Papua Murder

Death Sentence For Two Natives

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby. July 5.

TWO young native men were sentenced to death in the Supreme Court here on June 24 for the brutal murder of 72-years-old Tom Kessick Bowes, on April 21.

One native, Nikula Marapai, battered the old man to death with a heavy stick while the other, Hariha Mehea, kept watch. Then they stole a few pounds’ worth of clothing and a few shillings in cash from his house, which is in a lonely area 16 miles from Moresby, on the Rouna road.

Mr. Justice Bignold pronounced the death sentence on Nikula and recorded it against Hariha, which amounts to a re commendation that the sentence be car ried out in Nikula’s case and commuted to imprisonment in Hariha’s case.

The Administrator may commute either or both sentences; but only Canberra can authorise the carrying out of a death

sentence. No native has been hanged in Papua-New Guinea since the war.

The story unfolded during the five-days’ trial was that on April 20 Bowes engaged the two natives to do odd jobs around his house, in which he lived alone. After working a few hours they left; but, next day, while Hariha kept watch near the road, Nikula went to the house and at tacked Bowes in the backyard with a heavy stick.

With the first blow the native broke the old man’s wrists, leaving him defence less. After the natives had robbed the house they saw Bowes trying to rise and Nikula hit him again. His body was found next day, and the murderers were arrested on April 23.

Mr. Bowes was manager of the Govern

ment’s Kemp Welch plantation, near Rigo, for many years. He came to Moresby when he retired.

This was the first murder of a white man by Papuan natives for many years.

But, in New Guinea, Mr. A. Robinson was murdered only last December while on a recruiting trip in New Britain. Three natives are now serving gaol terms for the crime.

The two murderers.