Murdered Planter

Details of Tragedy in New Hebrides

IT was announced in the “P.1.M.” in November, that M. Paul Mazoyer, a French planter, of Aore, New Heb rides, had been murdered by Malekula when recruiting on the Male kula coast.

We are indebted to “Bulletin du Com merce”, Noumea, for the following details.

M. Mazoyer was engaged in an argu ment with a tribal chief, in connection with the recruiting of three native women, whom he had embarked. Five bushmen came on board, one of them armed with a gun. While M. Mazoyer talked with them, his crew left his cut ter in the only boat, being apparently privy to a conspiracy against the planter. Doubtless realising the danger he ran, alone aboard with these five bushmen, M. Mazoyer went down to his cabin to arm himself. He was followed by the natives and was shot in the back. Seizing a hammer, he struck one of his assailants on the head. Stand ing erect, in spite of his wound, he held on with one hand to the door of his cabin; but a sabre cut severed the fin gers of that hand, while a second shot, fired point blank, pierced his armpit and killed him.

Three other shots were then fired at Mazoyer, already lying dead on the floor of his cabin. After that, the vessel was pillaged by the murderers, who—the boat returning at the sound of the shots and the victorious shouts of the natives —finally made off, taking with them the three women.

The body of M, Mazoyer was brought back to Santo on his ship, by the same crew, and he was buried on his planta tion at Aore.

The Administration (represented at Malekula by M. Bourgeaud and Mr.

Adams) offered a reward to the native chief for the capture of the others. A first visit by both officials to the tribe concerned was unsuccessful. But, later, when Mr. Adams, the British represen tative, was returning alone (his French colleague having gone on to Noumea) he captured the five natives, who were sent to Port Vila, where they were formally accused of the murder. Mr.

Adams obtained particulars from wit nesses.