Samoan Woman’S Tragic

Death

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, March 9.

AN alleged murder case with some unusual fea tures was tried at the High Court of Apia recently before His Honour Judge Luxford.

An old Samoan woman named Tailesa had been teased by a small native boy of Lepa village, Aleipata district, on Upolu Island. The woman, with a large stone in her hand chased the youth, who took refuge in a Samoan “fale” occupied by Amio and her family. In endeavouring to protect the boy, Amio struck at Tailesa with a fishing spear, which entered her shoulder, and the barbed point of which remained in the wound.

Amio’s husband arrived on the scene and pulled the barb from the wound, which he cleansed and bandaged. Tailesa was asked to stay with Amio and her family so they could care for her wound.

She refused, however, and departed. A few days later she was found in the bush in a delirious state, with the wound swollen and septic. Tailesa was removed immediately to Lalomanu hospital, where Dr. Monaghan examined her. Her condi tion, however, was hopeless, and she died the same day.

Amio was arrested and prosecuted on a charge of alleged murder. After a short hearing the jury, comprising three Europeans and one Samoan, found her “not guilty,” and she was discharged.

Mrs. O. Stevenson, accompanied by her two daughters, returned to Fiji by the Aorangi on March 28, after spending a few weeks’ holiday in Sydney.