LYNCHING AT SAMOA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 18, 21 January 1878, Page 2

LYNCHING AT SAMOA.

The Samoa Times says:— "A person named Fox, purporting to be an American citizen, and who lately arrived at Samoa from the Line Islands, entered the York Hotel with two men, aud called fiv four drinks. He had not been there long before he fell backwards, and almost immediately died, wiLhout a murmur; blood was flowing copiously from the lower part of the body. The American Consul was sent for, as the murdered man had claimed the Cnited States of America to be his country. At daylight on Sunday morning Dr. Turner was sent for, and examiued the body. Suspicion having pointed to one Charles Cochrane as the culprit, the American Consul at once issued a warrant for his arrest, which was shortly afterwards accomplished." The Consular Court having heard the evidence, adjudged the prisoner guilty, and ordered that he be taken to America for sentence. He was for this purpose placed on board the schooner Ada MaryAfter the decision was given a public meeting of the inhabitants waa convened and they resolved by 45 to 5 to carry out the summary punishment. Ttto boats were obtained, and about thirty of those present at the meeting proceeded on board, and obtained the prisoner without any trouble. The prisoner appeared to be quite prepared, and expecting that he would soon be demanded by the populace, for he did not offer the slightest resistance, but quietly submitted to be placed in the boat. While in the boat, and coming on shore, the prisoner remarked, "This is what comes through keeping bad company." As soon as the prisoner was brought on shore, the ltev. Dr. Turner was sent for, in accordance with the request of prisoner. It was about half past nine when the rev. gentleman arrived. He was told by the prisoner that he was prepared to die, that he looked to Jesus Christ as his only Saviour. He also said that he was innocent of the charge of wilful murder, that he might have accidentally stabbed the man, but not with auy intent. He also requested Dr. Turner to pray with, and for him. Immediately after prayer, the prisoner walked half across the room towards the guard at the door, and remarked, " Now I am ready." He was then blindfolded aud led to the place of execution, which was immediately opposite the hotel in which the murder was committed. The apparatus consisted of a pretty stout line, reeved through a double p-tent block, which was attached to a cocoanut tree, about thirty feet from the ground. Upon reaching the foot of the tree from which he was doomed to hang, he said in a clear voice, •' You are going to hang an innocent man; there is one man on this beach who has committed a greater crime than that for which I am to be hung, and may the Lord have pity on his soul, and mine too." The rope was then placed round his neck, aud he was run up, and appeared to die without a struggle. It was then ten o'clock, aud the body was allowed to remain suspended till ten o'clock next morning, when it was taken down and decently buried. Everything, from the commencement of the meeting till the burial, was conducted with the utmost order.