MURDER OF NATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 80, 3 April 1936, Page 9

MURDER OF NATIVES

WHITE MAN EXECUTED

LABOUR PARTY PROTEST

NEW, GUINEA TRIAL

(prom "Tho Post's" Representative.) ."■.■■; SYDNEY, March 26. Ludwig Schmidt, a German, was hanged at Eabaul (Mandated Territory of New Guinea) on Wednesday, having! been found guilty of the wilful murder of three natives. He was the first white man hanged in the territory under British rule, though about 30 natives have been executed. The previous night, in far away Canberra, the Labour Opposition in the Federal Parliament had staged an all-night debate in an effort to stay the execution, but the Government was adamant and on an almost party vote, their "no intervention" policy was endorsed. Schmidt was sentenced to death on three separate counts of wilful murder in. August and September, 1934. The evidence given at his three trials before the Chief Judge of the Territory (Judge Wanliss) showed that he had brutally attacked New Guinea natives on a number of occasions over a period of three months. There were four murders, in each case the victims being shot from behind when trying to escape. Schmidt was one of a party which comprised three other Europeans and 'bout 50 natives. Two of the other Europeans were sentenced to seven years and ten years' imprisonment. The murders took place in uncontrolled, or partially-controlled, areas, and one in a village where a native official, appointed by the Government, was stationed. . The first murder occurred on or about August 4, 1934. Schmidt and his party arrived at a plateau, where they intended to camp. While they were resting, about eight or ten natives came on to the plateau and camped neard the western entrance. They had only stone tomahawks in their belts, and these are used only for domestic purposes. They had sugar cane, which one of the white men bought. Schmidt spoke to two of his companions. •* ACTS OF BRUTALITY. The white men thought they recognised among the natives two who had been following the party and coming into their camp for several days. Schmidt seized an elderly native, caught him by a wrist, hauled him to his feet, and forced him to flee, firing a revolver shot. He treated a younger native .similarly, but half-way down the slope this native turned half round and looked up. Schmidt put a rifle to his shoulder, and, aiming at the native, fired. The bullet mortally wounded the native and Schmidt ordered the other natives to carry away the body. On September 12, Schmidt, with three native servants, all armed, wishing to find the source of some smoke, approached the house of some natives. The natives waved them back, and then turned and ran away. Schmidt shouted, whereupon the natives stopped, turned towards him again, waved him back, and turned to run. Raising his -rifle, Schmidt shot a native from about eight yards, killing him instantly. Two days later, Schmidt and his three armed servants reached another ■ village and found a native sounding a native drum. Schmidt ordered a servant to shoot .the native, who dropped his drumstick' and fled. Schmidt again ordered the servant to shoot. The servant fired and shot the fleeing native through the head. Schmidt, after looking .at the man's body, returned to one of the native houses, and ordered his servants to seize an elderly native, who resisted vigorously. Schmidt then battered the native on the head with a rifle. Another native emerged from the house and called to his beaten comrade. Schmidt ordered his servant to shoot this second native, and this was done. TRIAL AND SENTENCE. At his trial Schmidt had the services of an interpreter. On the fourth day of the first trial, the New Guinea Administration briefed counsel to appear for him, and the counsel appeared throughout the remaining ten days of the first trial, and the whole of-the second and third trials. Schmidt did not appeal to the High Court. The Cabinet sent a radio message to the Administrator of New Guinea (Briga-dier-General McNicoll), who replied that he had a written statement from Schmidt's counsel that he and Schmidt had twice discussed the question of an appeal, but Schmidt stated that he did not wish to appeal. In. the House of Representatives, Labour members sought to have a motion agreed to, instructing the Government not to proceed with the execution. Their arguments were based not only on the party's traditional opposition to capital punishment, but also on the fact that Schmidt had been tried by a Judge only, without jury. The Government's attitude was that capital punishment was still the law of the land, that the Administrator of the territory had full executive authority, but that even so he had submitted the matter to the Federal Executive Council, which was unanimous that the sentence should be carried out. For eleven hours the debate raged on and about these two points of view. The speeches became violent at times, one Labour memberideclaring that the execution would be as cold-blooded a murder as Schmidt's own crimes were alleged to be. A few hours after the vote in Parliament had been taken, Schmidt went to his death in the compound of Rabaul Gaol. Seeming resigned to his fate, Schmidt, on his last evening, ate heartily and slept well overnight. He received the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church from the Rev. Father Schwinger. Schmidt spent his last hour with the priest, and went to the gallows calmly, after a peaceful night. Those present at the execution were the sheriff, his assistant, a doctor, the priest, prison officials, and a Press representative. No members of the white public or natives witnessed the execution. Schmidt made no confession or protest before, he died.