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Copy of Notes of Evidence,
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Copy of Notes of Evidence
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In Her Britannic Majesty's High Commissioner's Court for the Western Pacific at Pitcairn Island Monday 29th Aguust 1898 Proclamation read bringing Pitcairn Island under the Western Pacific Order in Council.
Court formally opened
Charge read to the accused.
Witnesses for prosecution.
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No witnesses for the defence. Accused committed to take his trial on a charge of having, murdered one Clara Warren, at Pitcairn on the 19th day of June 1897. Owing to the difficulty of taking the witnesses to Fiji, it is ordered that the trial take place at Pitcairn Island on Tuesday the 30" day of August 1898, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Accused duly notified to that effect.
(Sgd.) Hamilton Hunter J.C. |
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Tuesday
Plea — "Not Guilty"
Walter H. J. Pym – Paymaster William Alfred Young — sworn. I reside at Pitcairn. During the year 1897, I was President of the governing body. I remember the 19th of June last year. It was a Saturday. On the 20th it was reported to me that a girl with her child were missing from her house. Search was made in the forenoon by certain members of the community. It was reported to me later that the search for Clara Warren had ended in finding some traces of something having been killed. The place is known by us as "Isaac" —just below the village. After this was reported to me I went |
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down to Isaac. I saw traces of what appeared to be human hair sticking to the rocks, close to a hole into the sea, and traces of something having been dragged to the hole — blood was splattered here and there over the rocks. I followed the traces back again, and saw blood splattered about along the ascent, coming up the rocks. The first signs of blood commenced above the cliff, towards the village. There was more blood there than on the rocks. The blood was covered with broken branches and weeds. Whoever did it covered up the blood purposely. To the best of my recollection. I told someone to collect the hair. It appeared as if someone had been killed there. The mother and others reported Clara Warren as missing. The mother told me she could not find her daughter. After we failed in finding any trace of the body, the mother she said she feared that her child had been killed, and said she feared she had been killed by the accused. After seeing the place and examining the traces, I sent for the accused. I told him |
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he was suspected of murdering Clara Warren. He acknowledged that he had. I asked him why he did it?, and he said she had asked him to put an end to her life. I then told him that if he had left her to take her own life, she would be living today. On my telling the accused that he was suspected, he told me voluntarily that it was true. There was no compulsion. I then asked him if he did it? and he acknowledged it. By the Accused — I did not force the confession out of you. I cannot say how often I asked you the question. William Alfred Young — continues. The accused confessed again at a later date in court, to myself and the court assembled. By the accused — I did not know that you were sick on that occasion. By the Assessors — Robert Buffett, Arthur Young and Daniel Christian were present when accused confessed to me. Sandford Warren was also present. Arthur Young — sworn — I live on Pitcairn — I remember |
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Sunday the 20th June last year. On that day I went down to "Isaac" with Alfred Young, Daniel Christian, Alice Butler and Beatrice Young. Alfred Young asked me to go with him to see the place. The women told me before we went down, that something had been dragged down there. When I got down I saw some spots of blood, some hair, and a strip of cloth covered with blood. It was calico. I did not examine it. The rocks were splattered with blood, and hair was sticking to the rocks. I then went up the hill and saw some blood on the grass and dry leaves. I did not see any signs of a struggle, but I saw some bushes broken down. It appeared to me as if something had been dragged down the cliff, by the dry leaves with blood on them. I picked up some of the hair and gave it to Daniel Christian. I was present when the accused was questioned by Alfred Young. I do not know how often he was asked. His confession was made in the school room. Alfred Young, Daniel Christian, Robert Buffet and Sandford Warren, were present. |
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Accused has no questions to ask. Daniel Christian — sworn. I remember the day that Clara Warren disappeared. On Saturday the 19th of June 1897. On Sunday morning the 20th it was reported that she was missing. I heard it from her mother. I was called by Alfred Young to go down to "Isaac". I went. Alfred Young, Arthur Young, Beatrice Young and Alice Butler went with me. I saw on the rocks by a hole some traces of blood and some hair. We collected what we could from the rocks, and followed on the traces of the blood. It looked as if something had been killed and dragged down to the hole. We followed the traces of the dragging until we got to the top. The marks on the top of the cliff appeared to be as if something had been killed there. It was among thick bushes, and they were all spattered with blood round the place, and the bushes were broken down. I brought the hair we collected up to Clara Warren's mothers house. |
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This hair produced (Exbt A) is the hair I took to Clara's mother's house. I was present when the accused said that he had killed Clara. He said it to Alfred Young. Accused did not answer the question when he was first asked, but afterwards confessed that he had killed Clara. Alfred Young, Herbert Young, Robert Buffet and Sandford Warren were all present. They represented the Governing body. The confession was made voluntarily. He said she used to ask him to kill her. Accused was a cousin of Clara Warrens. He was also the father of her illegitimate child. Accused has no question to ask. Beatrice Young — sworn. Live on Pitciarn. I remember the 19th of June last year. It was a Saturday. The day that Clara Warren was missing. On the Sunday about noon I went down with Alice Butler to a place called "Isaac". We went there because Clara's mother told us it was no use our going on the hill, but that Clara was down |
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the other way. That she had a strong presentiment that Clara was down at "Isaac". The first thing we saw was blood, near a cave. There was blood on the ground, and some on a stump of a tree, as if something had been thrown down from above. Earth had been thrown on the stump of the tree to try and conceal the blood. We then went toward the cave and saw a footmark of a man's bare foot. The foot mark was on the edge of the cave. We then saw marks as if something had been dragged down towards the sea. There were marks of blood. There was a small cave below the big one. There were some bushes pushed into this cave with blood marks on them. We then followed the track where something had been dragged to the sea. We saw blood all the way, and a piece of calico of a light colour. We also saw hair, a woman's hair, on the rocks, near the blood. The calico looked like a piece of a woman's dress. |
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We did not touch the cloth. We then went back to the top of the rocks and saw blood marks, and the traces of something having been dragged through the bushes. At the top the bushes and grass had blood on them, and there were signs of a struggle. The piece of cloth we saw was exactly like the skirt produced (Exbt B). We then went home and reported what we had seen. Accused has no question to ask. Alice Butler — sworn. I remember Sunday the 20th of June going down with Beatrice Young to search for Clara. We first saw blood near a cave below "Isaac". Blood was on the ground and on the tree. We saw the marks of a man's foot, bare footed. I also saw marks of dragging. There was blood along the track. We also saw a piece of cloth of a light colour. It was calico. I saw Clara Warren on Saturday morning, she was dressed in a light calico dress". The dress produced (Exbt B) is like the one she wore on the 19th, it is also |
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like the piece we found on the rocks. We then came up to the top of the cliff, and saw blood. The bush was broken down, and also saw marks of something having been dragged along. There was blood along the track. Accused has no questions to ask. Samuel Young — sworn. I live at Pitcairn. I remember Thursday the 20th of June last year. I went down to "Isaac" on the afternoon of that day. I saw traces of blood, and saw as if something had been dragged along. I picked up a sleeve link, it was all covered with blood. I gave it to Arthur Young. I had seen the sleeve link before. I had seen the accused wearing it. I cannot say whether it was his. I had never seen anyone else wearing this sleeve link. I then returned home. Accused has no questions to ask. By the Assessors — In September or October I was present when the accused was questioned by Alfred Young. He admitted that he had killed Clara Warren. This was in the goal while accused was under arrest. I cannot say how often |
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he was asked. Accused has no questions to ask. Arthur Young — recalled by the Court. I remember Samuel Young giving me a sleeve stud, I threw it away. It was full of blood and had some hair round it. I do not know whose it was. Accused has no questions to ask. Vieder Young — sworn. I remember the disappearance of Clara Warren. I was about a hundred yards beyond "Isaac", four days after Clara disappeared. I saw a piece of cloth lying on the rocks. My sister who was with me went down to pick it up. I identify this skirt (Exbt B) as the one my sister picked up. Accused has no questions to ask. Agnes Warren — sworn. I was the mother of Clara Warren. I identify this skirt (Exbt B) produced, I helped to make it. It belonged to my child Clara Warren. She was wearing it on the day that she disappeared. I identified this hair produced (Exbt A) it is Clara's hair. My brother sent me the hair. |
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The skirt was brought to my house while I was ill. I last saw Clara alive about four p.m. on the 19th. I left her at home and came to the meeting. I never saw her since. Clara told me herself that the accused had threatened her life. That is what made me suspect him. The accused told me himself that he had killed Clara and the child. I charged him with it when he was in gaol. He denied it. I told him it was no use, not to lie. He then looked me in the face and said, "I killed them both". Albina Young was present, no one else. By the Accused. I am sure you told me.Sarah Grace Young — sworn. I live in the nearest house to "Isaac". I remember the afternoon of Saturday the 19th of June 1897. I was sitting by my house reading about 4.30 p.m. I heard a noise as if of someone in distress. It was a woman's voice screaming. I heard two screams. I heard a girl singing on the edge, nearer to me than the place where I heard the screams. |
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I sent two of the children down to see what it was. They returned and said they did not see any one. I saw Lottie Warren running away from where I heard the singing. I did not see either the accused or Clara Warren that day.
Accused has no question to ask.
Henry Buller Beatty — sworn. Staff surgeon on board H.M.S. Royalist. I have examined the hair given to me this morning in Court (Exbt A). It is human hair. This specimen has not been torn out of the head. No roots apparent. I should say from the texture that it is a woman's hair. Accused has no questions to ask. Albina Young – sworn. I remember going to the prison with Agnes Warren. There was no one else there except the accused. Agnes went in and asked the accused to forgive her for having spoken against him. He forgave her. She then asked him whether he had put Clara to death? he said that he had. I did not hear anything about the |
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child. On Saturday the day that Clara disappeared, about 4.30 in the afternoon, I heard a loud noise – a woman's voice calling for help. I also heard a child cry. The noise came from the direction of "Isaac". I did not see any one that afternoon. Accused has no questions to ask. Lottie Warren – sworn. I remember Saturday the 19th of June last year. In the afternoon, after the meeting, I went down near Sarah Young's house, near Isaac. I was down there singing. I heard nothing. I saw the accused. He was on the top of the bank at Isaac. I did not speak to him nor he to me. I ran away. I ran because accused looked fearful, looked savage. He had on a dark cap, light shirt, and dark trousers. He was coming up from Isaac. I went down after the meeting. I saw Clara Warran that morning. When I saw accused he had some clothes under his arm. Accused states – I had no clothes under my arm that day. By the accused — |
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I am sure you had clothes under your arm – Something fell out of your hand and you picked it up. I am sure you had something in your hands. By the Assessors – Accused was about twenty yards away from me when I saw him with the clothes under his arm. I do not think that the accused saw me. Eunice Christian – sworn. I identify the dress produced (Exbt B). I found it on the rocks on the other side of "Isaac". I took it home, and then took it to Agnes Warren's house. I found this dress not very far from "Isaac". Accused has no questions to ask. Adelia Young – sworn. I knew Clara Warren. I know the accused. I heard the accused threaten to kill the baby. He told me that he was going to kill the baby. The Accused states –I do not remember that I threatened the child's life. Phillip Coffin – sworn. |
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I remember Saturday the 19th of June last year. I remained at home that afternoon from Church. I know Clara Warren and the accused. I saw Clara Warran that afternoon about 3.30. She was sitting at the corner of her sister's kitchen. Accused lives quite close there. I spoke to Clara, asked her why she did not go to church? She said she had to stay and mind the child. I saw the accused at the same time at his cook house. I saw him making signs to Clara Warren. I then went down to accused's house. I saw Clara come down and go towards her house. Accused then came in and said to his father "well I think I will go and see Aunt — She is very ill." He went into his room. I cannot say how he was dressed. I then left. I saw nothing more of either of them that afternoon. Accused has no questions to ask. Case for Prosecution.
Accused says:
I have no statement to make. No witnesses to call. |
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Case summed up to the Assessors. Assessors asked their opinion. Walter H.J. Pym – "Guilty" Court concurs with the verdict. Accused when asked why sentence of death should not be passed upon him? says – "I do not know what to say".
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Notes.
Harry Albert Christian was born on Pitcairn Island on Mar. 11, 1872, one of 12 children of Alphonso Downs Christian and Sarah McCoy. In the early 1890s a relationship developed between Harry and Julia Warren. A daughter, Eleanor Linda Warren, was born to the couple on Aug. 14, 1895. Some time later Harry's attentions turned to another woman. On Jun. 17, 1897, Harry killed Julia and the child and threw their bodies into the sea. Though the bodies were never found, the crimes were found out, and Harry admitted to them. Harry was tried on Pitcairn and found guilty of murder. He was taken on H.M.S. Royalist to Suva, Fiji. There, on October 8, 1898, in the Suva gaol, he was hanged for the murders. Hamilton Hunter (1846- )Chief Police Magistrate of the Colony of Fiji. Sir George Thomas Michael O'Brien KCMG (1844 – 1906) was a British colonial official who served as Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1892 to 1895, and as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific from 1897 to June 1901. |
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Source.
Document no. 114. Aug 29, 1898 to Aug 30, 1898. "Copy of Notes of Evidence, Harry Christian murder trial". Pages 1392 to 1397.
This transription was made from a documents in a collection of documents at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library.
Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Aug 9 2022.
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