THE SUPPOSED MURDER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 7, 9 January 1889, Page 2

THE SUPPOSED MURDER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

Tlie Attack osi tlie Crew of ihe SScSio osier Ariel.

A Brisbane telegram o*f January 2nd says : From the evidence taken at the inquiry into the supposed murder of J. S. Arm" strong, Government agent of the labour schooner Ariel, by the natives of Manoba Island, there is some doubt as to whether he was actually murdered, and lie may now be alive amongst the natives. The fact of the murder rested on the testimony of an islander named Joe, which is very contradictory. Two boats went ashore, one containing Armstrong and Joe, and the other tho mute and aboat's crew. Armstrong took with him a bottle of bluestone water for a chief who was suffering from a sorelimb. The mate gave evidence that the Government agent's boat reached the shore first. Armsbrong was carried ashore by Joe, and by the time witness had reached his boat, he had gone up the beach, and was beyond speaking distance. Some ben or iifbeen minutes later, he heard a cry, and saw Joe .running towards the boats quite naked, waving his hand, and singing out, "Come on quick, they kill him Government." He seized his rifle and jumped out of the boat, and called crew to follow him. He got 50 yards from the boat when the natives appeared from among tbe trees, throwing spears and shooting arrows. Finding there were too many natives in front and beside him, he ran back, and found the boat some way off from the shore, the crews backing them oub and firing at the same time. He did not see bhe Government agent fall, being surrounded by natives, and having lost sight of Armstrong shortly afber he lefb the boat. On questioning Joe, the latter bold him lie saw the Government agent being caught by the arms and legs, and two or three men were aiming blows tit him with tomahawks, but he did not see him fail. Joe further stated that one blow on the neck from a tomahawk finished tlie Government agent, and also bhab two natives tried to seize him (Joe), but lie broke away from them after having his clothes torn off in tiie struggle. Being short of ammunition tho boats returned to the schooner. Joe, in his evidence, gave an account of his struggle wibh the natives, but adraibbed that he was nob able to see what bhe natives did with the Government agent. Ho did not know whether the Government agent was dead or not. He did nob see him fall down, and only heard him sbout, "Oil! Look out." The other evidence generally corroborated that of the mate.