ORE ORE TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 155, 1 July 1913, Page 5

ORE ORE TRAGEDY.

IKQUEST HELD. GRAHAM'S MIND DERANGED. PETI TE TCA EXONERATED.

ACTED IS SELF-DEFENCE.

(By Telegraph.—o>Vs Correspondent.) RAETIHI. this day. An inquest was held yesterday concerning the death of the victims of the double tragedy at Ore Ore. eleven miles from Raetlhi," when a European named Joseph Graham shot llirita Tenata, a Maori woman, and was in turn killed by Peti Te Tua, Hirita's aunt.

A great deal of evidence was forthcoming, six witnesses being examined. The evidence showed that though not married, the two deceased had been living together as man and wife. Recently Hirita left Graham, and returned to her people at Ore Ore. On Saturday afternoon Graham arrived, anil spent the night at. the house of a neighbour, from whom, without bring no tired, he took an- a pea-r ; l!e and some ammunition. He then made an entrance into Hirita's house and -hot her. death being instantaneous, as the bullet passed right through her heed. Peti Te Tua. Hint.)'- aunt, stated that on bearing s.-re'ms. and the report of a rifle, she r:i-bcd into th- bouse, seizing a four-foot rip-saw a- -he wiit. Tn selfdefence she .-.truck Grainm several blows ou the head. fro;:t which he succumbed .shortly after.

Th- verdict of the jury was that tbe deceased. liintfl Ten.ita. met her death by a bullet wound from v. rifle fired by .loseph (iralnni. a'-o adding a rider •'that after hearing the evidence, the jury are „f opinion Hint Graham was. ot t.he time of committing the Iced, sufferin?; from meat?! dcranrc— •**." The deceased Graham me* X th at the hands of Peti Te Tua. '• . nvs from a saw. adding a rider, "tb.it the jury arc of opinion that her act vrs- committed in self-defence, nr.l was. perfectly justified under the circumstances."