Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1881-09-02 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

MURDER AND CANNIBALISM IN THE SOUTH SEAS.—From Auckland, New Zdaiaud, particulars have been received of the treacherous murder of Mr. Clyne Smith, the German naturalist. Tee information was brought to Auckland by tee steamer Ripple, Captain Woodhouse. The murder was committed on the New Britain Island, and two Frenchmen, wao accompanied Mr. Smith, (Mated the same tate. The deceased gentleman went across from his station at the Duke of Yale 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. Saudi, it was stated, went through the Ameiican war, and it was he who uluminated the address to Sir Hercules Robinson at the time of the annexaiion of the Fiji Islands. Tee murder at the same island of a diver named Daniel Hall was also reported by Captain Woodhouse, Hall, 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 of the deceased in order to bury it. This, 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 officers therefore refused to enter into negotiations with them, and sailed away from the scene, not permitting any of the natives to come on the desk of their vessels. At Sittingeourne on Tuesday, Henry W. Beslee, a tripe vendor, fetmerly a letter-carrier at the Sittingbourne Post-office, 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 Beslee. He was further charged with assaulting Police. constable Wills in the execution of his duty. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner, who had been drinking, tore his wife's clothing off her back, and dragged her from room to route by the hair of her head. He at terwards took hole 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 crowexamination, Mrs. Beale() admitted that she threw a pailful of water over the prisoner, but she was exasperated by his throwing some over her first. When P.C. 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 tbrough the window, and the prisoner gave him two violent blows in the face, and tore his uuiform coat nearly to pieces. The prisoner said his wife was continually exasperating him. Sae had joined the Salvation Artily. and he supposed she teougnt that by doing so she would get to heaven herself and send him to hell. She threw water over turn b :fore he laid his hand upon her. Toe magistrates sentenced the prisoner to six weeks hard labour for the assault upon his wife, and to two weeks' hard labour for the assault upon the constable, the latter sentence to commence at the expiration of tne first. The prisoner bade his wife.good-bye, and lead he supposed she would lag and be UZI now,