20 Years in the Neck-Tie Business

By Eric Ramsden

JUST how Bill Wilson, of Fiji, got into what he called “the neck-tie busi ness” is a story in itself. In using that expression one does not wish to give an impression of facetiousness. For 20 long years Bill took his job (which, you will agree, was one of life and death), very seriously. That he gave satisfaction to all parties is obvious; the Fijian Gov ernment has employed him for so long as the Colony’s official hangman.

In 1928 there was a particularly brutal murder at Tuvimula, on Vanua Levu. The motive was the not unusual one— jealousy and man-woman trouble. In consequence, three men were sentenced to be hanged, likewise the lady in the case. But as the latter was found to be pregnant, her sentence was committed to life imprisonment.

The circumstances of the case were so horrifying that Bill was heard to observe: “I would not mind stringing up those So and-Sos’ myself!”

That chance remark reached the ears of the Governor of Suva’s gaol. At that time the Colony required the services of a hangman. So this proposition was put to Bill—a retaining fee of £25 annually, £lO for the initial execution, and £5 for any others that took place at the same time. “Oh. yes,” he remarked quite casually, “it is possible to swing three at the same time. I have had as many as seven or eight, though I usually did them in twos and threes.”

The incident at Tuvimula, apart from the retainer, meant a cash transaction of £2O. Bill is rather proud of the fact that he was the first of his trade to receive a retainer. The profit motive, however, did not influence him unduly. For, if at the last moment a Governor exercised his prerogative of mercy, Bill was paid just the same.

After explaining such business details, he confided: “People, you know, are apt to look down on a hangman. But he performs a most necessary and useful service for the community. If there were no hangman, there would be many more murders.” He believes in capital punish ment as a deterrent, especially in a colony such as Fiji where Asiatics are in the majority. Bill, whose Fijian mother came from Levuka, says that sex and robbery are almost invariably the mo tives for the crimes of Fiji-Indians.

During the period in which he was hangman, until his retirement in 1948, there were no Europeans executed, and only two Chinese. The guilty Indians, he explained, wasted much time and money in useless appeals—only, of course, to face Mr. Wilson and his “neck-tie” on the final day of reckoning. “Far better to get it over quickly,” commented my in formant. “Why waste so much money on lawyers? But that is the Indian way.

One can never cure them of litigation!”

Bill was full of facts and figures as to his experiences. Even if one could not always accept the facts without question, some of his memories were certainly vivid. There was, for example, the case at Rakiraki, in Ra province. Bill was a little hazy as to the date, but he re called the circumstances: — AN Indian and his wife and their seven children were at home one evening.

It was oouring with rain. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. A ragged man asked for shelter. The wife cooked some more roti, and gave him what re mained of the curry. The husband even provided the visitor with fresh clothing.

“Next day the husband said to the wife: T think I could employ this man.

Of course, we can give him no wages, but when the crop is harvested, there will be a share for him.’

“The arrangement worked quite satis factorily for three months. Then, the stranger began to cast eyes in the direc tion of his hostess. If he ever again made such a proposition, replied the latter, she would tell her husband. The visitor was penitent for a time, and tnen renewed his attentions. The wife told him that she would certainly inform her lord and master.

“That night, fearing the disclosure, the man murdered the husband and wife, and killed all the children with the exception of one girl who escaped through a win dow and the baby. Indians go mad when they see blood; they just chop and chop.

Then he set fire to the house, and it was proved later that the baby died in the fire.”

Bill had no compunction in “stringing up” the man who had bitten the hand that fed him.

While the majority of condemned people are docile in confinement, he recalled how one Punjabi had rushed him in the cell on the morning of execution. '“But, of course, I had two warders with me, and he never had a chance.

“After he had the harness on him, when en route to the scaffold, he ad dressed the Indian prisoners, saying; ‘Never commit crime! See what has happened to me! Now I am going to pay for it!’ ”

Then there was the case of a father and son, who had murdered an old couple to obtain £5OO. One blamed the other, though neither would confess. Even as they stood on the scaffold they would not speak to each other.

During the recent war a party of eight Indians who had been celebrating in Suva called on an old couple in the country.

After they had been received kindly, and a chicken killed in their honour, the young men revealed their real intention.

The old folk were known to be wealthy.

Like many Indians, it was believed they had their money buried somewhere around the home.

One of the party who subsequently turned King’s evidence, told how first one of the old man’s eyes had been gouged out, and then the other. Then the old woman was subjected to such treatment that it could not be described in print.

Finally, she told where £9O was hidden.

But that was not enough. The hood lams wanted the lot.

The old man was killed. His wife was left in such a condition that she died soon after from her injuries.

Bill was rather annoyed when, in that particular instance, the Governor exer cised his prerogative, believing perhaps that it might relieve the tense political situation that then existed. “But if it was designed to assist recruiting,” he re marked, “then it had no such effect,”

These was at least one instance where the prisoner, after being sentenced to death, was found to be suffering from leprosy. Whereupon he was transferred to Makogai. That certainly presented a problem for the person most concerned.

If he recovered, to quote the ex-hangman; “He would be the principal guest at a ‘neck-tie’ party.”

What was preferable, he asked—to be hanged or to die from leprosy?