Apia's "Crime Wave"
p. 25 · Read in the full issue
Apia, Oct. 14.
A “CRIME WAVE” is still much in evidence. A particularly shocking crime was committed a few days ago at Leulumoega, on the west coast of Upolu, when a number of young Samoans, reputedly stimulated by “Bush Gin,” started a fist fight. One of the partici pants then drew a knife and stabbed another through the heart, killing him instantly, and seriously injured two others before he could be overpowered and given over to the police.
Petty thefts and burglaries and, re cently, cases of handbag snatching, have been reported in Apia. Plantations are also complaining of thefts of produce and live stock.
Smuggling by passengers from American Samoa has been a frequent occurrence lately—American cigarettes and clothing are favourite items on the smugglers’ list.
Customs’ authorities and the police have caught a number of offenders; one Samoan “smart guy” had hidden a re volver and 500 rounds of ammunition in the false bottom of his carqphorwood box.