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Admiralty to Colonial Office, enclosing
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Admiralty,
14th June 1898 . Sir, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State, copy of a report on Pitcairn Island by the Commanding Officer of H.M.S."Comus", dated 23rd November last, together with a copy of the remarks made by the Commander in Chief in forwarding the report. A copy of the report by Captain Proby Doughty in 1884, referred to by the Commander in Chief in his remarks. is also forwarded for the sake of reference. In reply to your letter of the 9th instant, No.[unclear] I am further to acquaint you, for the information of Mr secretary Chamberlain, that the following telegram has been this day sent to the Commander in Chief, Australia: — One of H.M.Ships will be required to convey judicial commission to Pitcairn Island for trial of H. A. Christian for murder. Colonial Office have telegraphed instructions to High Commissioner of Western Pacific, with whom you should communicate. Report arrangements when made. I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant, (signed) Evan ????) The Under |
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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. Captain Frederic Proby Doughty, (1834-1892) served in the Royal Navy and was a Rear-Admiral on the Retired List. Captain Henry Hart Dyke (1848-1912) commanded H.M.S. Comus 1895-1898. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral. |
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Source.
Document no. 115. June 14, 1898. "Admiralty to Colonial Office, enclosing "Report on Pitcairn Island" by Captain Dyke (H.M.S. Comus)". 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, Dec 16, 2024.
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