Glasgow Courier. — 1857-09-15 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DEGRADATION OF AN AFRICAN CHIEF.  A case occurred lately of some interest, as illustrating savage life, at our colony of Cape Coast Castle, a small African settlement, chiefly known or remembered in this country as the scene of the last unhappy days and death of the poetess A native chief, Afframpon, Captain of Mampon, in western Wassaw, was tried on the 11th of May last before the judicial assessor and a jury, for the murder of a male child, which the savage had ordered to be put in a pot and buried while still alive. Afframpon was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. Murders, it appears, are not uncommon on the Gold Coast, from superstition no less than revenge, the natives being firm believers in witchcraft, and believing also that the souls of those killed wait upon persons in the other world. The Governor of the colony, Sir Benjamin C. Campbell Pine, has set himself against this system of murder; but it appeared that a previous ruler, • Governor Hill, had written to the Chief of Western Wassaiv, stating that no notice would be taken of events which. had occurred in that country before it came fully under British protection. There was reason to believe that the murder of the child was committefl subsequent to that time, but still there was some doubt on the poin', and Sir Benjamin Pine conceived that a sufficient example would be made by degrading Afframpon from his native dignity, without i esorting to capital punishment. On the 20th of June, the day appointed for the east- ''nos were drawn up in front of the was fired in honour of her Ma. the civil and military officers h a great concourse of per. was an appaling novelty. .ibes the scene as striking aged and trembling culprit from the prison with a rope tated with fear of his impend. Secretary advanced in front the Governor's proclamation, 1 but condemning him to be time, to lodge a large good conduct, and to :as Chief or Captain listened to this proclamaHis baton or chieftain's staff his head, his sword was also other insignia smashed, and chief thus terminated The scene was painised with it and with , that whoever should man, woman, or child would death, by being 'disgrace. 'The Governor also and magistrates, and to make known the words at they may pass through and rivers, and be heard of the protected terri...adorers may have no excnse, may rest in peace.' So be it !  WilS  cution, the troops Castle, a royal salute jesty's accession, and all the civil attended in full state, with sons. to whom the gallows correspondent describes and picturesque. The • was then brought down • round his neck, and agitated ing fate. The Colonial I of the Fort, and read , reprieving Afframpon, 'kept a close prisoner for some slum of money for his future g forfeit his honours dignities of Wampon. The Chief listened "tion in great agony. was then broken over S broken, his stool and his dignity as a native with every mark of ignominy. ful, but all were deeply impressed the words of the proclamation, • ,take away the llfe of a inset certainly be put to fully hanged by the neck. 4't ailed upon all commandants , la I native kings and chiefs to • , of the proclamation, so that • the bush, and over the hills in every town and village tones, in order that murderers and that the people  Oar"  and