On the 6th of February 1868, Constable Griffis and Aboriginal Police Assistant Peter were sent from Roebourne to arrest several men for the stealing flour from a pearler anchored at Nickol Bay, this included a local man named Coolyerberri.

After Coolyerberri was arrested, the group camped for the night near the shore at Nickol Bay.  

In the early hours of the 7th of February 1868, locals attended the camp and released Coolyerberri, then murdered Constable Griffis, Police Assistant Peter, plus two pearlers Mr George Breem and Mr Henry Jermyne who were camping nearby.  

Footprints found at the scene indicated that as many as 100 people were involved, the subsequent retaliation by the local Settlers became known as the Flying Foam Massacre.   

In May 1868, eight men were arrested, with Mulligough, Cooracoora, and Eurunbiddy were convicted of the murder of Constable Griffis, Police Assistant Peter and Mr Breem, the body of Mr Jermyne’s was never found.

The three men were sentenced to death, but later commuted to 12 years imprisonment on Rottnest Island.