Samoan "Bad Men"

Four Gaol-Breakers Recaptured

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Apr. 27.

ON April 17, four Samoan convicts, who had broken out of Vaimea prison on the 10th. were recaptured at Siumu, on the south coast of Upolu, by Constable Tusa, aided by local natives.

The escape of the four criminals, one of whom is the notorious Simaile (“Pub lic Enemy No. 1 of Samoa”) caused a scare, especially among women and chil dren.

Reports came in from all parts of the island that the missing men had been seen. Nothing definite, however, was heard until the 17th, when a messenger arrived at Apia from Siumu reporting that the chiefs of Siumu, with 45 na tives. were bringing in the four wanted men. Constable Tusa had traced them to Siumu and had called on the local chiefs to assist in the capture. It appears the Catholic priest of Siumu. Rev. Father Gaucher, had talked to the prisoners, strongly advising them to surrender.

On the way over the hills to Apia on April 18 the prisoners refused to proceed further than Vailima, near the Adminis trator’s residence; so the whole party rested in a native fale. A detachment of police under Inspector A. L. Braisby and Sub-Inspector Faumuina arrived late at night and surrounded the Samoan house.

After putting up some resistance, th,e criminals were overpowered and hand cuffed. They were then transported to Apia, where they were lodged at Vaimea prison without further incident.

An inquiry into the circumstances sur rounding the escape will be held shortly.

It is believed that th,e prisoners got their chance to make a getaway when the na tive warder at Vaimea prison omitted to lock the inner door. Reaching the yard, the natives tied their lava-lavas (loin cloths) together into a rope and by this means scaled th,e 12 ft. wall.

Mr. B. Purcell, a director of the New Guinea Lumber Co., made a quick busi ness visit to Rabaul, New Guinea, by the W.R.C. Airlines plane at the end of April.