Callous Crime

By a New Guinea Cook-Boy

Plantation Manager

Murdered

From Our Rabaul Correspondent A SENSATION was caused in Rabaul by the report of the murder of Mr.

D. G. Edmonds by his native cook-boy.

Mr. Edmonds was manager of the Melanesia Co.’s Kolai Plantation, on the south coast of New Britain.

The murder was particularly brutal and callous and was undoubtedly premeditated.

It is reported that Mr. Edmonds’s cook-boy, who bore a grudge against his master for some unknown reason, told the plantation boss-boy that he intended to kill his master. Whilst Mr. Edmonds was sleeping he carried out his threat by attacking Mr. Edmonds with a 141b. sledge hammer. The boy battered Mr. Edmonds about the head and killed him. He then washed the body, clothed it in a clean suit, even to collar, tie and cuff-links, and then buried it. He washed away the blood stains and put clean linen on the bed.

When he reported his action to the natives employed on the plantation, they became scared and ran away.

The murderer then walked to the next plantation and gave himself up to Mr.

Pinching, the manager.

The reason for the murder is not yet known. The boy has been brought in to Kokopo, the chief office for New

Britain, and will be brought to trial at Rabaul.

Further reports of violence by natives towards their European employers have been received from Kavieng. Mr. Jack Melville, of Selapui Plantation, was injured, but, we understand, is recovering. (An article in the September issue of The Pacific Islands Monthly referred to the growing problem of imposing adequate discipline upon native employees in New Guinea, and the need for a review of the Administration’s method of imposing punishment for minor offences.) ———