auckland Star. Vol. XLL, no. 299. 17 December 1910. p. 18. Retrieved 25 March 2016.