Evening journal., 1913-08-27
EACH CLUB MEMBER
MUST Be MURDERER
Human LeOpardS Of Sierra
Leone Kill to Make
Medicine


secret society known as the Society
of Human Leopards, despite the ef-
forts of the authorities, still -four
ishes in the district of Sierra Leone.
The members of the society believed
in a medicine they called 'ibortima,"
the principal ingredient of which is
human fat, and no one could gain
admittance into the society until. he
had slaughtered one of his fellow
men. The general practice was for
member to disguise himself in a
leopard's skin and attack his victim
from behind by thrusting a three
prong fork into the neck, thus sew
ering the spinal cord.
AS a result of a recent trial it was
brought out that the society was in
existence long before the British
protectorate was established in 1896.
For years the authorities suspected
that these murders were prevalent,
but only in isolated cases had it
been possible TO prove the murder,
and then only a few persons were
brought to trial
In 1912 the Northern Sherbro dis
ltrict was formed and Major Fair
tough, who was in administrative
charge, had as his assistant Major
Williams, who was in charge of the
Imperri section of the district In
] July last a murder occurred in I'm
| peril town under revolving circum-
stances, but the authorities took pos
session of the body before the MEM
bers of the society we're able to
cary it off.
Took Dractic Measures.
Major Williams Immediately took
drastic measures, as he arrested and
! held in custody all the leading per-
sons in the chiefdom Certain per-
sons turned Kings evidence and were
pressed to divulge the full working
of the society These accomplices
gave The authorities details Of an
astounding number of murders and
disclosed the identity of many prom
inent chiefs and native traders who
were members of the society.
Wholesale arrests followed, prac-
tically all the influential chiefs and
prominent native traders being taken
into custody. The action of the execu-
tive aroused a storm of indignation
and wild rumors of native risings
were circulated in Freetown and
troops were imported from the Gold
Coast. Subsequently, in Difference to
strong local opinion, all those per-
sons against whom there was no
lcorroborative evidence beyond sworn
statements of accomplices we're re-
leased, although many so liberated
were later rearrested and dealt with
politically.
The authorities in England took
such a serious view of the condition
of affairs that a special commission
court ordinance was passed, and Sir
William Branford Griffith was sent
out from England to sit as president.
The extensive ramifications of the So
ciety were proved to the court, and
it was even stated that a member
Of the society had frequently to give
up one of his own family as a victim.
Society FlOurished Then.
From the evidence given, says the
Standard, 1t was clear that the So
ciety fourished at the time Of the in
quiry. The objects of the society
were:
1. To make sacrifices to their med
icine. the "borfma," which is sup
posed to have wonderful power.
2. To obtain human fat, which is
credited with giving mystic powers to
any person rubbing 1t on his face be-
fore going to 'palaver" or to inter-
view the authorities.
3. Cannibalism pure and simple.
According to the statements of wit
nesses, all the flesh of the victim was
eaten, cooked with rice or raw, ac-
cording to taste The making and
component parts of "borima", on
which the warm blood of the victim
is poured. were also disclosed. Every
person entering the society is Joined
to the "borfma" by having his thigh
lanced with a needle, and his blood
spread on the "borfima." The wound
was then dressed with a special prep
aration, which left a peculiar scar.
Another from of recognition between
members was a special handshake.
As a result of the trial a number OF
the prisoners were hanged, while
others were imprisoned or deported.
Many of those sentenced to deporta-
tation went across the border to Ii
IBERIA, where the society also existed,
and in Sierra Leone it is believed
that many of the recent murders have
been instigated from Liberia.
The opinion of local authorities and
others resident in Sierra Leone is
that It is almost impossible to check
the working Of the society unless
strong action is taken.
TNnN nnwmw~