HEBRIDES MURDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19011, 6 November 1923, Page 8

HEBRIDES MURDER.

PLANTER SHOT AND EATEN. A WITCH DOCTOR’S ORDER. NATIVES TO BE HANGED. Further details of the horrible murder of the English trader Clapcott, in the island ot Santo, New Hebrides, in July, and the subsequent conviction of 17 natives last month, were brought to Sydney by passengers on the steamer Makamho last week. A witch doctor's promise, which could not tie fulfilled till a white man was killed, resulted in the longest and most' exciting trial in tho history of the New Hebrides. ‘Tn the south-western corner of the big island of Santo for the past four or five years much unrest, has been by witchcraft, witch doctors, and sorcerers,” said one of the passengers. “Of these Roncvoro was the in«st ambitious. He was a man about 35 years of age and a full-blooded native. He professed to ba able to resurrect the dead and promised his followers that soon a large steamer would arrive loaded with rice which would be distributed free. From his followers he collected money—sometimes as much as five shillings a week in English money. “When they did not sec the boat coming nor the dead returning to life they grew impatient. Ronovoro then explained that the spirit of a white man stood between his wishes and their fulfilment, and that it would be necessary to kill the man. “The white man whom he found easiest to kill was Clapcott, a trader on a «rnail scale, who was stone deaf. “The night before the murder about 800 natives met for a ‘sing-song.’ It was then decided to depute two to go, armed with rifles, to Clapoott’s hut early the following morning, July 34. Clapcott’s dog warned him of their approach, and as he went to the door of his but to investigate he waa shot, and fell badly wounded. Another shot was fired at him, wounding him in tho groin and then three more natives arrived and fired a bullet each. Afterwards they dragged the body into the bush whero part of it was eaten. A week later two planters landed near the spot in their launch. Two friendly natives told them about the murder, and the following day the remains were found and buried. “Messages irwc sent to a French steamer that was passing, and when a wireless message reached Vila the Government yacht went out with a detachment of police. tn less than three days 17 natives were arrested, including the sorcerer. All were committed for trial, and on Sepeomber 17 the trial took place. It occupied three davs—a jecord for Vila. “In Ronovoro’s huts all Clapcott’s goods weie found, as well ns about £20(1 in money. “Six of the 17.' including the flo.cerer, were sentenced to be hanged, and the rest received sentences ranging from two to 10 veors Tho executions will take place shortly. “The constitution of the court was remarkable. The president was a Dutchman, the pi.bbc prosecutor a Belgian; there were two judges, one a Frenchman and tho other British; there were two British assessors and two French assessors. The prisoners were tried under British law, because Rio murdered man was British. Had be been a Frenchman the French law would have been employed. Then, instead of hanging, the penalty would have been beheading. “Since (his atrocity public feeling lias been ar«iis“d by the sforv of the killing of a naHve at Port Sandwich, in the island of Maleknla. A French planter has l, c en dm reed with murder, and committed for trial.”