Russell was appointed Commissioner by the Acting Governor of Sierra Leone, R.O. Ramage, to hold the Inquiry into the conduct of Paramount Chief Soloku of the Bagru Chiefdom, Sierra Leone. Soloku was accused of forcing "divers persons in the Chiefdom to produce candidates for porro initiation" and demanding fees in their place if not produced. Russell found Soloku guilty and recommended his deposition.

fols 1-60:The papers include a full statement of the proceedings and Russell's report on his findings. The lawyers involved were S.A. Benka-Coker, Crown Counsel, O.I.E.O. During and A. Margai. At the end of the file are two maps of West Africa, sheets 32 and 48 dated 1943 and 1944 respectively, showing Freetown and Bonthe.