Wilkinson-Bock

Muddle In Papua

Officialdom Sleeps On A Strange Case

[T is time that some strong L publicity was given to the Wilkinson-Bock case, which ccurred in Samarai, Eastern Papua, a August.

An appeal to the Administrator, tolonel J. K. Murray, for action of ome kind, was made on October 4. fp to the moment of this writing, November 12) no decision appears 1 have been given. This is typical f the kind of dilatoriness for which 'ort Moresby has become notorious.

Meantime, Lance H. Wilkinson, lanter and trader, who was mtenced to 18 months’ gaol for left —and concerning whose guilt lere now is doubt—is confined in lomana Gaol, Port Moresby.

For 21 years, Wilkinson operated lantations and trade stores in the amarai area. Using two launches, e brought copra, etc., into Samarai, nd carried his own supplies out gain.

As everyone knows, Samarai’s r harves were destroyed in the war; nd there still are poor facilities iere for small boats. Wilkinson Dmetimes worked weekends and

holidays, when Samarai sheds were closed. So he entered into an arrangement with Bock, who was in charge of a native labour compound for Government native labourers, on Elumera Island, about half a mile from Samarai.

Bock went in to Samarai with the labourers on a barge, twice a day.

If there was cargo there for Wilkinson, he brought it across to Elumera, and dumped it in the Government store, where Wilkinson picked it up. mHE association between Wilkin- JL son and Bock seems to have aroused some suspicions some

where, and a report was made to the police. One day Mr. A. J.

Phillips, Samarai police inspector, went out to Wilkinson’s store, and interrogated him about goods allegedly removed by him from the Government supplies at Elumera.

Phillips identified certain cases of

canned fish as Government property, and removed them from Wilkinson’s store to Samarai, Later, Wilkinson was questioned by Police Inspector Woodmansey.

Wilkinson told the Inspector that he noticed the canned fish in the Government store at Elumera; that he had remarked to Bock that he had been unable to purchase canned fish for his stores; that Bock had said that his labour preferred canned meat to canned fish; and that Wilkinson thereupon ex changed five cases of canned meat for five cases of canned fish, which he sold in his stores at the same price as the canned meat.

Wilkinson stated latter that Inspector Woodmansey had said the explanation would not hold water in a Court; and he advised Wilkin son to nlead guilty to theft, when he would probablv be let off with a small fine, and thus escape a “lot of trouble.” Wilkinson agreed to do this.

There was some muddle over the case. Wilkinson pleaded guilty when it was first called; but the police then entered a Nolle Prosequi, and charged him again. Mean while, Wilkinson had gone to Moresby and got legal advice; as a result of which he changed his plea to “not guilty.”

IT was originally arranged that both Bock and Wilkinson should be charged in that order before

the higher Court. But Woodmansee was required as a witness in Bock’: case, and he was absent, so Wilkinn son went up first.

The Crown’s chief witness agains.

Wilkinson was a native, whr appears to have broken rather badly under cross-examines tion. 'The police officer, Inspecto Phillips, alleged that Wilkinsoc fried to conceal the canned fisM when he called; but Wilkinsot insisted that he gave Phillips even facility for a search.

Judge Bignold, on August 6, founr Wilkinson guilty and sentenced hin to 18 months’ hard labour.

It was while Wilkinson was awaiting' transportation to Pon Moresby that there occurred thri extraordinary series of incident, that resulted in two leading official) of the Territory appearing befon the Supreme Court in Moresby oc August 29, charged with contemn of Court. (See article on page 2 of October PIM.) Judge Bignold decided that thi case against Bock should be hean by another judge. The charge, thri circumstances, and the witnesse; were all the same, except that Irn spector Woodmansey appeared ii the Bock case, and said ths.

Wilkinson had told him, befon there was any court proceedings 'that he had received the five case; of fish in exchange for five cases o meat. Judge Kelly, who heard thl Bock case, was told that Bock? books and records had been checker and there were no discrepancies such as would have been expect© if there had been a theft.

Judge Kelly found that Bock ws not guilty. rE fact that Wilkinson had bee found guilty, and Bock nu guilty by two different judge clearly called for some furthu inquiry and action by tM authorities. The Samarai Branch * the RSL asked that something M done.

The only channel of appeal fro;c a Supreme Court in Papua appear to be to the High Court in Au;i tralia—an expensive and length proceeding. Wilkinson’s solicito.

Mr. Dudley Jones, accordingly aoj vised Wilkinson to apply to tM.

Administrator for a review of tH. case, as the Administrator could anc immediately.

Application to the Administrate was made on October 4. Expected tions of quick action have beej disappointed five weeks ha T i passed, and Wilkinson is still in tM: Port Moresby gaol, under sentence as a thief.

Comment is needless. If thee has been no action in Port Mores*? by the time this is published, tMc PIM will join the RSL organisation in bringing the case before tMc Australian newspapers and certajc hieh officials in Canberra.

Lance Harcourt Wilkinson weis

d Fapua some 20 years ago, and he nd his relations are well and avourably known in the Samarai istrict. Lance had an unblemished r artime record as a member of an ir crew in Europe. His uncle was rominently associated with Cuth ert’s Misima goldmine. Apart :om the fact that officialdom, in lis matter, seems to have been uilty of a considerable amount of mddling, the case on its own lerits cannot be left indefinitely here it is.