NATIVE CONSTABLES AT APIA AS DESPERADOES.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLII, Issue 6023, 4 March 1914, Page 5

NATIVE CONSTABLES AT APIA AS DESPERADOES.

Steal Arms and Ammunition from Gaol and Shoot Planters. Culprits Shot and Hanged.

IT.FFEC I" OF PICTURES

(I'd fi\ss Association.)

Sydney, March .*>

Details ii.ive !hi v» received of a sensational tragedy at Apia. Four young native constables broke the anus eiiest in the gaol ami sfolo revolvers au<l three hundred rounds of ammunition. They immediately disappeared and later visited the house ot a German planter named Treviramus. They told the manager, Sehliti, that they were searching for mi escaped Chinaman. Sehlitt said there were no Chinese there and ordered them to leave the plantation. Thedesperadoe* reply was to lire a volley, fatally wounding both Trevarinus aid Sehlitt. The governor organised a punitive expedition, which included a number of Europeans. They surrounded the murderers and a tierce exchange of shots took place lasting several hours. Three of the murderers were shot dead, and the other was captured. One member <»f the attacking party, named Herr llellige, was shot through the heart, and another. Herr Motzkuo, was severely wounded. The captured murderer

was hanged

It is supposed that cowboy pictures shown twice weekly influenced the minds of the young desperadoes.