Maryland ritual killings was a series of ritualistic murders that occurred around Harper, Maryland County, Liberia in the 1970s. The crimes have been regarded as "Liberia's most notorious ritual killing case" due to the number of murders, the involvement of high ranking government officials and their subsequent public executions.[1]
The public hanging of the Harper Seven on 16 February 1979
Between 1965 and 1977 over 100 murders occurred in Maryland County, many of which were considered ritualistic due to the mutilation and removal of body parts. During the 1970s, Liberians in Maryland County were constantly under the threat of ritual murders. Between November 1976 and July 1977, 14 people had disappeared in the county prompting Liberian president William Tolbert to fire Superintendent of Maryland County, James Daniel Anderson, who failed to report the missing people. Tolbert publicly declared "Anyone who kills deliberately: The law will kill that person".[1][2]
These murders went unreported and uninvestigated until the murder of a local fisherman and popular singer, Moses Tweh. Tweh was abducted on June 26, 1977. His body was discovered on July 4, 1977, heavily mutilated with his eyes, ears, nose, tongue and penis removed. Prior to the discovery of Tweh's body, Wreh Taryonnoh, the girlfriend of Assistant Supervisor of Schools, Francis Nyepan, was allegedly heard by a group searching for Tweh saying that "if they would be so lucky to find him, only his bones they might see". This sparked the arrest of 12 people, a majority of whom were government officials.[3][4]
Arrests
In July and early August 1977, 12 people were arrested:
Executed
James Daniel Anderson, Superintendent of Maryland County
Allen Nathaniel Yancy, Representative for Maryland County, House of Representatives
Francis Wlateh Nyepan, Assistant Supervisor of Schools
Philip B. Seyton, Senior Inspector of the Ministry of Commerce, Maryland County
Thomas Barclay, cook of Allen Yancy
Wreh Taryonnoh, girlfriend of Francis Nyepan
Putu Dueh
Died before execution
Wonplu Boye, domestic servant for Francis Nyapan
Kotee Weah, Chief Cook for the General Manager of the Firestone Company, Cavalla, Maryland County
Pardoned
Tagbedi Wisseh, Acting Chief of Grandcess residents in Harper
Released
Joshua W. Brown, Chief Security Officer, Liberia Sugar Company
Teah Toby, Kru Governor
The accused were forced to walk through the street naked "carrying two buckets loaded with sand". They were allegedly tortured during interrogation.
Trial
The Hanging of the Harper Seven, Liberia - 16 February 1979
During the first Harper Trial, Joshua Brown and Teah Toby were released and later became state witnesses. The other ten defendants were found guilty and sentenced to public execution by hanging. Tagbedi Wisseh appealed his conviction and was pardoned by Tolbert before execution. Wonplu Boye and Koti Weah both died before execution, it was rumored their own family members poisoned them to avoid shame.
Execution
On 16 February 1979, the seven remaining people convicted of Moses Tweh's murder were publicly hanged at dawn in Harper. The media dubbed them the "Harper Seven".[5][6]
^ abAimé Muyoboke Karimunda (16 March 2016). The Death Penalty in Africa: The Path Towards Abolition. Taylor & Francis. pp. 82–. ISBN978-1-317-03633-3.
^"Liberia's elections, ritual killings and cannibalism (2011)". ritualkillinginafrica.org. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
^Liberia. Supreme Court (1978). Liberian Law Reports: Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia. Cornell University Press. ISBN9780801413803.
^Mary H. Moran (17 July 2008). Liberia: The Violence of Democracy. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 111–. ISBN978-0-8122-2028-5.
^The Maryland Ritual Murders. The Final Verdict: Death By Hanging 2022-01-25 at the Wayback Machine. Liberiapastandpresent.org. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
^Ritualistic Killings Spark Mob Action in Maryland. Theperspective.org Jan 2005. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
Further reading
"Gallows Nearing Completion In Harper". Bentol Times. 1979-02-14.
"Maryland Connection: More Arrest In Harper". Liberian Star. 1979-08-09.
"Seven convicts in the Harper murder case of Moses Tweh in March, 1977, who were convicted by the Supreme Court were hanged here today". LINA Bulletin. Liberia News Agency (LINA), Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Monrovia. 16 February 1979.
"Dr Tolbert calls on Liberians to fast and pray". MICAT Press Service. Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Monrovia. 1977-07-15.
"In Harper ritualistic killing episode: The Heat Is On - Allen yancy, Former Supt. James Anderson and 8 others may face prosecution". Sunday Express[where?]. 7 July 1977.
January 29, 2023
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Maryland ritual killings was a series of ritualistic murders that occurred around Harper Maryland County Liberia in the 1970s The crimes have been regarded as Liberia s most notorious ritual killing case due to the number of murders the involvement of high ranking government officials and their subsequent public executions 1 The public hanging of the Harper Seven on 16 February 1979 Contents 1 History 2 Arrests 2 1 Executed 2 2 Died before execution 2 3 Pardoned 2 4 Released 3 Trial 3 1 Execution 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingHistory EditBetween 1965 and 1977 over 100 murders occurred in Maryland County many of which were considered ritualistic due to the mutilation and removal of body parts During the 1970s Liberians in Maryland County were constantly under the threat of ritual murders Between November 1976 and July 1977 14 people had disappeared in the county prompting Liberian president William Tolbert to fire Superintendent of Maryland County James Daniel Anderson who failed to report the missing people Tolbert publicly declared Anyone who kills deliberately The law will kill that person 1 2 These murders went unreported and uninvestigated until the murder of a local fisherman and popular singer Moses Tweh Tweh was abducted on June 26 1977 His body was discovered on July 4 1977 heavily mutilated with his eyes ears nose tongue and penis removed Prior to the discovery of Tweh s body Wreh Taryonnoh the girlfriend of Assistant Supervisor of Schools Francis Nyepan was allegedly heard by a group searching for Tweh saying that if they would be so lucky to find him only his bones they might see This sparked the arrest of 12 people a majority of whom were government officials 3 4 Arrests EditIn July and early August 1977 12 people were arrested Executed Edit James Daniel Anderson Superintendent of Maryland County Allen Nathaniel Yancy Representative for Maryland County House of Representatives Francis Wlateh Nyepan Assistant Supervisor of Schools Philip B Seyton Senior Inspector of the Ministry of Commerce Maryland County Thomas Barclay cook of Allen Yancy Wreh Taryonnoh girlfriend of Francis Nyepan Putu DuehDied before execution Edit Wonplu Boye domestic servant for Francis Nyapan Kotee Weah Chief Cook for the General Manager of the Firestone Company Cavalla Maryland CountyPardoned Edit Tagbedi Wisseh Acting Chief of Grandcess residents in HarperReleased Edit Joshua W Brown Chief Security Officer Liberia Sugar Company Teah Toby Kru GovernorThe accused were forced to walk through the street naked carrying two buckets loaded with sand They were allegedly tortured during interrogation Trial Edit The Hanging of the Harper Seven Liberia 16 February 1979 During the first Harper Trial Joshua Brown and Teah Toby were released and later became state witnesses The other ten defendants were found guilty and sentenced to public execution by hanging Tagbedi Wisseh appealed his conviction and was pardoned by Tolbert before execution Wonplu Boye and Koti Weah both died before execution it was rumored their own family members poisoned them to avoid shame Execution Edit On 16 February 1979 the seven remaining people convicted of Moses Tweh s murder were publicly hanged at dawn in Harper The media dubbed them the Harper Seven 5 6 See also EditCrime in LiberiaReferences Edit a b Aime Muyoboke Karimunda 16 March 2016 The Death Penalty in Africa The Path Towards Abolition Taylor amp Francis pp 82 ISBN 978 1 317 03633 3 Liberia s elections ritual killings and cannibalism 2011 ritualkillinginafrica org 15 August 2018 Retrieved 10 January 2019 Liberia Supreme Court 1978 Liberian Law Reports Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia Cornell University Press ISBN 9780801413803 Mary H Moran 17 July 2008 Liberia The Violence of Democracy University of Pennsylvania Press pp 111 ISBN 978 0 8122 2028 5 The Maryland Ritual Murders The Final Verdict Death By Hanging Archived 2022 01 25 at the Wayback Machine Liberiapastandpresent org Retrieved 11 December 2017 Ritualistic Killings Spark Mob Action in Maryland Theperspective org Jan 2005 Retrieved 11 December 2017 Further reading Edit Gallows Nearing Completion In Harper Bentol Times 1979 02 14 Maryland Connection More Arrest In Harper Liberian Star 1979 08 09 Seven convicts in the Harper murder case of Moses Tweh in March 1977 who were convicted by the Supreme Court were hanged here today LINA Bulletin Liberia News Agency LINA Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism Monrovia 16 February 1979 Dr Tolbert calls on Liberians to fast and pray MICAT Press Service Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism Monrovia 1977 07 15 In Harper ritualistic killing episode The Heat Is On Allen yancy Former Supt James Anderson and 8 others may face prosecution Sunday Express where 7 July 1977 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maryland ritual killings amp oldid 1129627881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
