BRITONS POISONED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, 11 April 1908, Page 5

BRITONS POISONED.

COMPENSATION DEMANDED FROM LIBERIA. •

NEGRO PERSECUTION,

The British Government is demanding compensation from the negro Republic of Liberia for the deaths of two Britans, who, it is alleged, were slowly poisoned by Liberians at-Cape Palmas. The victims were Mr E. 'A. Ditchfield, agent for Ditchfield, Limited, :of Liverpool, . and the district agent' for Lloyd’s at Cape Palmas, and Mr John Blehkinsop, one of his assistants.. - As Lloyd’s: agent, Mr Ditchfield made certain ' compla'nte against. a. "local firm <3 timber merchants -at Capri' Palmas regarding a shipment 1 of mahogany 'logs. In' some; manndr a. copy >oLdhjsse':Soniplamis, which :Mr Ditchfield hdd 1 forwarded. to, the British GohsaijatrMohifovia, fell ; into the hands >6f tho. firm hr qhestiou. FIRED AT ! EVERY NIGHT.-

A libel action followedj field was ordered to pay £3OOO damages, this amount being afterwards reduced by the Appeal Court to’ £2OOO. Mr Ditch, field placed' the matter ~in .the' hands ;of the Gonshl of Monrovia, and demanded an investigation by the British. ; hollowing this libel ! 'afctroh, bofh v ’Mr Ditchfield; and Mr Blenkinsop were ( subr jected' to every' conceivable irisuli/by/the Liberians at Cape Palmas. Thjp r ir dwAllimig was fired into every night, oil several occasions they narrowly escaped being, shot. ' - . ’

Mr Blenkinsop was taken ill, and he died; on August 11. .It is alleged that he was poisoned.

Mr Ditchfield, who had •a” long I experience on the 'coast, and - a close acquaintance with danger, ignored the outrages against .hini. The Cape; Palmas . officials arrested him and : released <him ; : they placarded' his business- premises With offensive notices, yet he refused to leave the country. • GUNBOAT TO THE RESCUE.

. Matters went from bad to worse, and; finally Mr Ditehfield sent, an uigent telegram to Sierra Leone for assistance. The British gunboat Dwarf was 'despatched under full, steam.,.to' Qape-Palipas, stopr ping at.Monrovia/<to pick rhp tH& British Consul. r She came into fthe at Cape Palmas ori-tlie L The officials fled into thß oountry, but the Consul told the superintendent that tfce Bptmh , ate' apy persecution'.pf Europeans; In OctpHCT ill, and he diedih ago«y J wT)?ecember 11, v.. • . • '

It is alleged that both. Mr Ditchfield and Mr Blenkkuspp werepoisanedratthe iflotig'atSoii « judged it to; be*-in best that these two .'BritonS &houJd disappear/