A TARANAKI SENSATION.

Evening Star, Issue 9707, 16 May 1895, Page 2

A TARANAKI SENSATION.

TWO MURDERS AND A SUICIDE,

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 16. News to hand of a tragedy a'. Mahoetahi is to the efi'.ct that the wife of Ben, a Native, has been found in a hut, about half a mile from the pah, with her head smashed in. An axe was found alongside the body. It is presumed Ben first killed his wife, then went to the pah and killed his daughter, set fire to the whare, and then shot himself. From later particulars to hand it appears that Ben killed his wife through jealousy, then went to the whare and shot his daughter, after which he committed suicide. The name of the man in Maori is not known to the police. In appearance he was like a half-caste, and had a red beard. He had the reputation of being a quiet, hard-work-ing man.

Later When the Maori settlement wa3 visited Pene was found lying on his biick, and a double-barrelled gun lying between his legs with the muzzle pointing to deceased's head. He had shot himself through the breast and fallen back. The body of the girl Te Ata was found lying in a small fenced garden. She had been shot at the back of the head, the charge coming through the child's mouth. The wife of Pene, who was named Pare, was found in a little wham half a mile from where the others were lying. She was covered with clean white blankets. The woman was dressed with the exception of her stockings and boots. The biek patt of her skull was smashed in, and her head was resting on her left arm. Under a mat on which the murdered woman was reclining was a large axe covered with blood.

Rameka, an old Maori, states that at twelve o'clock on Wednesday he heard the report of a gun close to a potato pit which he was in. He,got out, and found that Pene had just shot the little girl. Rameka tried to get the gun from him, but proved not strong enough, and Pene ran out of sight. He afterwards heard another shot. O'her Maoris, who were in the field ploughing, went and found Pone dead.

The Maoris say that Pene and his wife had beeu in bad health -for some time, und were very despondent.