SCENE OF THE CRIME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 113, 22 January 1940, Page 5

SCENE OF THE CRIME

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY TASK OF THE POLICE Mr and Mrs Mita Makihei had retired for the night when, at about 10 p.m., the barking of one of the dogs heralded the approach of .a car. Mrs Mita got up and Avent outside and was in time to see Tukehu strik ing Maaka on the head witli what seemed to be a crank handle. Mrs Mita was followed outside by her husband who saw and had to walk round the unconscious form of Mrs McManus. A message was despatched to Mr Jamieson, who lives on the Matahina Road, and he telephoned the police. Tukehu left the scene but returned shortly afterwards and, saying Good-Bye to everyone, left the district after leaving a note written in the form of a will. A police party • comprising Sergeant M. Farrell and v Constables F. M. Fuller and R. A. A. Prater, arrived shortly afterwards accompanied by Dr F. J. Appleby, of Whakatane. Maaka was dead "when they arrived, and his body had been shifted and was lying at the ■ gate. An examination revealed severe injuries to the top of the victim's head, and these had apparently been caused by some blunt instrument. An intensive search for the weapon and enquiries among the natives of the district were prosecuted throughout the night by the police officers, who had to work in extremely miserable weather conditions, the rain effectively obliterating any marks that might have been of Assistance. The police party Avas reinforced at. mid-day yesterday with the arriA T al from Gisborne of DetectiA T eSergeant Waterson and he Avas occupied throughout the afternoon in "his investigations. Despite further searching the instrument with which the murder AA'as committed could not be found and investigation failed to reveal the Avhereabouts of Tukehu. An inquest into the death of ".Maaka Avill be opened to-day.