INTRUDER IN BEDROOM

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 4, 29 September 1939, Page 7

INTRUDER IN BEDROOM

Attack On Teacher

Dominion Special Service

GISBORNE, September 26.

An early morning struggle between a -European girl teacher aud a Maori, who entered her bedroom through a window, and the subsequent capture of the intruder, were described in the Ruatoria Court, when Hoani Raroa was charged with breaking and entering a house at night with intent to commit a crime.

The assistant master at a Native school on the East Coast stated that about 3.30 a.m. on September 19 he had been aroused by one of his assistants, who burst into his room crying that someone had entered her bedroom. Witness ran into* the girl’s room and grappled with a man, who struggled out the open window and dragged witness with him. Witness succeeded in holding the intruder till assistance came.

The young woman stated that the district in which she worked was exclusively Maori, and the only other white woman in the neighbourhood was the headmaster’s wife. On the night of September 18 she heard someone tapping on the window of her room. She called, “Go away,” and the rapping stopped. About 3.30 a.m., however, she was awakened again by someone, who leaned through the window and grasped her legs. The intruder came through the window, iti spite of her protests, and pinioned her arm. She struggled, but could not free herself till site resorted to biting, when the man relaxed his bold and she managed to get clear. Witness said she did not know accused previously, even by sight. Evidence was given also by another woman teacher living in the house indicating that on the night of the commotion she heard tapping on her own bedroom window, but ignored it. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court in Wellington for sentence. lie stated that be wished to retract unreservedly anything be had said which might affect the reputation of the chief witness.