SHOT IN SLEEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 6, 9 January 1933, Page 3

SHOT IN SLEEP.

farmer at KAITAIA. YOUNG SUSPECT ARRESTED. remand on murder charge (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Riwi Manuel, a Maori, aged 17J years was charged in the Kaitaif. Police Conit this morning with murdering another Maori, Hati Robson, early yesterday morning. Accused, who was represented by M r - Roy Kelly, was on the application of th» police remanded to appear at Auckland on January 17. He will be taken to Auckland to-morrow. Mr. Robson, a dairy farmer at Pukctoto, about five miles from Kaitaia, w.is shot while asleep in bed early yesterday morirng, and was removed to the Kaitaia Hospital in a critical condition. Ho died about one o'clock yesterday afternoon. Wife Awakened By Cry. Mr. Robson lived with his wife and family in a four-roomed cottage, which formed part of a small farming settlement. He and Mrs. Robson went to bed early on Saturday evening. About 4.30 a.m., Mrs. Robson was awakened by her husband, who cried out that he felt a burning pain in his side. She found that he had a large wound in his side, which was later see-i tc bo a gunshot wound. She gave what first-aid attention she could and summoned Dr. Clarke, of Kaitaia, who ordered Mr. Robson to hospital. The injured man was admitted about 8 o'clock. Mrs. Robson said she was not awakened by any shot and did not hear anything before her husband cried out. She noticed, when she awoke, that the bedroom door, which she had closed on going to bed, was wide open.

Accused An Employee. The police were summoned Immediately, and Constable Tliornell, of Kaitaia, and Detective-Sergeant Robertson, of Whangarei, who was at Kaitaia, were quickly on tlic scene. After a search they found a gun some distance from Mr. Robson's house. It was later established that the gun belonged to Mr. Jesse Robson, a brother of the dead man, and that on Saturday, when he went to get it, he found it was gone. After further inquiries, the police arrested Manuel, who had worked for the late Mr. Robson. An inquest was opened last evening before Mr. L. A. Mcintosh, the coroner, and adjourned after evidence of identification had been heard. Mr. Robson, whose real name was Hati Wiri Houkamou Rapihana, was about 40 years of age. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Robson. He leaves a wife and five children, three being stepchildren.