THE MAKUTU CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 289, 13 December 1897, Page 5

THE MAKUTU CASE.

MAOEI WOMAN CHARGED WITH

MURDER.

THE INQUEST

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent)

TAUPO, this day.

The adjourned inquiry into the Waitetoke tragedy was held in the Court House, Taupo, to-day, the inquest and Police Court proceedings being taken together before Justices Noble and Dive. Detective Chrystal is conducting the case for the police, and Mr Warbrick is acting as interpreter. Ngapaki was charged with the murder of Moananui at Waitetoke on the 2nd November and pleaded not guilty. Honemai Te Hata, wife of a native clergyman, stated that accused was confined the 28th of October, and accused charged deceased with bewitching her. Subsequent acts of accused showed her to be insane. At sunset accused told deceased her time had come and ran her at a trot to the lake, returning in about half an hour and crying out that the bad spirits had killed Moananui and that something would, happen. Witnesss also said accused was suffering from milk fever and witness forced her to partake of her milk mixed some of deceased hairs to break the spell, according to native customs. Directly the alarm was given other natives rushed to the Lake and found Moananui covered with blood.

Turea Moana, uncle of Ngapakio, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, also deposing to finding a block of pumice stone in company with Hori, native constable, next day. He identified a stone produced as like it. The stone is about Bx9 inches, weather beaten and hardened. It was found in scrub near where the body was found.

Half-an-hour after the dinner adjournment Mr Noble, the presiding Justice, fainted from heat, which is excessive today. The Court, though a large building, is crowded by natives.