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Sligoville in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica.

1843 Sligoville (named after the 2nd Marquess of Sligo, Governor of Jamaica) is established in the parish of St. Catherine as the first free community in Jamaica by the English Baptist Minister Reverend James Mursell Phillippo.

1939 April Howell founds the "Ethiopian Salvation Society" and purchases 485 acres in the hills of Saint Catherine, 5 miles on the road to Sligoville. Howell’s settlement becomes to be known as "Pinnacle", its main village is East Avenue.

1941 August 19 The Daily Gleaner.

Howell was charged with Assault Occasioning actual bodily harm Spanish Town R. M. Court His Honor C. M. Mac Gregor charge with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Jeremiah Simpson Evelyn Magee Nathaniel Osborne and assaulting Standford Edwards pleaded not guilty. Mr. N. A. Clare, Clerk of Courts for Saint Catherine prosecuted while the defense was conducted by Mr. F. A. Pixley large number from Pinnacle also came to the courtroom until restrained from entrance the prosecutions case was incompleted and further hearing was postponed until Saturday.

PROSECUTION

Witnesses for the prosecution who testified for the day were the four complainants, Iris Young and Dectective Corporal Samuels, of the Spanish Town Police.

Nathaniel Osborne, in corroborating statements made by Standard Edwards, said that he was a cultivator living at Ringrose, near to Pinnacle. On the 3rd July he was enganged in burning coal on his property when a group of people called ‘Pinnaclemen’ came to his cultivation and spoke to him. The men carried sticks and supplejacks, which they brandished, and he had to run.

Mr. Pixley objected to this evidence on the grounds that it was not evidence against Howell.His Honour: I cant see that its not evidence.

During the argument that followed Mr. Pixley asked His Honour to note the objection because Howell was not present.

The witness continuing said that when he returned his coal was gone. On the 6th July he went to Pinnacle, with Jeremiah Simpson and Iris Young to complain to Howell about the loss of coal. At the gate he saw Standford Edwards, Amanda Hamilton, Evelyn Magee and others. They asked for Howell and the gateman sent some one to call him. Howell soon afterwards came down to the gate, riding a horse flanked on either side by guards, with a crowd of men behind him, all armed with sticks and supple jacks. He ordered the gate to be opened, and Simpson and himself were let inside.

The others were outside. They had gone to Pinnacle to ask about their bags of coal while some of the others had gone to buy beds, which they had heard the people at Pinnacle were selling.

MATTER OF TAXES

Howell asked them if they payed taxes and they replied ‘yes’ to the collector at Spanish Town, Howell then said: Take this man (meaning him Osborne) aside and give him 96 lashes and to Osborne, ‘I will teach you that you are not to pay taxes. Neither you nor the Government own any lands here.

I am Haile Selassie.’ Five men then held him, and he was stretched over a table formed of sticks and with Cecil Delahay counting, the man lashed him with their supple jacks. Jeremiah Simpson was treated likewise, and he received 110 lashes while Evelyn Magee who had bawled out when he, her uncle, was getting flogged was ordered to be caught by Howell. She was caught and she received 52 lashes in her hands. Howell also boxed her for refusing to take the flogging and drawing away a supple jack from one of the men, deal him (Osborne) a blow as a king of parting shot.

They were all so badly beaten, except Edwards who had received a blow from Howell, that they had to be taken up and thrown outside of Pinnacle and after being carried a short distance down the road the police van came from Spanish Town and took them to the hospital.

Jeremiah Simpson made similar statements and so did Evelyn Magee and Iris Young who said that she had been able to elude the people Howell had sent after the people at the gate, when Magee had fallen into their hands.

Detective Corporal Samuels, of the Spanish Town Police, told the Court that Howell had been arrested at his home at Pinnacle about 12 o’clock one night about two weeks after the incident at Pinnacle.

Witnesses were cross examined by Mr. Pixley.

In cross examination, Osborne said that he became unconscious when he had received about fifty lashes, and Simpson said the same when questioned.

Only Dr. L. L. Freeman D.M.O in charge of the Spanish Town Public Hospital is to give evidence for the prosecution and Mr. Pixley told the Court that he had 12 witnesses to call for the defence.

His Honour, after fixing Saturday morning, at 9.30 o’clock, for the continuation of the hearing in respect of these charges, extended Howell’s bail, which had been fixed by His Honour Mr. Dan Marchalleck, R. M. for St. Catherine, at £100 with one or two sureties.

1943 December 24 Friday The Daily Gleaner.

Detained In Connection With Woman’s Death

Leonard Percival Howell, leader of the Ras Tafarian cultists of Pinnacle (off the Sligo Ville Road, St. Catherine). And members of his household, were detained for questioning by the Spanish Town Police yesterday afternoon in connection with the death, under what the Police consider suspicious circumstances, of his common-law wife (whose name was not ascertained up to the time of going to press), and whose partly decomposed and crow ravaged body, was found at the cult camp earlier in the day. Police action followed a report from Pinnacle that the dead woman was missing from last week Friday and that the crows were seen dipping and soaring over a spot about a quarter mile from the house in which Howell and herself lived.

1951 January 18 Howell sentenced to 2 year in prison for Ganja.

Ex Cult Leader Held On Ganja Charge

Leonard Howell one time Ras Tafari chief at Pinnacle St. Catherine and two other men were arrested yesterday by first class constable A. E. Tilloch of Browns Town Police Station charged jointly with having Ganja.

Howell, Levi Ward and Edgar Reed were held in a raid 8 Windward Road on premises.

Hundreds of curious persons lined a stretch of the road for hours after the police left with a large quantity of stuff said to be Ganja.

Defendants who are in Sutton Street jail will appear before the Kingston Resident Magistrate’s court today.

1954 May 27 The biggest Ganja raid as of that time takes place at Pinnacle £3, 000 is seized. Howells son Monty in the interview on Wu World radio with Bob Marley’s granddaughter Donisha Prendergast said that a lot more than £3, 000 was taken from his Dads house and from the community thousands and thousands were taken. £3,000 FOUND AT PINNACLE SOME £3,000 IN CASH was found by the police raiding party which last week-end swooped down on the Ras Tafarians’ Settlement at Pinnacle, near Spanish Town.

The police unearth the biggest store of cured Ganja ever to be found one place at a time.

It is understood that whilst some men were digging out crocus bags loaded with the “weed” others were pulling from the roof of a number of huts crocus bags, bags made out of old trousers. They were laden with £5 notes, £1 notes, and other local currency notes and coins.

With one woman the police found £899. 1/- cash; another had over 300 and several had other large sums, all of which the police took over.

The money belongs to some of the 140 prisoners who have been charge with Ganja possession and with having fire arms illegally. It will be returned to them as soon as the cases are settled. THE STAR. Monty and his brother Bill were also arrested in the raid and charges are brought against them for being in unlawful possession of a Bulova watch and a Rolex watch. The police send a note to Howell telling him that if he doesn't come up with x amount of money that his sons will be charged for a lb of Ganja each. Howell pays the money and is able to retain a receipt from the place he bought the watches from, the charges against his sons are withdrawn and his sons are also discharged. June 12 No case against Howell’s sons The charge was withdrawn yesterday in the case against Martinal and Silbert Howell, teenage sons of Leonard Howell, one time self styled “king of Pinnacle. They were held during the raid which the police made at Pinnacle property on the morning of May 22, and charged with unlawful possession of watches and a cloak. Mr. H. E. Rickards, solicitor of Dayes and Rickards, informed His Honour Mr H. P. Allea in the St. Catherine R. M. Court at Spanish Town that he had produced receipts to the police which showed that the two accused were in legitimate custody of the goods. They lived about a mile away from Pinnacle settlement in the house which used to be occupied by Howell. They were in no way associated with the settlement. Mr. Cliff Grant Clark of the Courts, said the case with withdrawn. The defendants were discharged.

June 12 The Daily Gleaner.

11 sentenced to prison as Pinnacle trail opens

‘Extremely large’ quantity of ganja in Court

SENTENCES ranging from six months to two years imprisonment at hard labour were passed today by His Honour Mr. H. P. Allen in the Spanish Town R.M. Court as the trail of the Pinnacle case opened.

Eleven accused persons sentenced today were convicted on charges of cultivating ganja and of having ganja in their possession.

One hundred and forty persons were arrested by the police in a raid on Pinnacle property, a few miles from Spanish Town, early Saturday morning on May 23.

The exhibits of what was certified as ganja were brought to the Court in police station wagons in all manner of containers boxes, barrels, baskets, crocus bags, grips, bales. There were also exhibits of ganja plants in court.

10 day trail

The trail which will resume on Monday at 9 a.m., is expected to last from a week to ten days.

Mr. Cliff Grant, Clerk of the courts, is prosecuting while Mr. H. E. Rickards is representing all the accused.

Acting Deputy Supt. J. N. Ricketts and Sub-Inspector George Eubanks were in attendance on the court.

Detective Sergt. Jez Marston, who was brought from Mandeville to take part in the raid, gave evidence today in all the cases heard: It was an account of his illness caused by a motor cycle accident that the trail was set back from Monday until yesterday.

There was only one incident in the smooth running of the trail. An accused who gave his name as Alfred Bennett collapsed while in the dock. He revived shortly after and was offered a chair.

He was being tried in the first case of the day along with James Bennett and Adina Manning. They were accused of cultivating ganja and having ganja.

Detective acting Corporal Gerald Nembhard told of accompanying Detective Sergeant Marston and acting Corporal Frank Harrison to Pinnacle at about 4 p.m. on the afternoon of May 23. They went to a cultivation surrounding two huts and saw the three accused weeding the field.

Warrant read

After a warrant was read, none of the accused said anything. A search was started and ganja plans numbering about 5, 000 were found in a 3 acre plot.

He arrested all three on charges of cultivating ganja and having ganja in their possession.

Cross examined by Mr. Rickards witness admitted that he did not know who was James Bennnettt or who was Alfred Bennnett.

Dectective Sergeant Marston gave evidence and under cross-examination pointed out James Bennett. Mr Rickards submitted that the accused was not James Bennett but Alfred Bennett.

Acting Corporal Frank Harrison also gave evidence. James Bennett in his defence said his name was not Alfred Bennett. He lived at Thompson Pen and had gone up to Pinnacle at around 2 p.m. on the day of the raid to visit his cousin Alfred, who was ill. He knew nothing about ganja nor had he ever planted it.

The other two accused in their defence denied that they were cultivating ganja or had ganja when they were accosted by the police.

The Magistrate found them guilty.

The police said the ganja seized on that occasion weighed 80lbs.

“It is a serious matter” said the Magistrate “and the quantity of ganja in this case is extremely large.”

James Bennett and Alfred Bennett were sentenced to twelve months on each of the two counts, sentences to run consecutively, Adina Manning was sentenced to twelve months for cultivating ganja and 6 months for having ganja in her possession, sentences to run consecutively.

Other policemen who took part in the raid and who also gave evidence were Corporal Albert Ellis, Constable Rudolph Ellis Acting Corporal Uley Delahaye, Constable Quintin Crawford and Constable Simeon Powell.

1000 lbs. Ganja

Caleb McPherson, who pleased guilty to having 100 lbs, of ganja in his possession was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment at hard labour.

He claimed that at the time of his arrest he had £18, which was taken away. Mr. Rickards promised to take up the matter.

Pircell Fairweather was acquitted on a charge of cultivating ganja. He was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment for having ganja in his possession.

Alexander Johnson found guilty of having 3 lbs. Of ganja in his possession was sentenced to 12 months hard labour.

Gustavus Robinson pleaded guilty to having 110 lbs of ganja. The weed was found in two boxes and a crocus bag in his room on the morning of the raid. He had one previous conviction for having ganja. Robinson was sentenced to two years at hard labour.

Henry Dawkins and Rebecca Murray were both convicted for having ganja. Dawkins, who pleaded guilty to being in possession of a box with 7 lbs. Of ganja, found in his room was sentenced to 12 months at hard labour.

The box

Mr. Rickards had submitted that Murray should not be presumed to have the ganja in her possession merely because she lived with Dawkins. Dawkins had admitted that the box was in his possession and had afterwards stated from the witness box that Murray knew nothing about the contents of the box. Mr. Rickards criticised the nature of the of the evidence given by police witnesses.

The Magistrate however, held that she was guilty of being in possession of ganja.

George Brown and Lillian Goode, who also said they lived together in a hut at Pinnacle, were both sentenced to 12 months at hard labour for having over 100 lbs. Of ganja in their possession. Mr. Rickards commented on the conflicting evidence which he said was given by the police in that case.

They gave verbal notice of appeal and were offered bail in the sum of £100 each.

Furthur hearing was adjourned at this point.

No case against Howell’s sons

The charge was withdrawn yesterday in the case against Martinal and Silbert Howell, teenage sons of Leonard Howell, one time self styled “king of Pinnacle.

They were held during the raid which the police made at Pinnacle property on the morning of May 22, and charged with unlawful possession of watches and a cloak.

Mr. H. E. Rickards, solicitor of Dayes and Rickards, informed His Honour Mr H. P. Allea in the St. Catherine R. M. Court at Spanish Town that he had produced receipts to the police which showed that the two accused were in legitimate custody of the goods. They lived about a mile away from Pinnacle settlement in the house which used to be occupied by Howell. They were in no way associated with the settlement.

Mr. Cliff Grant Clark of the Courts, said the case with withdrawn. The defendants were discharged.

1960 June 22 Wednesday The Daily Gleaner. Police and Military undercover Red Hills Rastafari arms cache DESPERADOES WITH RAPID FIRE GUNS KILL TWO ROYAL HAMPSHIRE SOLDIERS two other infantry men critically shot Gang of five, some bearded, hijack van, escape to Sligoville PREMIER CALLS ON PUBLIC TO HELP A COMBINED Police Military raid on Rastafarian camp in the Red Hills area, yesterday morning, was turned into a deadly ambush when five men attacked the raiding party from the rear and fled, leaving one soldier, a member of the Royal Hampshires, dead on the ground and three other members of the same unit critical wounded. A second soldier died at Military Hospital at Up Park Camp last night and the other two wounded men were reported still on the danger list, particularly one, who was shot three times in the chest and once in the neck. Automatic weapons were used in the attack. The surprise attack and casualties increased the tempo of the combined Police Military operations, in an area stretching all the way from Red Hills, through Ferry to the rugged hills of Sligoville, where the five desperadoes are said to be located. They reached there after slipping through the Police and Military cordon in the Red Hills area and then headed for cover by commandeering at gun point a van owned by Wills Battery Company, and driven at the time by Mr. C. Staples, and shooting their way through a Police and Military road block along the Spanish Town Road, near Ferry. SUBMARINE RUMOR Yesterdays development follow a weekend filled with rumors of increased subversive activity in Jamaica, including stories that a strange submarine had landed arms on the North coast and that large quantities of arms had been secretly brought into the island. There was no confirmation by the authorities of these rumors. The operations were described by the Premier, the Hon. Norman Manley, however, as “normal”, in a broadcast to the people in which he appealed for the cooperation of citizens to assist the Government in protecting the good name of the country. Up to Press time, Police and soldiers (of both the Royal Hampshires and the West India Regiment) had a widely stretched cordon around the entire area of operations, although in concentration in the Sligoville area; a heavy armed guard has been assigned to duty at the Sligoville home of the Hon. Willis O. Isaacs, Ministry of Trade and Industry; ad armed Police protection had been alerted at the homes of the Premier and other ministers of Government. The combined Police and Military operation moved out to cordon off the Red Hills area early yesterday morning in order to take measures which were described by the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday in the following words: “The Military and Police operations now taking place are a continuation of the security measures being taken by the Government in places where it is suspected ganja and/or crude weapons are stored for activities similar to those which were discovered”. This is a reference to raids made in April by the Police on the African Reform Church premises of the Rev. Claudius Henry, Repairer of the Breach, now held without bail on a Treason Felony charge, and to raids by the Military and Police on Rastafarian camps in the Wareika Hill area. The movement, which began around three o'clock yesterday morning, was directed against a Rastafarian camp the Police knew existed in the Red Hills area. The camp is located on the slopes of the hill overlooking approaches, and connect with Washington Boulevard. High level Police and Military conferences over the week end decided to move in on the camp. ENCIRCLEMENT The area was cordoned off during the dark, and at dawn the raiding party moved in. When they arrived there, however, it was empty. All that was found were dynamite, crude bombs and several sharp two edged cutlasses. A party of Hampshire Regiment soldiers was left at the camp while other member’s of the raiding party began what was to be a day long combing of the area. Details are not yet available, but around 11:30 a.m. yesterday the residents of the Red Hills area were startled by the sound of shooting from the bush. According to an official release, five men, believed to have been among the occupants of the camp, made a surprise attack on the search party at the camp, shooting one fatally and wounding three others. One of them died later at Military Hospital. The five men have been described as dressed in military style khaki clothing. Three of them were brown and two black; three were bearded fully, two appeared to be without beard, They were armed with long guns or automatic weapons, and one had a long revolver stack in the top of his trousers. After they had escaped from the scene of the camp’s disaster, they were next placed along the Spanish Town Road just below Ferry and a Police Military road block. Here, two hundreds yards east of Ferry, they seized a Fod can belonging to Wills Battery Company at gun point, ejected the driver, crashed a Police cordon, shooting as they headed towards Spanish Town and Sligoville, A police van which was headed toward Kingston turned around to give chase and in turning went over the embankment. On the way to Sligovile, people have told of being asked the way, by armed men in a car, and some at Cotton Piece, about five miles from Sligoville, said the men waved to them as they sped towards Sligoville. At Cedar Valley, two miles from Sligoville, the Ford van crashed into a telegraph pole as it attempted to negotiate a corner. The occupants fled the vehicle, carrying their weapons and amunition, and disappeared into the bush. The Police and Military units are now concentrated in the area, having set up campaign headquarters at Mt. Moreland Postal Agency, about two miles from Sligoville. Two Police dogs are in the area to join the search, while a spotter plane overflew the Sligoville area all yesterday afternoon to assist the ground search for the wanted men. Though alowed by darkness and difficult terrain, the search for the desperadoes went on through the night. Shooting, then Screams from the bush REVOR Wilfris, A 16 year houseboy who works about a quarter mile from the scene of the shooting, told the Gleaner that between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. some soldiers came to the house and took him down to the now defnnet Red Hills Country Club. At the club they asked him if he knew where any Rastas lived. He told them he did not know, he had only seen them working on a nearby quarry, They returned him to the house shortly after. While in the house, soldiers accompanied by policemen started moving toward an in the bush near the home. Long after he heard shooting and screams. An officer shouted for some soldiers and stretchers. Two men were carried away on stretchers. The shooting lasted about 5 minutes. Military h/q closed to visitors FULL SECURITY measures were taken at Up Park Camp yesterday, which became closed to all visitors. Inquiries at the Military Headquarters for the names of the members of the Hampshire Regiment killed and injured in yesterday’s raid on the Rastafari camp at Red Hills, produced no information. The names will not be released until the next of kin have been notified. Meantime, units of the Hampshires have joined the West India Regiment units and the Police in the Sligoville Area in continuation of the search for the armed desperadoes wanted by the authorities. Crash kills van driver OLD ENGLAND Mr. June 21 (From out correspondent) ONE MAN was killed and another seriously injured in an accident on the Old England Brokenhurst main road shortly after noon today. It is reported that a van owned by Blue Ribbon Bakery of May Pen, and driven by Mr. Dalton Sutherland, 26, of Four Paths, overturned while negotiating a corner, Mr. Sutherland was pinned down under the van and died on the spot. Mr. James Ferguson, 40, a salesman who was travelling on the van, was seriously injured and was taken to the Mandeville Hospital. Ten in hospital after bus plunge THIRTEEN persons were injured yesterday when an Enterprise bus plunged down a 45 foot ravine into a river at Trinityville, St. Thomas. UNIA appeal Help root out ‘evil menace MR. RALSTON S. POWELL, Commissioner of the Universal Negro Improvement Association in Jamaica (founded by Marcus Garvey) told the Gleaner last night he wished to send profound sympathy to the relatives and Army colleagues of the deceased and injured soldiers. As a result of the shooting he said, well thinking citizens should aid the Police in rooting out the “evil menace in our midst”. He wished to make clear that the UNIA did not tolerate such “un-Jamaican and un-democratic activities” and they were determined to help in whatever way they could to prevent any similar incident here. Machine gun hold up ORDER:DRIVE US THROUGH THE driver of the 1959 Ford pick-up belonging to Willis Battery Company, which was commandeered by five desperadoes on their way to the hills of Sligoville yesterday, described last night how the vehicle was taken from him. The driver, Mr. Staples, said he was driving toward Spanish Town around noon. At the bridge, just before reaching Ferry Police Station, five men, dressed in greenish uniforms resembling the uniforms of American soldiers, wearing what he believed to be false beards, and each holding what appeared to him to be a machine gun, suddenly appeared; standing in the road, causing him to stop the vehicle. One man climbed in beside him, stuck a machine gun into his ribs and ordered him to “drive us through”. Four times he was ordered to do so, and four times he refused. He told them he must know what it was all about before he would drive them. The man refused to tell him; Meanwhile, the other four men had climbed in the pickup from the rear. A police van approached from the opposite direction and there were exchanges of gun fire between the men and the police; one bullet struck the wind screen, breaking it. The man beside him called to one of the men behind. “You come an drive”. He then opened the van door and pushed him out on the road. Another man, he said came from the rear pushed him aside, climbed in and took the wheel. The motor had been left running and the desperadoes drove off, leaving the driver crouching on the road. While on the ground, the driver saw the Police van trying to turn round to pursue the bandits, but in the manoeuvring, it went over into the ditch. He heard Police in the upset van, radio to all units a description of the stolen pickup. The desperadoes threw out his “tool-pan” as they drove away. A POLICE ROAD BLOCK on Spanish Town Road, at Duhaney Bridge, similar to that at Ferry through which the five desperadoes shot their way yesterday to escape into the rough, broken hilly terrain of Sligoville. Troops move on Civil Servant’s home THE HOME occupied in the Red Hills area by Mr. A, St. A. Clarke formerly Senior Statistician in the Civil Service, now attached to the Ministry of Finance, was involved yesterday morning in the security manoeuvres in that area by Military and Police units. The security forces searching for Rastafarians, moved in on the house, situated some distance beyond the old Red Hills Country Club, about 7:00 yesterday morning and later in the morning and questioned Mr, Clarke. Soldiers were reported to have battered on the door. At home at the time were Mr. Clarke, his wife and their seven year old son. Mr. Clarke, who wears a beard, later lodged a complainant with the Ministry of Home Affairs. He vacated his family from the home for the rest of the day. Report unusual Rasta moves – Manley THE Premier, the Hon Norman Manley, Q.C., made an appeal for the cooperation of citizens in reporting unusual movements of Rastafarians to the proper authorities, in a broadcast yesterday afternoon. Mr. Manley was reporting to the island on yesterday’s incidents in the Red Hills and Sligoville areas: He said: “I want to say just a few words about the news that you have probably heard in regard to a raid made by the Police and a detachment of soldiers on a Rastafari camp in the Red Hills. “I deeply regret that a soldier was shot and killed and three wounded. “This was done by five of the men who had been in the camp, who managed to get hold of weapons and were shooting their way to escape. It seems that they feel upon the soldiers from the rear, “This was just a normal raid that was being made on this camp where we discovered the sort of thing that we had found at Rosalie Avenue; we discovered dynamite and cutlasses and things like that. Must End “There is no need for anyone to get alarmed, but at the same time, everyone must realize that this wicked and mischievous activity must come to an end. These people and I am glad it is only a small number of them are wicked enemies of your country. “They are doing your good name great harm, and it is tragic that this sort of thing should be happening just when we are on the verge of becoming an independent people. “I want to ask every citizen to assist your Government in protecting the good name of your country. I want to ask you all to report any unusual movements you may see of Rastafari people whether they are going in ones or twos or in groups, wherever they suddenly appear in suspicious circumstances. “I think you have a duty to do this. Make your report to the proper authority, if need be, to the nearest Police station. I promise you that anybody giving information along these lines will have his name kept absolutely secret and will be protected in every way, completely protected. We will do our duty, you do yours, and all will be well.” Government sympathy to relatives of dead Following is the text of an announcement made by the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday afternoon on yesterday’s security measures by the police and the military and on developments: “The Police and Military raid, mentioned in an earlier statement made by the Ministry of Home Affairs took place early this morning. A well prepared camp was discovered in the Red Hills area but when the raiding party moved in no one was there and it was evident that the camp though recently occupied had been abandoned. “As we expected dynamite, crude home made bombs and other crude arms were discovered. “At around 11:30 a.m. five persons, who are believed to have been amongst the occupants of the camp, made a surprise attack on members of the search party, shooting one fatally and wounding three others. These desperadoes then made their escape by commandeering a vehicle at gunpoint on the Spanish Town Road. Appropriate follow up action is proceeding. Mischief “Steps have already been taken to advise relatives of the soldiers who suffered casualty in the unfortunate incident, and the Government expresses its sympathy to their relatives. “There is no doubt that a small element of the Rastafari movement is determined to make mischief and to do damage to the good name of this country. Government calls for the co operation of all law abiding citizens to help to put and end to this wicked conduct. “Everyone is asked to bring to the attention of the Police authorities any evidence they have of the movements of these persons whether in twos or threes or in larger numbers or any suspicious activities by strangers that they may notice. Government guarantees that their reports will be kept secret and they will be fully protected. “There is no need for alarm but we must put a stop to this business” Two held; in ganja charge DURING the Military operations at Sligoville, yesterday evening, the Police arrested, on a charge of having Ganja in their possession. The men are Gladstone Perkinsm 44, of 44 Seventh Street. Trench Town, and Samuel Tucker 39, of Maxfield Park settlement. They were taken in by Acting Corporal Grant of the Half Way Tree CID. The soldiers, several hundreds of them, from both the Royal Hampshires and the West India Regiment, together with hundreds of Police armed with rifles, bren guns, sten guns, and light mortars, displaced themselves for an all nig combing of the area but up to the time of going to Press, had made no contact with the armed fugitives.

June 23 Thursday

July 26 Tuesday The Daily Gleaner. ISLANDS BIGGEST MANHUNT ENDS NEAR SLIGOVILLE AFTER ISIX DAYS SLEEPING GUNMEN CAPTURED IN SHOP One wounded in bid to reach for submachine gun. JAMAICA’S biggest manhunt came to an end just before dawn yesterday morning as four men Reynold Henry, Al Thomas, William Jeters and Howard Rollins, all American citizens were taken into custody by police and military units at Orange Grove, two miles out of Sligoville. One man was shot. He is Howard Rollins, who the police say reached for a sub machine gun when the search party came upon them in a small dwelling house shop at Orange Grove. As he reached for the weapon, a soldier opened fire. Rollins is now under heavy guard in the Kingston Public Hospital. The other three men three of the five whom military and police units have been searching for since last Tuesday are in the Kingston Police Station. Hunger and sleep were the twin factors which led directly to the capture of the wanted men. The men woke up a lone shop keeper at Orange Grove, on Sunday night, demanded food and drinks and having had them fell asleep on the floor of his house. They were awakened just before 5 o’clock yesterday morning by police demands that they “come out with your hands up.” Rollins stirred and reached for the sub machine gun and was promptly shot by military and police guns trained in at a window and covering them as they lay sleeping on the floor. The shooting was the signal for entry into the room. As the policemen and soldiers entered, Reynold Henry (son of the Rev. Claudius Henry, head of the African Reform Church, now held without bail on a charge of Treason Felony) reached for a gun. A soldier clubbed him to the floor with the butt end of his rifle. Thus ended a chase and search which had occupied six days and which had begun at a Rastafarian Camp in Red Hills, where four Hampshire soldiers were shot two fatally and which had soread to the rugged hills and broken country of Sligoville. The police took into custody a sub machine gun and several small arms and a large quantity of ammunition. IDENTIFICATION PARADE The hunt ended just a few hours before the police had established that the three Rastafarians killed at the Red Hills camp, included among them the long wanted Claudius Beckford, otherwise called “Thunder.” They had all been shot in the head, allegedly on the orders of American nationals who had joined the camp at Red Hills. Before their deaths, Beckford and the two others Gerald Scott and R. McDonald whose bodies were discovered at Red Hills on Sunday were the leaders of the camp. All four captured men are to be charged with murder in connection with the deaths of the two soldiers at Red Hills on Tuesday and evidence is being accumulated in connected with the death of the three men whose bodies were discovered on Sunday. Three of them Henry, Jeters and Thomas will appear in the Half Way Tree Court tomorrow. An identification parade was held at the Central Police Station yesterday. A police communiqué on the capture of the wanted men yesterday said: At about 1.30 a.m. on the 27th June, a resident of Orange Grove reported to the Police that the four (4) wanted men had gone to his house and demanded food and drink, which he was forced to supply. They then went to sleep and this man contacted the police and military road block at Tredegar Park. As a result a small detachment was taken to watch the house and reinforcements were immediately called for from Sligoville. The reinforcements under Major D. F. Robinson 1 W. L. R. and Asst Supt. Of Police W. S. Howard left Sligoville and proceeded to the area. A cordon was thrown around the house and at 5.00 a.m. a combined military and police unit moved in on the house. A window was broken by a W. I. B. Sergeant and a police man, who saw the four men lying on the floor. They were ordered out and one man subsequently identified as Howard Rollins attempted to reach the arms that were on the floor of the house. He was shot. Thereupon all the men surrendered to the police and army. “The injured man was conveyed to the Kingston Hospital by a military doctor and ambulance unit. “The other three men who are identified as Reynold T Henry, Al Thomas and William Jeters were send under escort to Police Headquarters, where they are detained. “All four men are U.S. citizens. A quantity of arms and ammunition has been recovered. “The Police are stil very anzious to interview the following persons: Lawrence Thornwell RICHBURGH o/c Larry RECHBURGH, Mitchell Dunbar SWABY, Patrick Alnswirth GRANT, Qasim ABDULLAH, Phillip STEVENSON, David AMBRISTER, o/c David KENYATTA, Eldrid Zinton Emanuel MORGAN o/c ‘REX’, Donald Masou Harper, Titus DAMONS, George Junoir DAMONS, All WATUSIE o/c WATTUSEY, Jospeh Lee WILLIAMS o/c William JOSEPH, Sethi AMENEN HAT.” MILITARY WITHDRAW At a Press Conference yesterday morning, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. L. P. R. Browning, Lieut. Col. David Smith, Commanding Officer of W.I.R., Major Dunstan Robinson, of WIR, Mr. A. G. Langdon, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Captain D. Prothero, of the Royal Hampshires attended. Mr. Browning paid tribute to the military, whose action in the operation was absolutely first class, he said. A skeleton force of police had been left in the area but all military personnel have been withdrawn. Mr. Browning stressed the fact that public support is still required even though the fugitives have been arrested, Asked about the arrival of the fugitive s into the island Mr. Browning said that the time of arrival was doubtful. Lt. Col. Smith said in reply to a question that the ammunition found on the men was not from the local military. Taking part in the seven day man hunt were 400 military personnel and 100 police. United States Consul Mr. Robert McGregor was kept informed of the situation up the the arrest yesterday morning, Mr. Browning told the Press Conference. A reward of £1,200 will be paid today to the shopkeeper at Bamboo whose information to the police led to the arrest of the four fugitives. Premier commends Police, Military THE police and the military have been commended by the Premier, the HON. Norman Manley, Q.C., for their work in the manhunt which ended yesterday. In letters sent to Brigadier Derek Lister, Commander Caribbean Area, and Mr. L. P. R. Browning, Commissioner of PolIce, yesterday, Mr. Manley said: “Brigadier Lister, Please accept and convey to the commanding officers and all other ranks of the Hampshire Regiment and the West India Regiment the thanks of the Government of Jamaica for their devoted services in the recent troubles which have been brought to a successful conclusion today. The Government of Jamaica repeats its sincere regrets and (Continued On PAGE 14) ‘Thunder’ one of the dead Rastafarians CALVERT Claude Beckford, otherwise called “ Thunder” and wanted by the police on a Treason Felony charge since April, when the Rev. Claudius Henry was taken into custody on a similar charge, was one of the three men whose bodies were recovered from a grave at Red Hills on Sunday. The two other dead men found in the grave were Gerald Scott and R. McDonald, also members of the Rastafarian Cult and members of the Ethiopian Coptic or Reform Church, headed by the Rev. Claudius Henry. Postmortem examination yesterday morning settled the cause of their deaths. They were all shot in the head. The police believe that the manner of their deaths was in the nature of execution and on the instructions of American nationals who had taken over command of the camp at Red Hills, where Beckford had been in hiding and where all three were up to recently the leaders of the cultists who occupied the camp. Soldiers of the Royal Hampshire Regiment digging for weapons at the abandoned Rastafarian Camp at Red Hills on Saturday discovered a recent grave. Expecting to unearth one body a police and military search party visited the on Saturday morning and dug up not one body but three. First indications were that the man had been strangled or hanged. Marks conforming with such a theory were found around their necks. A postmortem examination yesterday revealed the true cause. They had been shot at close quarters through the head. Rastas identified All Jamaicans, the dead Rastafarians were identified yesterday by other Rastafarians who were rounded up by the police yesterday and Sunday. A police release on this matter said yesterday: “It is now believed that the three men buried near the abandoned Rastafarian Camp in Red Hills woods are (1) Gerald Scott, (2) C. C. Beckford, and (3) R. McDonald. All these men were members of the Ethiopian Coptic Church and followers of the Rev. C. V. Henry. It is understood that these men were murdered on instructions from foreign members of the camp.” (Continued On PAGE 14) HE CALLED FORCES WHILE MEN SLEPT MR. SEPTIMUS HIGGINS, 46, the shopkeeper in whose house the four wanted men were held, yesterday told how he was forced to give them food and drink from his shop and was finally able to summon the security forces when the men went to sleep on the floor of his house. The wanted men were held at Orange Grove yesterday morning between Tredegar Park and Sligoville by a detachment of policemen and members of “B” company of the West India Regiment. Mr. Higgins said that at about 7.30 Sunday night four men came in his yard and called to him. Reynold Henry said to him: “We are in trouble, we are out from Tuesday gone and we got nothing to eat. What do you have in the shop?” Pot on fire He said he told them that he had nothing save for “little flour, fish and oil” The four men went in the one room building used as a kitchen and sleeping quarters, made a fire and put a pot of the fire. They went in the shop, took four bottles of aerated water from a shelf and drank one each. Mr. Higgins said he gave them flour, codfish and oil, and the men helped prepare it. The men made dumplings from the flour, cooked and ate them. Then they took off their clothing which were wet wrung them and placed them over cross sticks by the fire to dry. Mr Higgins said they showed him their guns, saying, “These are for all those who set hands against us.” They put them on the floor. They next asked for a cro (Continued On PAGE 14)

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