A SAMOAN PRISON-BREAKER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2912, 26 July 1882, Page 3

A SAMOAN PRISON-BREAKER.

On a recent occasion, (says the “ Fiji Times ’’) there were two detenues in the lock-up or prison at Apia, Samoa, a half-caste Otaheitian, and another. The half-caste got tired of his involuntary, seclusion, and found a way to extricate himself therefrom by making, begging, or stealing, a skeleton key. Armed with this he at the dead of night, let himself out, and laid certain tenements in the town under contribution for an early repast, returning before daylight, and carefully re-locking the door. Amongst others whom he had repeatedly visited most unceremoniously and unwelcomely was Mr Anderson, a baker. On the latest occasion of his making a domiciliary visit, a friend of Mr Anderson’s was upon the premises, and this gentleman, happening to encounter the redoubtable burglar, attacked him with a native club, the intruder suffering the fracture of a few ribs in the encounter, after which he managed to crawl hack to durance vile and lock the door behind usual. The next day, however, -he was very sick, and, on being identified by the American, was brought before the Magistrate’s Court, where the sentence was —listen. Oh, ye Stipendiaries of Fiji!—to have four dozen lashes administered npon the spot, several months additional imprisonment, with a refresher of eighteen additional lashes at the termination of his sentence. The first part was effectually performed by several stalwart members of the native police force, who, being told off to administer a dozen and a half each, did so con amore , and the sufferer is now incarcerated, awaiting the conclusion of his sentence, minus the key.