Papuan Sentenced

To Death

Pt. Moresby Gaol Murder

Prom Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, July 30.

THE trial of two natives, Karo anoj Koaba, for the murder of Ume, war-i der at the Badili Goal, Pt. on June 6 was concluded in the Central Court before his Honour, Mr. Justice: Gorer on July 28. Karo was found guilty: and was sentenced to death. Koabas charged with being an accessory beforr the crime, was acquitted and sent bacM: to gaol to continue serving his life sen-j tence term commenced in 1931.

When Karo is hung on August 8, thiii will represent the fifth occasion oh< which a native has been executed in. the Territory.

The first case occurred on August 22 1893, in Sir William MacGregor’s timee when a Panelli Island native named; Babago, who was a prisoner undergoing] a short term sentence, murdered a mem-i ber of the Armed Constabulary. He hit! him on the head with a tomahawk and wounded a coxswain nearby.

The others, as noted in the Lieut.-.

Governor’s Annual Reports, were:— 1913/14—an ex-member of the Constabu-J lary, concerned in the killing of two' carriers near Pt. Moresby; 1914/15—three: Abau natives, convicted of murdering four members of the Armed Constabu-J lary; and 1915/16 —two Baruni men, in-j volved in a native murder within a few miles of Pt. Moresby.

Koaba Denies Knowledge Of

Crime

Koaba stated at the conclusion of thej evidence that he and Ume were close? relatives and good friends. He said thati he cried hard when he heard of Ume’s' death. Karo, he alleged, was always £8 wild man and talked a great deal about] killing. He denied all knowledge of thej crime and stated that at the time h© was ill with fever and knew nothing about it.

Mr. R. D. Bertie (Lor the accused) said) the onus of proof was on the Crown.r and argued that in this case there were so many conflicting statements and so; many doubts that it was impossible to convict Koaba.

Mr. E. B. Bignold (Crown Law Offi cer) stated that though the case wasj made up of a number of details, some unimportant in themselves, yet all the circumstantial evidence pointed to Koabas being an accessory before the fact.

In giving judgment, his Honour agree©: that statements made by Karo could noh be used in evidence and that several oft the witnesses’ statements had not im-i pressed him.

Mr. Dereck Crisp, chief pilot of Manr dated Airlines, New Guinea, married Miss?

Betty Tyerman, youngest daughter of thir late Mr. lan W. Tyerman and Mrs. Tyen man of Campbelltown, N.S.W., at Stic Stephen’s Church, Sydney, on August 3.

Sir Maynard and Lady Hedstrom, o: Suva, Fiji, arrived at Apia, Western Samoa* in July by the Swedish steamer “Eknaren’r on a short visit.

Mr. J. S. Horrax and Mr. C. R. Nettletom of the staff of the N.Z. Reparation Estates Western Samoa, arrived in New Zealand recently by the “Maui Pomare”.