THE MURDER AT BUTARITARI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5562, 25 January 1879, Page 2

THE MURDER AT BUTARITARI.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday. Mr. Brovin, master of the Meg Merrilles, has supplied the following statement to the Star, of the murder of Captain Moller, at Samoa;—“ When we arrived at Butaritari we went up to Rennell’s place. As far as I understood then, Kennell was indebted to Messrs. McArthur’s firm to some amount, of which I did not hear the extent. Captain Moller did not see how he was going to recover the amount. Things did not go on to his satisfaction, and he decided to square up altogether with Kennell. According to Captain Moller’s notions, and mine also, Kennell ought to have squared up, because Captain Moller was the man who put him there. I advised Captain Moller that if Rennell had not sufficient means to square up he should be compelled to give goods. I went on shore on Sunday, and brought some of the things off ; and on the Monday, when Captain Moller went ashore, he said he did not want me to go. I told him that Rennell must have money, and that if Kennell had not, he (Moller) should take some of the provisions. The next thing that happened was that Captain Moller was brought on board wounded. I sent him down to the black missionary station to see if they could do anything tor him. After I got the vessel right I went ashore, and with the assistance of the others I arrested Kennell and brought him on board. He insisted on my taking him ashore again to see what was in the store. I went with him, and found goods there to the value of 300 or 400 dollars. Captain Moller compelled me to go and see what was there. There was money and a gun. I went of course for them. There was 112 dollars 25 cents., and £3 10s. in gold that Rennell found in the sand just outside the door about three yards away; the debt he owed was about seventy dollars. When everything was squared up the money was counted by me in the presence of the steward of the vessel. Captain Moller was sent down in the boat to the black missionaries’ place, about fourteen miles away ; his arm was very sore. I deny the statement that Rennell objected to Capt. Moller being put ashore; he had no opportunity to object to that. It was I that sent Captain Moller ashore. I took Capt. Moller on board from the black missionaries’ station, about eighteen hours after the affair occurred. I then’took him to Oban Island to look for a doctor; he had left the day we left Butaritari. 1 Wo left the latter place on Thursday, and arrived at Oban on Friday. Lockjaw had set in before we arrived at Oban. We landed Captain Moller, and he lived only thirty-six hours from that time. Kennell could have easily paid the money that was owing. I am perfectly satisfied of that. People told me that Kennell threw money overboard after he was arrested. Even the small barrel of beef had been taken by Moller. There was plenty of provisions. still in the store. They say Captain Moller was leaving him destitute, but the goods I saw there ■would have kept Kennell five or six months, and there was a vessel lying there at the time. We did not confine Rennell until Moller died. Kennell told me that I did not know who he was; that I should treat him with civility. Then I said, “I shall let you know who I am,” and then I shut him up. Kennell was treated on board better than any passenger I have had since I have been in the .trade. I told) him Captain Moller was dead. He said he wished he had shot himself first; that he never intended to shoot him. There were two or three cases of grog in Eennell’s house. They were brought from Samoa. I think Kennell had been drinking. I was sure when Captain Moller asked Kennell for a settlement he said he would give him one on Monday, He told him what copra he had received, and he said next day he would settle. Moller went ashore in the morning and brought some things off. I asked him how they stood then, and he said there were some some 70 or 80 dollars

difference between them. I said, “ When you go ashore this afternoon I would ask him to square in cash ; he must have it ” It appears that when Captain Moller went there in the afternoon he asked Rennell for cash, and Reunell told him he had not got the cash. Moller said, “ If you have not got the cash I will take this keg of beef,” and that is when Rennell shot him.