Adventure

End of Samoans' Piracy Adventure

SIX young men appeared before the High Court of Apia, on February 4, on a charge of theft of the motor launch “Wyben” belonging to Messrs. A.

G. Smyth &} Co., Ltd., of Apia and of the cargo contained in the vessel.

The evidence disclosed that one night in August 1947, the launch, fully laden with stores, was towed from the harbour and then went to sea under her engines.

The purpose of the instigator of the theft was to sail to Tahiti.

Fuel for the engine gave out after a week, and the crew used sails for a day or two until they were blown out in heavy weather. Thereafter the launch drifted, and after a couple of months at sea, was finally wrecked on Vanikoro reef, in the Southern Solomons.

Responsibility for the theft was ad mitted by Eddie Ah Siu and Isumu Ah Siu, two Chinese-Samoans. The watch man, a Samoan, Lolesea, stated that he was asleep on board and did not wake up till the launch was out to sea. As this was supported by the evidence of three others, the Court dismissed the charge against him.

The remaining three accused, Vincent Pereira (18), Moti Pereira (14), and Ben Brewster (15) all swore that they had been invited to go to the Government launch “Pilot II” by Eddie Ah Siu, who was employed aboard that vessel, and then were asked by him to go across with him to the “Wyben” to pick up something belonging to him. After they had boarded the “Wyben” they were held up by Eddie Ah Siu at the point of a service rifle, and forced to go to sea with the others.

The Court considered that their ex planation was open to some doubt, but as it could not be proved that they in tended to steal the launch and it was possible that they were enticed on board and shanghaied, they were found not guilty.

In sentencing those convicted, allow ance was made for the fact that they had been in custody for three months. Eddie Ah Siu, the ringleader, was sentenced to three years nine months; Isumu Ah Siu to 2 years’ imprisonment.