Did Judge Murray

Know?

Interesting Story of a French Escapee in Papua

By Mollie Lett

THE old penal settlement at New Caledonia, to whence most of France’s confirmed criminals and politi cal prisoners were deported, from 1864 to 1898. has a record common to most settlements of its kind. It was described as a torment—a land torrid and rocky, inhabited by headhunters, where prisoners, irrespective of class or crime, were herded together and forced to labour.

The reports were possibly exaggerated, and certainly the conditions compared favourably with notorious Devil’s Is land (French Guiana); but, even so, many preferred to risk their lives in open boats, in the hope of reaching some un known island in far-off seas, where, how ever savage the inhabitants, they might find a more tolerable existence.

Many were re-captured, and many per ished at sea or in the hands of savage tribes. But, occasionallv. some of the more fortunate survived the hardships of a long voyage and landing near settle ments, avoided recognition, and settled down and established themselves as traders or planters.

IN the early days of occupation, several such men landed on the shores of New Guinea, and in Papua some were well-known to settlers. One in particular was Louis Pothier, a trader at Daru, who arrived from German New Guinea some 40 years ago, and who, on account of his bright and pleasing personality became a popular and successful member of the European community.

Of course,, it was not known generally that Louis Pothier was an escapee from justice, though there were several who had their suspicions. These were con firmed in 1905. when a Frenchman ar rived in the territory, a detective, M.

Rochaix, holding papers for Pothier’s extradition.

But the question arose whether Pothier really was identical with a man named Beal, and this could not be proved; so Pothier remained free, and in Papua. But by only a narrow margin.

Beal, it appears, had escaped from New Caledonia, and had landed in German New Guinea. His description, history and measurements, were almost identical with those of Pothier.

M. Rochaix, hoping to catch Pothier, approached him unexpectedly and, laying his hand on his shoulder, called out in French: “Beal. Beal, I have a letter here from your sister.” (Pothier had a sister in France to whom he wrote).

But Pothier was not so easily caught.

Turning he answered: ‘You are mis taken; my name is Pothier.”

Rochaix had never seen Beal and, therefore, could not be sure of his man.

He applied to the Administrator (Cap tain Barton) for a warrant. But. as allowed by procedure, Pothier appealed to the Court: and. as only one measure ment, the width of the head, was found to apply, the evidence proved insufficient for the Court.

But the detective was not so easily shaken off.

Learning from his papers that Beal had a scar on his left cupital (elbow), Rochaix demanded to examine Pothier.

But, here, Providence came to Pothier’s aid.

Rochaix, though a Frenchman, was not sure of the meaning of “cupital”; and, instead of consulting a dictionary, or someone who knew French, he con sulted the gaoler, a Scottish carpenter, whose knowledge of French and medical terminology was certainly hazier than that of the detective. He told Rochaix that “cupital” meant “wrist”.

So Rochaix again approached his vic tim. “Beal” said he, “you have a scar on your left wrist. Let me see it.”

“Ah, where is it?” cried Pothier, tri umphantly, pulling up his left sleeve.

There was certainly no scar to be seen —though there may have been on his elbow.

So the Court informed Rochaix. and he agreed, that the evidence was insuffi cient to secure Pothier’s extradition Rochaix returned to Sydney and Pothier to Daru.

IT was known that Beal had escaped to German New Guinea, and Louis Pothier made no secret of the fact that he had been there also; but he knew nothing of Beal, and said so many times.

But the Judge to whom Rochaix had applied for his extradition, had a “hunch” that Pothier and Beal were identical. So, for his own satisfaction, he invited Louis Pothier to his house and asked to take his photograph. Pothier became suspicious; but, on being assured that the extradition proceedings were closed, consented, smoked a cigar, had tea, and made himself very agreeable; and shortly afterwards returned to Daru.

The photograph was sent to German New Guinea with an inquiry as to whether anything was known of the original—a man named Pothier.

After a long delay the answer came back. Nothing was known of anyone named Pothier, but the photograph was that of a man called Beal!

POTHIER continued to live at Daru, and his trading prospered; and, when he died, he left considerable pro perty which he bequeathed to his daughter Antoinette, a half-caste. Louis had had her educated at Thursday Is land and in Sydney. He was very attached to the “shild”, as he called her, and great was his disappointment when, on her return, she married into her mother’s tribe, and eventually lived on Kiwai Is land.

Louis Pothier’s family, in France, was known to one Father of the Roman Catholic Mission. They were highly re spected citizens; but Louis had been the “black sheep”.

Pothier was a very patriotic French man and, during the Great War, he never failed to call upon the Governor of the Territory, when the Governor’s vessel arrived at Daru, to drink to the success of the Allied armies. He held the Governor in high regard—for Sir Hubert Murray, in 1905, was the Judge to whom M. Rochaix the detective had applied for his extradition; and Pothier must have sensed that, in spite of the insufficient evidence for his extradition, Judge Murray knew that Pothier and Beal were identical.

Mr. A. L. Lewis, recently appointed airport manager for Pan American Air ways at Auckland arrived in New Zea land by the “Maetsuycker” on December 15, from Noumea, New Caledonia. He has taken the place of Mr. D. Walker, who has been transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii. Mr. Lewis was stationed in Auck land two years ago.