Commuted!

Death Sentence on Bailala Murderers Amazing Application of Socialistic Ideal

From Our Own Correspondent.

Port Moresby, June 9.

HIS Excellency, the Lieut.-Governor, advises that at the request of the Commonwealth Government the sentences of death passed on nat ives Urebu and Koaba, for the murder of three Kuni natives, last December, will be commuted.

Death sentence was passed by Mr.

Justice Murray and ordered to be car ried out by the Executive Council of Papua, on April 21. The order of the Council was submitted to the Prime Minister of Australia in accordance with practice in such cases.

It will be difficult for the primitive Kuni people to understand the decision.

With them it is “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” It will be unfortunate if, in their lack of com prehension, they resort to their age old customs of “pay back,” and some un fortunate and innocent victims will

down from the hills, as was their cus tom, to trade, bringing with them their native wares and money. They received a poor welcome on their way down through the villages, and, on leaving Bailala, they were attacked and killed and their bodies buried in a scrub hen's

take the punishment which undoubt edly these natives seem to have de served.

The natives convicted of the Bailala murder were of the more educated type and have been in touch with Euro peans for many years. One was a domestic servant of long standing and another an ex-lance corporal of Police, The murdered Kuni men had come

nest, where they were discovered by the police. The disappearance of the men caused alarm amongst the Kuni people and their friends made four at tempts to find them. Fearing treachery they reported the matter to the Gov ernment. The motive of the crime was robbery.

Reference is made in our leading article to this remarkable Govern ment decision.

Papuan labourers employed on plantations. It was to this type of semi-educated natives that the two Bailala murderers belonged. The Federal Government’s commutation of the death sentence on the murderers is the subject of an article on page 8 of this issue.