Sentenced To Death
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
Unusual Case of Child-Murder in Samoa
From Our Own Correspondent
Apia, May 4.
A MOST unusual case terminated at Apia in April, when a young Samoan woman, Fa’atonu, 24, was sentenced to death for the murder, by strangling, of her 10-months-ol(i child.
Samoans rarely commit murder, and
Fa’atonu was a thoroughly bad char acter, however —described by her own family as an incorrigible thief and pros titute. Finally, while she was living with a Samoan at Samusu, she acquired a new lover, a mere boy. She deserted her child, and ran off with her lover to another village. Her relations sent her child after her: whereupon she took it out into the bush and strangled it.
The only defence offered was that the woman had long been “the sport of men”, and this may have deranged her mental faculties. She seemed unmoved and indifferent, during her trial; and, when asked by the judge if she had anything to say, replied that she would rather be finished off quickly than live a life of slavery.
Fa’Atonu
they are passionately fond of children.
The more children there are in the fale, legitimate or otherwise, the higher is the respect in which the family is held.