The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-09-02 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MURDER AND CANNIBALISM IN THE SOUTH SEAL—From Aucantue, New Zasistud, particulars have been received . of the treacherous murder of Mr. Clyne Smith, the . German naturalist. The information was brought to Auckland by toe steamer Ripple, Captain Woodhouse. The murder was cornuotted on the New Britain Island, and two Frenchmen, woo accompanied Mr. Smith, shared the same late. The deceased gentleman went across from his station at the Duke of Yark Island. where he left his wife. He was talking to the natives, when he was struck down from behind before he could offer the slightest resistance. His French comrades, who were the remaining representatives of the Marquis of Ray's expedition, were killed in a similar manner. Mr. Salida, it was stated, went through the Ameoican war, and it was he who iiluminated the address to Sir Hercules Robinson at the time of the annexed= or the Fiji Islands, Tue murder at the same island of a diver named Daniel Hall was also reported by Captain Woodhouse. who was engaged on board the Ripple, and went on shore to recover some articles which had been stolen by the natives. He had no sooner put his foot on the beach than he was attacked by armed savages and killed on the spot. Captain Woodhouse made strenuous endeavours to obtain possession of the body ot the deceased in order to bury it. Tuis, however, he was prevented doing by the natives, who ate up the remains of poor Hall. The reports from the other islands in the South Sea stated that the natives were very turbulent and treacherous. One or two vessels reported that when they neared the shore they were surrounded by natives in war canoes, fully prepared for an attack. The ()Incas therefore refused to enter into negotiations with thew, and sailed away from the scene, not permitting any of the natives to come on the desk of their vessels. At Sittingbourne on Tuesday, Henry W. Beebe, a tripe vendor, formerly a letter-carrier at the Sittingbourne Post-utlico, and who had previously been a butler in the service of many gentlemen of position, was charged with committing a violent assault upon his wife, Mary Ann Beale°. He was further charged with assaulting Policeconstable Wills in the execution of his duty. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner, who It been drinking, tore his wife's clothing off her back, and dragged her from room to room by the hair of her head. Ile at terwards' took bola of her by her feet and dashed her up and down upon an iron bedstead. Her body was a mass of buisea from head to foot. The complainant added that these assaults were of constant occurrence, and that the prisoner had taken a knife and threatened to kill her. In cross-exammation, Mrs. Bahia admitted that she threw a period of water over the prisoner, but she was exasperated by his throwing some over her first. When P.O. Wills went to apprehend the prisoner he found him smashing up all the crockery ware and furniture in the house, with the doors locked inside. The constable got in through the window, and the prisoner gave him two violent blows in the face, and tore his uniform coat nearly to pieces. The prisoner said his wife was continually exasperating him. Sae had jemed the Salvation Army, ant he supposed she tuougut that by doiug so she would get to heaven herself and send him to hell. She threw water over him hofure he laid Ms hand upon her. The magistrates sentenced the prisoner to six weeks h,rl labour f.r too assault upon his wife, and to two weeks' hard labour tor the assault upon the constable, the latter sentence to commence at the expiration of tne first. The prisoner bade his wife good-bye, and fund be supposed she would in and be haPPY SZOWO