ALLEGED PIRACY AND MURDER

Temuka Leader, Issue 2371, 18 June 1892, Page 3

ALLEGED PIRACY AND MURDER

Sydney, May 30. The steamer Archer, which arrived from the Marshall Islands to-day, brings news of a shocking crime, said to have been committed in the Caroline Islands. Information of the occurrence was received from the master of the schooner Micronesia, which happened to be at Jalvit when the Archer was there. According to his statement a mystetious schooner arrived at the island of Ponape about two months ago, and, soon after she came into port, the cook deserted and visted ; the Government of the island, to whom he communicated the fact that the vessel had been stolen by the Belgians, who were then in charge of her. His story was sensational to a degree. He said that while the schooner was lying at one of the Society Islands two Belgains had come on board, and having shot the master and super-cargo poisoned the crew of five and then threw the bodie? overboard. The cook did not mention how he escaped, but it is supposed that he was made an unwilling participator in the crime. According to his story the vessel then left for Penrhyn Island, where three black boys were kidnapped, and made to work at the ship. The explanation given to the authorities as to the crew being so shorthanded was that the sailors had deserted at Penrhyn Island, which made the last port visited. After hearing the story, the Governor visited the schooner, and found on examination that her original name had been scratched off, while those in possession declined to say under what name she now traded. They were accordingly taken into custody and sent by a Spanish man-of-war to Manilla, where they will be tried on a charge of murder. The schooner meantime lies at Ponape Island waiting identification. Amongst her cargo was found 3500 dols in cash, a large quantity of preserved meat bearing the Auckland Meat Company's label, and a number of tins of biscuits branded " California Cracker Company." The Archer heard of this schooner at several of the islands which she visited, and on each occasion those in command have given a different account of where they had come from and whither they were going. The names of tho Belgians are not known.