Murder

The Ocean Island

Appeal Has Been Lodged

THE Chinese labourer, Tai Shek, who was convicted in September at a trial in Suva of the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Allen, on Ocean Island, and sentenced to death, has lodged an appeal against the verdict, through his counsel, Mr. Maurice Scott. It will be heard in Suva by the new Appeals Court.

Tai Shek has been held in gaol in Suva.

It is understood that funds for his de fence, and the hearing of his appeal, have been subscribed by the Chinese labourers on Ocean Island.

For a time, the murder of Mr. and Mrs.

Allen (they were found, stabbed to death, on the floor of their isolated bungalow) was a complete mystery. But the authori ties took the precaution of keeping the bungalow completely covered over until the arrival of detectives, including finger print experts, from Brisbane. Then the prints of two hands were found on a window-sill, and on the back of a bed.

The police then finger-printed every person on Ocean Island, including some 200 Europeans, 700 or more Chinese, and some hundreds of Gilbertese. As a result, Tai Shek was arrested and sent to trial.

No motive for the murder has been discovered. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were a quiet-living couple, in their forties.

The grounds of the appeal are not re ported. It is said that mis-direction by the Judge is claimed. It will not be necessary to bring the witnesses again to Suva, from Ocean Island and Brisbane, unless a new trial is ordered.