The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-18
PITCAIRN SAW
AN ATROC|OUS
DOUBLE MURDER
Terrible Tale of Love
and Crime.
HARRY CHRISTIANS DEED
SLEW MISTRESS AND CHILD TO
WED ANOTHER.
SLEW MISTRESS AND CHILD TO
WED ANOTHER.
The Assassin Was Convicted and
Made to Stretch Hemp by the
Representatives Of
John Bull.

Three islanders arrived here from far
Pitcairn last Thursday night on the Brit
ish ship General Roberts. The vessel was
thirty-seven days out from Newcastle, N.
S. w, when the island was sighted. AS
the wind was favorable Captain Tearon
decided to run down to the speck in the
ocean and secure a supply of fruit and
vegetables. When a boat put off from
the island to the General Roberts, Thomas
Christian was one of the crew, and he
asked for a passage for himself and wife
and brother to San Francisco. The GAL
liant captain and his wife were agreeable.
so the three islanders took passage on the
ship.
Mrs. Christian is an American, having
beein born and raised in South Dakota.
Over a year ago she came to California
on a visit, where she met and married
Thomas Christian, q descendant Of one
of the mutineers of the Bounty. From
here they went to Pitcairn on the British
ship Hyderbad and are now back in the
State again for visit.
There are only five family names on
Pitcairn. They are Mccoy, Warren,
Christian, Young and Coffin. family by
the name of Smith have taken up their
abode on the island during the past year.
but they have not as yet Joined the COL
ony.
Mr.. Smith came aboard the General
Roberts to see us off, said Mrs. Chris
tan yesterday, land the last thing he
said to me was, Tell my friends in Cali
fornia that | am going to end my days
on Pitcairn Mr.. Smiths initials are j.
G., and he used to own a ranch in Iowa
He came to California for his health
at Lomoore, Kings County. He and his
wife, his daughter Lizzie, aged 20, and
son Robbie, aged IL, went to Pitcairn on
Zie would like to visit the States again
think Mr.. and Mrs. Smith will end their
days on Pitcairn. On their arrival they
was built for them, and now they are
quite comfortable and contented."
The story of the murder of Clara War
rem and her child by Harry Christian on
Pitcairn has been partially told exelu-
sively in The Call. Last November the
murderer was taken to Fiji on the British
for his crime. The arm of British JUS
tice is very long when 1T comes to giving
the slayer of woman and chllo MS de-
serts.
Harry Christian brought the first real
horror they had ever known into the lives
of the islanders" said Mrs. Christian, on
board the General Roberts yesterday. He
the woman who was looked
upon as his wife, and his child. Harry
fell in love with Clara Warren, and she
bore him a daughter. When the child was
about eighteen. months old he got tired of
his old love and wanted to get rid of her.
as he was smitten with Edith Young,
niece Of Rose Young, the author Of the
Story of the Bounty and wanted to
marry her She would have nothing to
do with him, and he laid It at the door
of Clara Warren and his child. How the
thing happened will never be known, but
Harry, Clara and the child were seen
on the cliffs one evening. The next morn
ing Harry was around as usual, but Clara
and the child were never seen again. Some
of their clothing was found on the rocks
below when the tide went out, but that
was the only trace ever recovered of
Clara and her child.
Harry Christian was accused OF the
murder of Clara Warren and her child,
and President Alfred Young and a council
of six tried him for the offense. He was
found guilty. and word vas sent to Eng
news was telegraphed to Sydney, N. 8.
W., and the m ian R Roy was was
stopped at Fiji and took aboard Judge
Hunter, the British High Commissioners.
In whose jurisdiction Pitcairn lies. Upon
his arrival Christian was tried again and
found guilty. He was taken to FIJI and
hanged last night, believe"