Trapped

[?] Abaul’S Native

She Rlock Holmes

How a Criminal Was Trapped

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Feb. 28.

i RABAUL native constable, L Onivi, gets full credit for solv ing a rape case which had the iropean Police staff frankly baffled.

A half-caste girl complained to dice on December 17 that a native id raped her near Malaytown that ly. She described her attacker, 10 had said he was a police-boy; it failed to identify him in line >s of all native policemen.

This left police to search among e 40,000 natives in the Rabaul )kopo District—a hopeless task.

Onivi attended a sing-sing at )kopo early in January. A native med Wami, whom he knew as o, asked Onivi if the police had rested anyone in connection with j attack on the Asian girl; and m asked if there were likely to any investigating police attend ; the sing-sing. »Vhen Onivi said he thought there uld be, Leo (who was decorated readiness to join the dancers) re

moved his regalia and left the sing sing.

On January 16, walking near a boyhouse in Rabaul, Onivi heard two boys inside discussing some one.

One boy said: “Tell him to come to Rabaul and go on the Kulu to Port Moresby.”

Onivi entered the boyhouse and asked: “Who’s going to Port Moresby?”

“Someone,” he was told. “A man.”

Onivi knew the two boys were friends of Leo’s, and connected the discussion with Leo’s queries at the sing-sing. He discussed the matter with another constable and then reported it to Sub-Inspector Gallen.

The Kulu was at a wharf taking on cargo, preparatory tq leaving for Moresby.

Two native police were stationed to watch the ship, all night, but Leo did not appear.

Sub-Inspector Gallen and two native police visited the Kokopo plantation where Leo worked. Leo had left without notice the day be fore.

Sub-Inspector Gallen detailed all police who knew Leo to search the town area for him. Fifteen minutes later, Leo, after a short chase, was captured in the vicinity of the boy house where Onivi had picked up his final clue.

In a line-up at the police station Leo’s victim picked him out with out hesitation. He denied the charge; then broke down and con fessed; and on February 25, in the Supreme Court, he got 10 years’ hard labour.