MURDER CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1920, Page 1

MURDER CHARGES

BLACKS AND WHITES. SYDNEY, November 4. 'As long as the far North-West of Australia, is peopled by whites . and blacks there will be conflicts. Away out at Broome —brindle Broome it is called, because of its polygot races—a police expedition has brought in four prisoners, two men and two gins, charged with the murder of two white men who had left Broome in a pearling lugger, the wreck of which was found by Spanish missionaries who live in ft spot vsiited perhaps only once a year. Their last visitor was a cinema man ; it was eleven months since they had seen an outsider within their gates. Another back tragedy was the disappearance of a warrant officor from li.M.A. S. Geranium. It was surmised that ho had been killed by blacks, but his body was found half eaten by alligators, and what remained of it now rests with in the cloistered quiet of the old Spanish mission. Now there comes the death of an aboriginal, and a charge of murder against a drover. The staging of this drama is not described, but it is evidently the great cattle country up North. An aboriginal, corroborating the story of another, said he had been told by the drover to keep singing round the ca ttle at- night. He did so. The drover, it is alleged, protested, that t was not loud enough, and calling him into the camp, hit him in the face, knocked him down, knelt on his body, and gave him “plenty more hit everywhere.” The murdered man then hit the drover with his fist. He used no weapons and had no stone. -It was a long fight. Next morning, it was further alleged, the drover, on horseback, and with a rifle, drove the black from the camp. When the drover returned he said, • according to the evidence, “Go to hell and see your mate, he is properly dead,’’ addressing one of the other aboriginals. The drover’s story has not yet been beard, but the tragedy appears to reveal once again that between whites and blacks out on the fringe of civilisation there will always He something of a barrier.