- Uit die aangehaalde bron:
"June 25.
...
"Simon of Malabar, slave of Matthys Greef, hanged for theft. On a Sunday, three years ago, he and Kelder, a servant of the Company and horse herd at Klapmuts, had been at the house of an old man, Frans Hendriksz de Raad, alias Platte Boer, at Stellenbosch, and at a time when he knew that the said Frans and his wife Aatje Philips were at his master's house.
"That 'Kelder' opened the window and climbed into the housel that prisoner stood on the watch outside to look out for the passers-by; that Kelder broke open the chest and stole Rds. 139 tied in a piece of sailcloth, a silver purse in which there were 8 diamonds, a silver-mounted belt, a hat, an under waistcoat with 24 silver buttons, 16 buttons with silver plates, and a silver breech button".
He had confessed that, excepting the button last mentioned and the money, of which he had only received Rds. 25, he had thrown the waistcoat, after having cut off the silver buttons, into the bushes. When he returned home he pretended to pity the poor old people who had been robber and were still at his master's house, by saying "that poor woman's property has been stolen," endeavouring by such words of sympathy to his his premeditated crime. For that purpose he also gave the silver purse, the belt and diamonds to his mistress, the wife of Matthys Greeff, in order to compromise her as aider and abetter, and secure her protection ; the money and the silver buttons he kept for himself.
The buttons he sold to a certain Jan Roux at Drakenstein for twopence each and gambled the amount away at the house of Jan Valniet at Stellenbosch.
When the robbery was discovered the prisoner was ordered by his master to keep out of the way, and he was sent first to an outside station, the "Drie Fonteinen ", and after that to the 24 Rivers. This the prisoner obeyed and remained in his hiding-place until, like all other vagabonds, he flew into a candle like a moth.
Some four months ago he had incited some slaves to steal their master's cattle, which he had kept among his master's lambs, and with which he had run away under the direction of two Dutch or Europeans, who professed to have a compass, with which they might reach another country in six weeks' time. Together they carried of 19 sheep, 7 of the Heemraad Jad Botma, and 12 of Mr. Elsevier, also some tobacco, two guns, and powder and lead stolen from Hans Polonie (servant of Elsevier) ; prisoner then commenced the journey with the two Europeans, Jan Bakker and another Jan ; and when they had eater up everything they parted from the Europeans; becoming then the leader of the company and proceeding inland beyond the Olifants River into the Cochema's land, they were attacked by the Hottentots, who robbed them of their goods and ammunition, and broke and threw their firelocks in to the river. When prisoner and his comrades had crossed the river to this side, they were again attacked by the Hottentots (Namaquas or Bushmen), captured and delivered into the hands of justice, &c., &c.
Signed by L. van Assenburgh, J. C. d'Ableing, O. Bergh, Js. Swellengrebel, W. van Putten, K.J. Slotsboo, Pr. Kikze, Claas Hendriksz: Diepenauw, Henning Husing, and H. Donker, all members of the Court of Justice."
Hoekom het Greeff sy slaag weggestuur juis toe die diefstal bekend geword het? Ek vermoed hy het geweet van sy slaaf se betrokkenheid en dié se verhouding met sy vrou, en wou nie dat dit bekend word nie.
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< 1672 - < 1710 (< 38 jare)
