The West Australian Scandal

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1250, 14 February 1905, Page 2

The West Australian Scandal

Revolting Revelations Charges "Faked" Against Natives Barbarous Treatment Press Association.—Copyright. Perth, this day. An extract from Dr. Roth's report states: An aboriginal child, fourteen years old, undergoing two years' hard labour for al-legedjcattle-killing, examined, said that he was caught by a polio sman, who asked if he bad killed the cattle, He said no The polioeman and another man then talked together, aa«? said they would, shoot him. One of them put a cartridge into a rifte and pointed it at witness, This frightenejl him, so he at onoe said, 'I did kill the bullock.' He was taken with somo other blacktellows, who were also frightened, and thoy all said they had killed bullocks because thoy were frightened. The policeman put hand cuffs on their legs and hands, two of them being ohainud together by the legs. Tlpy then caught some more black felliws and nomo gins, and took them away. Afterwards prisoner was taken to the Courthouse, but ihey said nothing because they had been to'id not to talk, Tbe magistrate did not ask them whether they killed the bullock. STATEMENT BY A GAOLER

George Scott, gaoler at Wyndhaui,gave evidence before the B.oth Commi-sion Ho stated that there were 103 aboriginals in|Wyndhani gaol, and that practically the whole of them were charged with cattlokilling. The youngest was between eleven and twolve, All received from six months' lo two years' imprisonment with hard labour. Their idea was that that they were in gaol for road-mak-ing, but the educated majority got to know that they were in gaol for oauiel-killing. The native prisoners we exceedingly well behaved. There was one boy, 15 years old, serving nine months for killing a goat. One native prisoner was unablo to do any work, and was almost in a-state of oollapse when raceived, and in that condition it was impossible for him to be guilty .of killing cattle. He died eighteen days after being admitted, By their own assertions every native caught meant more money in the poekets of the police. He believed that the squatters and their employees did shoot natives.

SERMONS ON THE DISCLOSURES. Sermons have been preached in a num* bur of the ohutohes regarding the diselo sures of the Both commission, The preachers strongly nrge'd'that immediute reforms be adopted for the puniebmont of the guilty. The Colonial Secretary states that thore are many matters regarding the natives which cannot be dealt with now, but, that the new Aborigines Protection Bill will be among the first of the Bills introduced next session, and immediately it was passed many reforms would be made. He recognised that there (were evils that could be'remedied without'; the aid of a new measure. The exißtingjogis't lation was adequate to rectify .certain J fluid, andth«M wetfl engaging atploa,