THE TOHUNGA CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 93, 29 April 1901, Page 3

THE TOHUNGA CASE.

ACCUSED SENTENCED TO 12 MONTHS’ IMIMMSONMENT. | At the Supreme Court on Saturday the case ol ilarata l’aretiti, an elderly native woman, arraigned upon a charge that at Murewai on November 25th, 1900, she did kill Tiimi Ha,win, was continued before the following jury : Francis Scott, James Drown, Win. Gordon, James Harris, J. IV. Trice, H. J. Bcndall, Jas. Qlassford. E, N. Sidebottoui, F. Dates, W, AVilson, H. Hobortson. and ,T. S. Allan. Mr Lincoln Hoes appeared for the accused. The address of Counsel and the summing up of His Honor occupied the greater part of the morning, the jury retiring at half-past twelve, and returned into Court at 2.10 p.m. with a verdict of guilty.

In reply to the question whether she hud anything to say why judgment should not bo passed upon her, Prisoner said ; It is not right that a \ crdict of guilty should be recorded against me.

Mr Lees : I would ask Your Honor, in passing sentence, to be as lenient as possible, for these reasons : The first is that this is the first conviction ever obtained against a Native for this class of offonee in this district. There is another matter which I think should have some weight with Your Honor, and that is this : There lias never been a suggestion during the trial that any payment was taken by the prisoner.

His Honor : I do not know whether tohungas work for pay or not. Mr Bees : 1 believe Maori doctors arc much the same as European doctors in respect to receiving payment for services rendered. However, 1 submit it is reasonable to take this fact into consideration that prisoner Jiff not receive any pajincut. Then there is the infirmity of age.

f His Honor : She is 56 years of age. ilie age of a Maori is always a matter of guesswork. I should assume she is about 56 years of age. -Mr Bees : Then there has been no evidence of a previous offence. Although the Crown prosecutor opened by saying she was practising as a tolnmga, the only evidence given was that one other person consulted her,

His Honor then called Hera, the wife of the deceased, who said ; I have known prisoner for six years.

His Honor : JDo van know how long she has been practising as a tohunga ? Hera : I do not know the year she commenced to practise as a tohunga. His Honor : Ho you know whether she had been practising before you took vour husband to her ? ‘ "

Hera ; Yes ; it was constant work of hers.

His Honor : Hid many Maoris to vour knowledge go to her for advice ? Hera : A groat number. His Honor said he had taken into consideration .what luid been said by prisoner's counsel. He hoped that a moderate sentence might have some effect upon persons who might wish to consult these tohungas. The sentence of the Court was Ghat prisoner be imprisoned in Auckland Gaol and kept to hard labor for 12 calendar months.