PIRACY IN SOUTH SEAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 12

PIRACY IN SOUTH SEAS.

SINISTER PLOT RECALLED. RELEASE AFTER f8 YEARS IN GAOL [FROII OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT, ] SYDNEY, Feb. 11. With the release from a News South Wales gaol on Juno 30 next of a Belgian named Mortelmans, after 18 years' imprisonment, a sinister story of piracy m the South Seas is recalled. Arrangements have beeti practically completed for Mortelmans* release and the Belgian Government has agreed; to issue a passport for his return to his native country. Mortelmans was tried • and convicted in Fiji, but as there was no gaol at Suva in 1909, the New South Wales Government agreed to incarcerate him in its prisons, For his keep the Fijian Government has been paying £1 per week for that time. Negotiations for the release of the prisoner, in view of the long term that he has served, have been in progress for some time. Recently the Fijian Government advised the local Minister for Justice that it was agreeable that Mortelmans should lie released this year. Following this, information was received fiom the Belgian Consul-General that his Government had arranged for his return to Belgium. The story of the capture of Mortelmans and of the subsequent revelations of the deeds for which ho was sentenced, makes one of the most thrilling accounts in the annals of crime. The act of piracy for which Moitelmans was charged was the capture of the schooner Neuve Tigre, after, it was alleged, he had murdered the captain and the mate. Mortelmans was captured aboard the schooner Luke ; J. Kenny by Captain J- R. Jiandioy and | his crew in 1908. He and an English ; youth named Skerrett were the only ones aboard the Neuve Tigre when she ran on a reef in the Gilbert Islands. Captain Handler had agreed to take Mortelmans and Skerrett to Fiji. By a curious coincidence, the cook of the I.uise J. Kenny and Skerrett had been friends at school and it to the cook that Skerrett unfolded Mortelmans' plot to kill Captain Handlev and his mate and capture the ship. The cook warned Captain Handlev, who at _ revolver point arrested Mortelmans. Ihe latter was found to have a wicked-looking knife inside his shirt. Skerrett afterwards made a long statement in which lie declared that Mortelmans had killed the captain and mate of the Neuvo Tiers. Mortelmans was convicted of piracy. Though during the earlier part of "his imprisonment in this State,.the Belgian was an unruly -prisoner, for a number of years now the prison reiK-rts of his behaviour have been good. This fact had an important bearing on the negotiations for his relea PECK'S NEVER GETS STALE. Right down to the last particle Peck's pastes' maintain their, delicious, appetising ! flavour. Try Pack's salmon and shrimp paste or " Anchoveiic" [fifth paste). Indispensable • in sararaer ;' when • harried "macks" have to le prepared. So pre servatves used. Also ash and meat pastes in • numerous varieties. Insist on Peck's. British and best. All grocers,—Advt. All members of the Saraoan EspediS tiosarv Force are reoaested to' attend a 1 soeeial meeting to be field at the [Person, Snowies and Ryland Bros., S.Z., {Ltd., Southern Cross Buildings. Chancery ! Street, oa Thursday evening. Matters of [ great interest will be discussed, I ' '