CRIME IN PAPUA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17401, 11 March 1922, Page 15

CRIME IN PAPUA.

■. ♦ INTERESTING SEJBLIGHTS BY * GOVEBNOB. ./' (rtOM OCR OWN COftRESPONDEKt.) SYDNEY, February 28. Some interesting sidelights on crime and criminal* inPapua have been given Jjy tli6 lieutenant-Governor .. (Judge Murray), who is at present 'visiting Australia. - Ho said it was impossible to believe a man :when he pleaded guilty, because the Papuans would swear to anything to escape, from tlio white man's questioning. Orinies of violence predominated, as well as "that -peculiarly Papuan offence of spreading lying imports." A Village constable came to him for advice one day in groat anxiety. Tlw minister at the church had told liis people that if they did nof attend the church services more regularly they would be burned in a, big fire. - If no had said it outside the church, the constable said, he would have arrested him at onco for spreading lying reports, but lio did not like to do it in church. What was be to do? Murder .is never a crime in Papua; it is sometimes a duty, sometimes a social etiquette, always a passion. One man gave as a reason for killiug another that he was a bore. "AU the time he talk, talk; talk too much," said the prisoner, "go I got a spear and killed him." Another killed an old woman who was drawing water because blfe lady love would not look at him without & "badge 0 f homicide." " When the judge said that the man should riot, woo a 1 named woman, he replied tbev had killed and eaten all tho single girfs. so what was he to do for n wife? After all, they argue, if thev kill «, f ew women and children, what odds? Tliere are always plenty left I