The Outrage by the Fijian.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3671, 30 September 1880, Page 2

The Outrage by the Fijian.

THE GOBONEB'S INQUEST.

STATEMENT BX THE CULPRIT.— VERDICT OP "WILFUL MURDER."

The Coroner's inquest over the remains of the murdered man, Henry Louis Bees, was held to-day, before Dr Philson, at the Eden Tine Hotel, Sub-Inspector Pardy conducted the examination, and Mr Thurston (of Fiji) interpreted for the benefit of the prisoner, who was present.

Aftei the jury had viewed the body, it was turned over to expose the back of the head in order that the gaping wound might be fully perceived. The appearance which it presented was terrible beyond description. The skull had been cleft open, and the sides of the wound were fully two inches asunder.

The following is an account of the evidence adduced at the inquiry, and the statement or confession of the prisoner;— Emma Bees, 12 years old, deposed to going out (on the return of her mother from Auckland) along the road in order, if possible, to meet her father, when she saw a black man with an axe in his hand walking along the road. She got frightened and ran back, but did not tell her mother for fear of alarming her, as her father had not returned.

Dr Hooper deposed that from an exami uation of the body death must have been nearly instantaneous. The man could not have survived more than two or three minutes.' The first blow was delivered from behind and the other as he lay upon the ground, or just as be was falling. Mr Melville deposed to the capture of the prisoner, and said that in the struggle he broke prisoner's forearm.

The Coroner said it was a pity it had not been his skull. The prisoner, on being asked if he had any statement to make, said he admitted his guilt. The reason why he committed the outrages was the many outrages in Fiji. At Saw some natives seduced an Island woman,the wife of his friend,and some Fiji soldiers intrigued with her also, fie was angry, and spoke to them, when they called him bad names, and he brooded over ifc. He came to Auckland with Woolcott. One day Woolcott spoke angrily to him; and another day, accompanied by another white man, he corrected him and scolded him, because some house work was not done. The new white man, whom he did not know, told him Europeans would hang him to a beam. He brooded over this. He attacked young Woolcott because the children were chaffing and teasing him. They told him the Maories would come and cut his hands off, and put his extremities in the fire. Amongst other things that annoyed him they s:id he was a little man, and could no nothing, and they could turn him round. He then took the axe and struck Gibson Woolcott. He had nothing more to say. The jury at once returned a verdict of "wilful murder," and the Coroner issued his warrant authorising.,' the police to arrest the prisoner on the charge.