FLOGGED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17110, 15 March 1919, Page 2 (Supplement)

FLOGGED TO DEATH.

EAST AFRICAN HORROR. NATIVE'S TERRIBLE PATE. Prom East Africa the British Government has received information of a revolting incident happily rare in British colonial history, a correspondent of a London paper writes. An East African native some time last year was discovered stealing flour or corn from the store of a white man— H- E- Watts, of Lumbawa. The native was then subjected to the most frightful floggings.

According to the evidence in tie court, the man was first flogged by Mr. Watts, and, later on, an employee, another white man, named Betschart, associated himself with the punishment. After the first flogging, it was stated in evidenco, the native was thrown into a pond and taken out and flogged, this treatment being repeated until the native was unable to stand. He was then carried to the house of the white man, Betschart, where he was " spread-eagled" under a bed, each hand and foot being tied to one of the bedposts. During the night Betschart was seen carrying away from the farm the body of a native, and on the next day was observed taking a can of petroleum and some wood and making a fire, upon which it ultimately transpired he attempted to burn the body. j In September Watts and Betschart were | placed on their trial a.t Nakuru, when the jury rejected the charge of murder brought j against them, and found them "Guilty" only of "simple hurt" and bound over Bet- 1 schart in a sum of 15000 rupees for good behaviour for twelve months, and Watts was fined 1000 rupees, or six months' rig-1 orous imprisonment. The fine in the latter case has, it is understood, been paid.