TRAGEDY AT RAROTONGA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 11

TRAGEDY AT RAROTONGA.

(Prom Onr-Own Cwwapondent.) \ RABOTONGA, December 7. On Sunday evening, December 3, the police received information that a native ■woman named Rongoxnate had been snot dead. Sergeant Hohnes at oace proceeded to the scene and arrested Noongo, the husband of the dead -woman, on suspicion of having caused the death of his ■wife. Accused was brought -before Captain J. Eman Smith (Chief Judge of the High Conrt) on th» following day and formally charged.

On ilondav afternoon an inquiry was held under the Medical Officers-' Inquiry Act of 1900 to ascertain how deceased met her death. Dr. G. P. Baldwin (acting Chief Medical OffieeTi conducted the inquirr. A iury of four was empanelled. " Sergeant Holmes deposed that on the previous evening he was informed that a n-stive woman had. been *>hot. He immediately sent for the medical officer and proceeded to the residence of deceased. The husband of deceased was arrested by him on suspicion of having caused the death of his wife and removed to the cells. The house was then sealed up and a native left on guard. Witness did not notice any traces of drinking about the native. When marching him to the cells he walked smartly, and there was no evidence of drinking either in hie appearance or conduct Tui. a neighbour, stated that he heard someone cajl out ''Tui, come here, there is a death." He ran down to Pare's house, which is nest to Noongo's, and Pare told him that Noongc's wife iwas dead. Witness »nd Pare "entered the cookhouse where the bodv was lying. Rai, a native woman, was there washing the body with water. Xoocgo was standing there holding a gun, and witness snatched the gun out of his bsnd and threw it into his own yard, which is close by.

Uaongo, a boy aged about, ten. gave evidenoe as to a quarrel bebween deceased and his wife, but be did not see the shooting. Nonngo then told them (-witness and another native) not to tell the. truth it thev were asked how the shooting happened. They were to say that they (witness and Tutai 1 were meddling with the gun. Dr. C. M. Dawson said that, in his opinion, the injuries were caused by a gunshot wonnd at close quarters. He thought it hardly possible that the wound was self-inflicted. Nooßgo. after" being cautioned, declined to make any statement. The jury, after a short retirement, returned the following verdict: —""We are of opinion that Rongoinato, on the Brd December, 1011. met her death from a gunshot woimd. but whilst, there was no one present in the house except the man Noongo and the deceased at the time of the omirreitw. there is do direct evidence to show whether the gun was discharged intentionally or accidentally." Tbc accused is not a native of Rarotongn, but come* from the neighbouring island of Mangaia, deceased also beiiw a native of that island. the serious and unusual nature of the offence in these islands, the natives are not in any way excited.