Strange Case Of The Angoram

Police-Boy

QOME months ago a member of the lO native constabulary at Angoram, on the Sepik River, New Guinea, who had just finished his term as a police boy, wished to do a good turn for one of his comrades. So, with the Kiap’s permission, he stood guard one night over the district office and the safe therein.

Next morning, as a passenger on a motor launch, he left for his village somewhere up the Sepik River. On that day also, the Kiap (Mr. R. Ormsby, ADO) had to pay out a substantial sum for timber rafted in by up-river natives. He went to the safe in the District Office, and found that £260 had mysteriously disappeared.

The Kiap used his excellent organising ability and the erstwhile P-B was ap prehended before he left the launch at his village. On him was about £l3O, and in his possession was a sewing-machine, typewriter, etc.

Several months elapsed before the Judge was able to pay a visit to Wewak, where the district court is held. Wit nesses and the Kiap of Angoram were flown to the trial, but, the police-boy was acquitted.

In summing up the Judge said that he did not believe a word the accused said —however, there was not sufficient evidence to convict.

The police-boy stated, in evidence, that he had got the large sum of money in his possession by playing Lucky—the native equivalent of poker.

The only consolation Is that whoever got that £260 may be caught with some thing even bigger, someday.—PAT.