Attack On White

Woman

N.G. Native Gets Ten Years’

Imprisonment

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Nov. 1.

THE wife of a well-known Administration official was suddenly attacked by a native, about seven o’clock one even ing recently, whilst walking along one of the main thoroughfares of the town.

Clutching the unfortunate woman about the neck, the native endeavoured to throw her upon the ground. Fortunately, she was able to scream out for assistance, which alarmed the native, who made off.

The attack took place in the vicinity of a bungalow occupied by police warrant officers who, hearing the screams, were immediately on the spot and a search was instituted for the native. Later that night, a Bougainville native named Lapin, was arrested, and charged with the crime. He stoutly denied any knowledge of the affair. Further investigations, however, brought out such evidence that the native eventually admitted the attack and confessed that he had criminal in tentions.

On October 4, the case came before the Supreme Court, on committal from the District Court, and His Honor, Judge Phillips, found the native guilty and sen tenced him to ten years’ imprisonment, with hard labour.

Judge’S Warning

In his summing-up His Honour made reference to the fortunate rarity of such cases in Rabaul. He also remarked on the fact that sometimes it is forgotten that natives are not automatons, and des pite their submission to white dominance, they still retain human impulses and ap petites. His Honor said that in some na tive tribes the standard of morality was high—stricter than our own in some cases; and that natives understand that interference with women is prohibited.

The duty of the court, His Honour added, was to see that any such attempt was punished so rigorously that there would be no repetition.

Continuing, Judge Phillips said: “I should like to add that, in my opinion, it is very desirable that White people living or coming to this Territory should realise the position to which I have adverted, and remember that in a native country, non-natives have to be more circumspect in many ways than is necessary in a White country, if they wish to avoid put ting temptation in a native’s way. Modes of behaviour, dress, etc., that involved no untoward consequences in a White coun try may have very different reactions if adopted in a native country.

“But I wish to emphasise that, in this case, there was nothing whatever in the conduct of the lady who was attacked by the accused (fortunately without suc cess) that could in any way have con duced to that attack. The attack was absolutely unprovoked and gratuitous.”

One important fact, that did come out in trial, was that the offender had on one or two occasions, made trips to Sydney, where he had been allowed to roam about at will. This is a strong argument against allowing natives to visit Sydney.