Britain Steps In To Save Gold Coast Natives From Gallows

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 March 1947, Page 5

Britain Steps In To Save Gold Coast Natives From Gallows

Reed. 5.5 p.m. London, March 3 The House of Commons intervened dramatically to save five 3old Coast natives found guilty f ritualistic murder, on the eve if their execution. The Colonial Minister (Mr. Creeeh - Jones), yielding to demands from all parts of the House after Mr. Churchill had declared that the ■xecution would be an affront rgaiust every decent tradition of Iritish administration, agreed to nake the strongest representations to the Gold Coast Governor <> secure postponement. Mr. L. Hale (Labour) raised the question, saying the four condemned men who were to be executed to-mor-rew already had been taken to the lace of execution six times. Mr. Creech-Jones, replying to Mr. Churchill, admitted the men over the part two years had been taken to the ;>■««» nt execution, some said five itma* »on.« said four. Mr. Hopkin Morris asked: Does not that «mw»t tarnish the good name ot i Ma ••entry'. Has the postponed .apitai Mntence been carried out? Mr. Creech-Jones said that to en>e fullest investigation and on representation of members, he xicualy had delayed the execution.

Mr. Creech-Jones said: “I will ask tiie Governor, most seriously to consider postponement. 1 cannot postpone ” Mr. Churchill said the Minister could suspend the Governor if he chose. Hr should certainly consider this if there was no other of gaining time. “Is not this exhibition of impotence on the part of the head of a Government department—that he

wish the men to be executed, and yet does not know whether they will be or not —a shocking thing?” asked Mr. Churchill.

Reuter says the four natives are now in the condemned cell at Accra. Appeals and petitions led to their removal from the cell, but each time the decision of a West African judge and jury, which sentenced, them to death in November, 1944, was upheld.

Router adds that the murder followed the ceiomonial funeral of Sir OXori Atta, paramount chief or Kibi. One native, who attended the funeral disappeared. The police alleged he was killed to obtain human blood for the ceremonial. They ai rested Atta’s three sons and five “Throne sons” Four of these were sentenced to death. It is the first time the police obtained such sentence in the Gold Coast for a ritualistic murder.

‘ Whitehall expressed a fear that witch doctors would attempt to undermine the natives’ faith in British justice, says the “Daily Express.” It regards the situation as “delicate" and reports from the Gold Coast indicate that a reprieve would bo regarded as a victory for the “black juju” and thai rioting would probably follow. The “Daily Mail” nays that alto;'

Mr. Churchill made his final point of "it may be a point of life or death,” Mr. Creech-Jones hurried from the Commons and sent a “stop executions" telegram Io Sir Alan Burns, Governor of the Gold Coast.