A TRIPLE MURDER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 260, 2 November 1908, Page 5

A TRIPLE MURDER.

FATHER ■.ANgTJTODATOIITBRB

THE SANTO ISLAND OUTRAGE

TRACKING THE MURDERERS

[PRESS ' ASSOCIATION.] (Received No^ 9^30 a^.)^

Details of the murder of Mr Greig and his' family. on the island of Santo show that Greig was sitting down at tea in' one' of the copra sheds when ten natives rushed the building. Seizing a tomahawk, one native struck Greig from behind, cutting his skull completely in half. Robbery seems to haye been the object of the crime. Immediately the blacks were satisfied that Greig was dead they began looting the station. The whole place Was ransacked. The Misses Greig, who were gardening,: escaped notice at first. When their presence was discovered the mob attacked them. Ada, the elder, was killed with a . gun stolen from her father, many bullet-wounds being found in her body; the younger daughter, Elizabeth, was cut to pieces with tomahawks and knives. / A son, aged fourteen, who was working a mile away, escaped. Me found the bodies on returning home, and "hurried to the mission station and reported the matter. Other settlers at Santo express the opinion that Greig saw bush natives approaching, but as they were net ■carrying weapons he presumed that they were peaceful. _ These men, who live m the mils, «ome from a village ten miles inland. The coastal natives, who, are Christians and practically civilised, live at peace with the whites. Friendly natives stated that the bushmen were heavily laden with loot when they commenced their return journey. . The warship Prometheus arrived at Santo within a day or two of the massacre, and landed a punitive expedition. The French authorities at New Caledonia despatched-the cruiser, Kersaint to the island. Assisted by friendly natives, the punitive forces are tracking the murderers. •