THE NELSON TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 47, 24 February 1934, Page 13

THE NELSON TRIAL

RELATIONS WITH-MAU

NATIVE CHIEFS' EVIDENCE

NEARING THE END

United Press Association—By Etectrlo Tele"eraph— Copyrleht. (Received February 24, 8 a.m.) ■ .'-..,.' APIA, February 22. The Nelson, ease was resumed today, Tuala continuing his evidence said that he was present at the meeting of the Mau at the residence of Nelson when.the defendant urged the Natives to proceed with the fono- themselves. A spokesman told Nelson that the Mau declined to accept his advice and insisted, that the should be present. It was Nelson's wish that a large body of men; should not travel in malaga parties. Oross-examiued, the witness said that he had not heard Nelson's' name mentioned in connection with orders for the arrangement of; malagas. He was present oil the occasion when the Mau received Nelson's message • advising it to exclude him from the representatives' conference. The Mau still1 desired to meet the Administrator. Witness had, been fined &1 '.in; default three weeks' imprisonment on conviction I of Mau activities. He served the time, as he preferred prison to payment. | The Mau would never agree to hold a fono without Nelson. Tauiliili, secretary of: the Savaii malaga party, who is serving a sentence of six months,1 stated that he read out; the doeunient 6igned by Tuala and others (produced yesterday) in eight Savaii villages. : A portion of the document was identical with the one found at Tuaefu. He headed the malaga around TTpolu. , Witness at first denied knowledge of the identity of therepresentative named in the document but finally admitted it was "Nelson. '.■•.-■. "Witness said that the Mau taxes collected comprised 2s'for each chief and Is for each young man. The main object of the malagas was to inspect plantations. ' , ■ .- ' .. ,-,. To the Judge: The plantations in every village were not inspected, only those near the road. The Mau had collected taxes ~ for years. Corrections were made in the Mau plans to avoid the commission of offences. ■ /Witness was told this by the Mau secretary. He knew also that the number of the party had been reduced at the; wish of. the /defendant. • . :, '■:'■•;.'.■ ■ Sergeant Seiuli stated that he was nine y-ears in the German police and twenty yeara with the present administration. He,was present at taalolos given in honour of Nelson in September. He was also present on the occasion of Nelson's departure when he was deported. He heard Nelson say on leaving- " obedience to: the order of the. Administrator." He promised to return, with victory, "God being willing." The Mau were told victory was in their hands., .: ■■..'. Prior . to ( the adjournment, the defence intimated that they were not calling any evidence but would "present legal " argument -when the prosecution closed. Mr. McCarthy said he expected the Crown would finish tomorrow.' <