The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-07-15
JUSTICE in AFRICA.



[Hoiubb's Seven Years in South Afrca."l
A Barolong, quite advanced in years,
had set his affections upon fatherless
girl of fifteen, living In the town she
peremptorily refused to become his wife,
and as he could not afford to buy her, he
devised cunning stratagem to obtain
her. He offered his hand to the girls
mother, who did not hesitate to accept
him by thus marrying the mother, he
secured the residence of the daughter in
his own quarters; the near intercourse,
he hoped, would overcome her repug-
nance to himself; but neither his APP
pearance nor his conversation, mainly
relating to his wealth in cattle, had the
least effect in altering her disposition
toward him. Accordingly, he resorted
to the linyaka. Aware Of the pains that
were being taken to force her into the
marriage the girl carefully avoided every
action that could be interpreted as sign
of regard. As she was starting off to the
fields one morning to her usual work, her
stepfather called her back, and If her
own story was trIe, the following con-
versation took place: aa~Fs
81 know you hate me" he said.
"E-he, che p she assented.
"Well, well, so must it he p' he an
swered, but he stamped his staff with
rage OH the ground.
Eyes. SO must it be-" replied she.
"But you must promise me" he con-
timed, Z" that you will not marry an
other husband"
Maya" she cried, bursting out
laughing maya"
"Then I'll poison you" he yelled.
The girl, according to her own ac-
count, wa, alarmed and went and told
her mother and another woman, who
were working close by the river. They
tried to feassure her, telling her that her
stepfather was only in joke, but they did
not allay her apprehensions.
That very evening, while she was
taking her simple supper OF watermelon,
he called her off and sent her on some
message when she returned she finished
her meal, but in the course OF an hour
or two she was writhing in most violent
agony. In the height of her sufferings
she reminded her mother and the friends
who had gathered round her of what had
transpired in the morning. Her shrieks
of pain grew louder and louder, and
when they were silenced she was uncon-
scious. Before midnight she was a
corpse. fr
The stepfather was, of course, marked
out as the murderer; the evidence to be
produced against him seemed incontesti-
BILE; the old man had actually been seen
gathering leaves and tubers in the fore
noon, which he had afterward boiled in
his own courtyard The accused, how
ever, was one of Molemas adherents
he had served him faithfully for half a
century, and Molema accordingly felt it
his duty to do everything in his power
to protect him, SO he sent over Moshan-
eng for Montsua to come and take the
Office of judge ut the trial. He was in
the midst of the inquiry when [ arrived.
Meanwhile, the defendant had COM
plete liberty he might for the time be
Stunned by the population, but he
walked about the streets as usual, trust
ing thoroughly to Molema's ciemency
and influence, and certain that he should
be able to buy himself off with few
bullocks.
The trial lasted two days; after each
sitting the court was entertained with
bochabe, sort of meal-pap
The evidence was conclusive; the YER
dict of equity" was unanimous Mont
sua said he should have been bound to
pass sentence of death, but Molema
had assured him there were many extern
uating circumstances and taking all
things into account, he considered 1t
best to leave the actual sentence IN his
hands. Molema told the convicted man
to keep out of the way for few days
until Montsua ceased to think about the
matter, and then sending for him, as
he strolled about, passed the Judgment
that he should forfeit COW as peace
offering to the deceased girls next of
kin, the next of kin in this case being his
wife and himself.