SAMOAN RIOT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1930, Page 8

SAMOAN RIOT

THTi' CORONER'S ENQUIRY

FULL TEXT OF FINDINGS,

WELLINGTON, February 24. The full text of the Coroner’s findings at the inquest respecting the deaths in the riot in Apia, 'Western Samoa, on December 28th, was calculated to-day by the Prime Minister’s Department. The document consists of a full review of the evidence tendered and incorporates the summary 'of conclusions already published.

* One point of interest not previously referred to is the Coroner s finding from the evidence that Constable Abraham was not using bis revolver during the final attack made on him. When the body was discovered it was seen that his revolver had been forced off its lanyard and taken away. One Hickey saw a Samoan force off the leather revolver holster from Abra-

ham’s equipment. “That, coupled with the fact that Abraham had both his hands in front

of his face before he fell the last time lends me to the conclusion that his levolver was then in its holster, and was taken by the Samoan together with the holster at the time Hickey saw him force it off from the constable’s equipment,” said the Coroner. Concerning the Lewis gun fire, the Coroner said he believed the police

denial of the suggestions that they had two ordinary machine guns mounted on the balcony of the police station before the arresting party left the

station, and that both these guns were used- against the Samoans. He was further satisfied that the only automatic gun fire employed was the fire from the Lewis gun in the hands of Sergeant Waterson. The Coroner found that no casualties wore caused by the firing of the machine gun. He added:—“Sergeant Waterson was in possession of a deadly weapon, the results of which, when fired into a crowd of people, are devastating. The weapon, however, is

one which has a tremendous moral effect if fired over the heads of people Being an experienced Lewis gunner he was justified in firing the gun in the

way he did for the purpose of causing by its moral effect the turning back of those who were advancing towards the'police station. In this purpose he succeeded.”

The view of the Coroner that the rifle-fire dpyvn Ifi Ifi street was not necessary was qualified in the following terms: ‘‘lt is very difficult, however, to appreciate the position of the police at that time. They had just been engaged in heavy fighting against a large number of Samoans, who had without justification set upon them to prevent them from carrying out their duty. .They had with difficulty extricated themselves from a precarious position. Most of them had received injuries. The position, as viewed from the police station, balcony, justified Sergeant Water-son opening fire wi+h his Lewis gun over the heads of the people. Stones were falling on the roof, and windows were breaking on the eastern side of the building. One Samoan had made his way to the eastern side of the Market Hall, and was seen by Shawe Jones with a revolver pointed towards the police station. In such circumstances as I have detailed, it is inevitable that some action will he taken which may appear at'‘the time to have been justified, but when enquired into subseouently. is found to have been unnecessary. That is the conclusion to which T come in regard to the rifle fire which caused the deaths of Hi Mi Chief Tama'sose. Tuia, and Migao.”