A MAORI CONFESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1928, Page 8

A MAORI CONFESSION.

PECULIAR REASON GIVEN. SUPREME COURT ACiQUITTAL. TAR AND FEATHERS. A Maori youth in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon said the prospect of a flogging and decoration with tar and feathers was the reason why he admitted the commission of an offence, to which he pleaded not guilty at his trial. The case was one in which Arama Wataria, aged 18, was charged with unlawful carnal knowledge of a Maori girl under 16 years of age. Mr. Justice MacGregor presided. Mr. Hubble prosecuted and Mr. Hall Skelton conducted the defence. The offence was alleged to have taken place at Karakanui, in the Kaipara district, during the course of a Maori gathering on February 28. Graham White, uncle of the girl, gave evidence for the Crown. Mr. Skelton directed a portion of his cross-examina-tion to an elucidation of the steps taken by the natives to investigate the charge against Wataria. Witness said he was chairman of the Ratana church committee at Karakanui. White also said he was judge of the Ratana Court, but he denied Mr. Skelton's suggestion that the Court inflicted fines. Witness said he had taxed accused with the offence. After denying the charge, Wataria said the allegation was true. Constable R. P. Boag, of Maungaturoto, during cross-examination, said some natives had complained to him that they had been fined half-a-crown for various offences, the money going to Ratana. The accused had complained thatihe had been so fined. The accused gave evidence denying he had admitted the offence. Describing an interview he had had with Graham White, accused alleged that White said he "had the law," and pressed witness to admit the offence. White said he could strip witness, flog him, put tar on his back, and throw feathers at himj Accused said that made him frightened. Accused continuing, said at a meeting in the evening he denied the offence, and in reply to Mr. Hubble when asked if he really thought White could put tar and feathers on him, said he did not know but he knew he would give him a hiding. When it was pointed out to him by Mr. Hubble that it was serious to admit he had committed the offence, accused said he did liot want a hiding and that he had denied committing the offence until they came at the flogging business again. His Honor: He seems to say he would be flogged if he was innocent and let off if he was guilty. The jury, after half an hour's retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty.