ALLEGED MURDER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 9 August 1932, Page 15

ALLEGED MURDER.

MAORI BOY CHARGED. (miss association tilegbam.J AUCKLAND, Auguet 8. A charge of murdering George Crewe, an old age pensioner, at Ruatangata, near Whangarei, on or about Alny 27th, was preferred against Heta Fred Gardner, a half-caste Maori, aged LSJ years, in the Supreme Court. Counsel for the Crown said perhaps the most remarkable fact of the case Was that there was no air of mystery or intricate story of jealousies, but that accused was a haxf-caste boy of about 15J years. The medical evidence would indicate that he was not fully developed mentally. Dr. il. M. Buchanan, medical superintendent at the Auckland Mental Hospital, said accused told him he had been stabbed in the head with a knife when about five years old. There was p. scar on his head, but an X-ray examination showed no pathological brain changes. Accused was perfectly happy in prison. His conversation and outlook were very childish, and it was witness's opinion that the lad intellectually was not more than nine or ten years old. Accused did not appreciate his position. His attitude could be described as one of cheerful i irresponsibility. He wqs definitely feeble-minded. Duncan McDiarmid, county surf acema n,_ described the finding of Crewe in his hut with wounds on the bead. To counsel for accused, witness said he believed it was the impression in the neighbourhood that Crewe had obtained some money a few years ago when he disposed of his interest in a farm, but he did, not think the impression was that the money was kept m the hut. On two occasions, the last twiner Anzac Day, witness had seen a small sum of mon6y, perhaps £lO, ia the hut.

Counsel: He encouraged drovers to call at the lmfc for a cup of tea. because he liked their company?— Yes. \ on will have noticed in recent times a great number of swasreers and unemployed tramping through there ? Yds. The hearing was adjourned.