END OF “SMILER”

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1937, Page 6

END OF “SMILER”

TOOK LUBRA. DARWIN. August 2. Smiler, thoroughly bad badman of (he aboriginal tribes in the Northern Territory, has been speared to death by other blacks at Liverpool Rivei. A report on the killing is being furninshed to the Chief Protector of Aboriginies, but as it is believed that the affray is purely a tribal one, it is unlikely that any action will be taken. Jack and Smiler came from the Arnhem Land reserve last year t.o assist in the peanut harvest at Katherine. During the harvest a quarrel arose between Jack and Smiler, which ended in Smiler spearing Jack to death and then running back to Arnhem Land with a lubra. Police set out in pursuit, and traced Smiler to Minoru Station, whence word came in that Smiler had reached Liverpool River. As the wetseason was setting in, the 'police parly returned to Katherine, leaving again in pursuit of Smiler after the wet ended. A further patrol left last month, but returned to Pine Creek with word that Smiler had been killed in a tribal fight at the head of the Liverpool River. The affray, it was stated, was purely tribal, and occurred in the aborigine reserve among Myall natives ..and right out of' the white man’s ambit.

Smiler, for long recognised as a '‘bad egg,” had been allegedly responsible for five aboriginal murders, and had established a reign of terror among the Arnhem Land blacks, .as he was the swiftest and straightest spear thrower among all the aborigines. He refused to mix with the other aborigines, playing the lone wolf always, and was never off his guard, as he knew that the other blacks sought his death in reprisal for his killings. Smiler or his lubra was always on watch, and were never off guard.