1

Police

East Normanby
May 24th 1887

[Stamps: INSPECTOR POLICE COOKTOWN 256787
COLONIAL SECRETARYS OFFICE QUEENSLAND 4690 13 JUN 87
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 03,758 QUEENSLAND 7. JUN. 87]

Insp Murray
Cooktown
Sub Inspr Brook's report re alleged abduction of some
girls by Geo Rotumah

Sir

I have the honour to report
that in accordance with your in-
-structions that I have visited Forbes
Island.

I found George Rotomah
and crew alone on the Island.
He informed me that he did go
to the mainland to recover the wreck
of a cutter that was lost by him
a few days previously and that
some of the mainland blacks went
with him. These Blacks took the
gins telling Rotomah that they were
their wives As the gins did not
protest against going with them
Rotomah did not interfere with
them in any way.

I do not consider that Rotomah
is to blame in the matter The blacks
probably took gins they were not
entitled to But Rotomah could
not tell and so did not interfere
in the matter. Canoes pass to and from
the Island so that Blacks can not
be detained against their will. -
over

[In margin: The Commissioner of Police
Forwarded for your information.
Re your wire of Saturday have sent
to Mr Brooke for report re his
patrol of Jardine river &c

Fred J Murray
Insp P/C
30.5.87