458 Delilahs

In the Bible, Samson was brought low by one wily woman. It took 458 women to undo mighty Sampson Nkbinde of Verulam, South Africa. Last week, in the biggest trial in South Africa's history, all 458 were tried for murder.

Recently tall, husky Sampson Nkbinde tried to collect a bad debt from Chief Shembe of the native sect of Nazareth Baptists, who pride themselves on never smoking, never drinking, never getting angry. Chief Shembe would not pay. Then Sampson rose in his wrath and slew four Nazareth Baptists. Still Chief Shembe would not pay. Sampson said, in effect, Pay--or else.

In spite of their amiable creed 458 female Nazareth Baptists went out, cornered Sampson, tied him with ropes, marched him to a tree-bordered square in Verulam called The Place of Dancing. Chanting and dancing, they hacked Sampson with sticks, hoes, axes, poles, stones. Then they buried what was left of him under a ton of debris.

Last week the 458 women were brought to trial on an old tennis court. The judge sat under a shade tree and the ascetic defendants stood in the sun, dressed in chaste white robes. Chief Shembe gave his followers a good character. "We never have fights," he said, "not even quarrels." But the 458 female Nazareth Baptists were found guilty of manslaughter. Punishment was spread thin over the entire group. Sentence: for eleven leaders, six months in jail; for the others, three months with sentence suspended after a promise to behave.

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