MALAITA MURDERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19160, 17 November 1927, Page 7

MALAITA MURDERS.

A NEW VERSION. LTHE PRESS Special Service] AUCKLAND. November IG. A new version of the murder of District Commissioner Bell is given in a letter received by Mr J. O'Neill, of Bayswater, from his nephew, Mr Charles A. Cowan, in the Solomon Islands. It appears that Mr Bell and his party were not murdered while collecting taxes in a village, as previously stated. The District Commissioner, and his boys, says Mr Cowan, wero anchored out in the Bay of Malaita in a big launch. The sentry must have been asleep, as Malaita natives came off in war canoes, surprised the party, and managed to get away without losing a' single man. Mr Bell and his assistant were killed outright. Of the escort of 15 native police-boys, 'five managed to escape wounded. As the murderers .were armed with Sniders and Winchesters, and, in addition, had captured 20 of the latest rifles and two revolvers, it was considered that their capture would be no easy matter. Tliis same crowd caused three previous murders, says Mr Cowan. They are members of the only tribe on Malaita which will not give up headhunting. They had no grudge against Mr Bell. He always .took the part of natives against whites, so they have no sense of gratitude. Several attempts had previously been made, he adds, to take the District Commissioner's life.