TRAGIC OCCURRENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 69, 22 February 1937, Page 6

TRAGIC OCCURRENCE

ELDERLY MAORI KILLED. DAUGHTER SEVERELY INJURED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. A tragedy occurred in a four-roomed whare on the Waiau Pa Road, Patu* mahoe, at 8 o’clock last night, when Toko Whakaia, aged 70, one of the best-known Maoris in the district, was fatally shot in the back, and his elder daughter, Mrs Ette Toko, aged 30, severely injured through being struck on the head with a heavy iron kettle. Her condition this morning had improved. Last night the police arrested John Toko, aged 26. a son of the dead man, and charged him with the murder. He was brought to Auckland at an early hour this morning after having been in the cells at Pukekohe. "SVhakaia was shot in the middle of the back with a single-barrel shotgun. The kettle which injured his daughter was shattered. When the police arrived they found her lying on flic earth floor of the whare. . , , The Pukekohe police were advised by the proprietor of the Patumahoe Hotel and on their way to the scene with a doctor saw three Maoris on the roadside, one of whom was John Toko, who accompanied them back to the whare. Mis Toko had regained consciousness and recognised Joljn Toko, and from what she' said, and other evidence, the police made the arrest. The police believe the shot'was fired from outside the building and that the charge passed through the thin walls of the whare, entering Whakaia s back. He was found lying near the window.. Other members of the family, who had taken refuge with a neighbour, said there was no warning of the tiagedv. A shot was fired and Whakaia fell. Mrs Toko made a desperate effort to secure posession of the weapon, which fell to the floor. It was picked up bv one of the children and taken to ft "neighbour’s house. Though badly injured' in the head, Mrs Toko feigned death in order to avoid further injury. Detectives from Auckland took numerous statements. An inquest was opened near the whare before Mr C. K. Lawrie (Coroner) and adjourned after evidence or identification had been given.