Apia's "Black-Gang"

Now in Gaol

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, August 12.

APIA has now a Hollywood-flavoured criminal element, organised for theft and burglary on the grand scale.

This was revealed recently when Chief Judge J. R. Herd tried five members of the “Black Gang”—so called because they had gone to the rather unnecessary length of smearing their faces with charcoal.

In Apia High Court on July 23. the five were charged with burglary and theft from the Apia branch of Burns Philp (SS) Co. Ltd.

Evidence showed that they had en tered Burns Philp’s premises on at least nine occasions, raining entrance through a window in the bulk store, which the gang leader, Malele, who worked in the bulk store, had conveniently opened.

The plunder consisted of jewellery, clothes, hardware, prints, clothes and other merchandise, which was removed through a tennis court at the back of the bulk store and loaded on horses. The value of the stolen property was estab lished at £435, of which over £3OO has been recovered.

All the accused pleaded guilty and were sentenced—the ring-leader, Malele, to a total of years’ imprisonment; the four others. Topeto, Solofa Westerlund, Maiki and Meafua, to 2 years’ imprisonment each.

BEFORE Chief Judge Herd and four assessors on July 25, a Samoan. Avia, of Fagae’e. was found guilty of hav ing killed on January 4, 1946, a Samoan

village chief, Va’a, of the same village and thereby committed manslaughter.

The offence was committed during a quarrel at a village cricket match, when the accused hit the older man with a cricket bat. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.