INDIAN HAWKER STABBED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 160, 19 April 1949, Page 4

INDIAN HAWKER STABBED

Maori Charged with Murder (P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. An Indian hawker vyas stabbed •to death while gathering bottles in a wash-house in Nelson Street about 9.30 a.m. to-day. The victim was: Govind Ranchhod, about SS, who lived a few doors away. A Maori labourer has been arrested and charged with murder. The house where the murder occurred is at 129 Nelson Street.

It has a single storey facing the street with lower-storeyed rooms at the rear.

It is not yet definitely known who were the occupants of the house at the time of the crime, but, it Is said that a Maori woman and a white man had been living there. The man charged with the murder of the Indian is alleged to have been a previous associate of the woman. It is believed he went there early this morning with the intention of seeing her, entering by a window near the washhouse below the bedroom. While waiting below the house the Indian made one of his regular calls to collect bottles.

It is alleged that the accused spoke to the hawker and asked him if he knew where the woman was, and that the Indian gave no satisfaction, whereupon the'Maori shook him.' It is further alleged that Ranchhod picked up a bottle and threw it at the Maori and missed him, the bottle striking the wall and breaking.