A TRAGIC AFFAIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10132, 9 June 1924, Page 5

A TRAGIC AFFAIR

NATIVE WOMAN MURDERED.

HUSBAND DIES SUBSEQUENTLY

(Per Press Association.) WHANGAREI, This Day. An atrocious murder at the Waimea native settlement, near Rawene, Hokianga, occurred about 2 o'clock on SatU AMaoTSed RuK Pene battered his wife's skull with a stone, the victim expiring at noon. - The first intimation was given to the settlement by the children of the victim excitedly crying: "Father is murdering mother; come quickly! The natives found a woman ma whare in a dying condition. A blood-stained stone was alongside. In the meantime Pene disappeared. A hue and cry was raised, and he was eventually located at Rawene, where Pene climbed a tree with a view to hiding, binding this futile he leaped from the tree, a distance of 30 feet, into a shallow creek, sustaining concussion and unconsciousness. He was conveyed by train to Whangarei, but expired en route at Whakapara, A post-mortem revealed a fracture at the base of the skull. Jealousy is supposed to be the motive of the crime. The woman was aged about 50.