2011 - Theses - Flinders University

White Lives in a Black Community: The lives of Jim Page and Rebecca Forbes in the Adnyamathanha communityTracy SpencerVolume One Creative Writing Component: Excerpted Chapters from Volume Three Appendix One(Superintendent at Nepabunna Mission via Copley) had cut his throat with a razor on thisdate, but that he was still alive.Accompanied by Sister Trevilion of the Mitchell Home, Beltana, and Yourself, arrivingat Copley en route to the above mentioned Mission, on this date, the abovementioned MrLewis informed me that James Page was now dead.In your presence I viewed the body of the deceased James Page at 7pm at NepabunnaMission today, and the following are the particulars that I have ascertained concerning thedeath of the deceased.I would respectfully request to be instructed as to whether you deem an inquestnecessary or otherwise.MC RosewallLESLIE HARVEY, mail driver from Copley to Moolawatana Station and residing atCopley, states:-Sometime between 11am and noon on this date, I called for the mail at NepabunnaMission. I left my motorcar stationary only a few yards distant from the hut of James Pageat Nepabunna Mission. Andy Coulthard, (half-caste aboriginal) said to me, ‘You hadbetter take Mr Page into Copley with you, he is a bit crook.’Mr Page came along with the Nepabunna mail bag, and he placed same in my motor car. Isaid to Mr Page, ‘How do you feel Mr Page?’He said, ‘Not too good.’I said to him, ‘You had better pack your things and come into Copleywith me.’He said, ‘It will take a long time to pack the things.’I said, ‘It won’t take you long, I have plenty of time, and I’ll wait for you.’He said, ‘Right I think I will.’Mr Page then walked straight back to his hut. There were several half-castes standing nearthe hut of Mr Page. I continued speaking to Andy Coulthard for about one minute after MrPage left my motor car, when I heard groans coming from his hut, and one of the halfcastescalled out, ‘He has done it.’Andy Coulthard and I rushed into the hut, and I saw Mr Page lying with his back on thekitchen floor and his throat cut. I saw an open razor covered with blood lying on the tablein the same room. Mr Page was making a gurgling sound in his throat – like as if he wastrying to speak – but I could not understand what he was trying to say.I sent one of the half-castes to Mrs Forbes for some lint and bandages, and he returnedwith same in a few minutes. I then placed the lint and bandage over the cut on the throatof Mr Page. The deceased breathed for about ten minutes, and then died, but he did notbecome conscious. Andy Coulthard and I were present when Mr Page died, and there were134