TRIAL OF THE WHAKATANE MURDERERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 643, 4 December 1865, Page 4

TRIAL OF THE WHAKATANE MURDERERS.

" We )ulye received the following communis i tion from our special correspondent at Opotifa*" ' relative to the trials of tho Whakatane mur * t derers, but for the reasons he states the full evident" . is for the present withheld. The trials commenced - at Opotiki on the Gth November, and terminated o tt f tho 27th. There were, it seems, two separate cases * tho fust taken bting that of tho actual murderer of ' Mr. Fulloon and the other victims in tho Whakatane 3 massacre, twenty-one in number ; tho second that of t the investigation of tho affair, as aidors and abettors 3 These latter numbered fourteen persons. Of tig ■ former eighteon were found guilty, and sentenced J of the latter twelve. Our correspondent has tho whole j of the evidence, but at tho request of the President of • tho Court tho publication of it is deferred until after 3 tlio Governor's final decision, as to whether the sea. - tence of the Court shall be carried out or not, shall > have been received. J Tho documents forwarded to us aro but the pre. t liminaries of tho trial. We shall publish the evidence at an early date. [i'Eom oue special cobeespo.ydent.J f . November 6. t Thismemorabletrialof thealleged murderers of J£r 5 Fulloon and others on board the Katn at Whakatane l in July last, commenced this morning, November 6, p at ten o'clock, and as may bo readily imagined, the 3 deepest interest iva; evinced by all in the Opotiti [ camp, including several hundred Arawas, who had recently arrived to witness the proceedings of this momentous enquiry, the result of which, be what it ' may, must be of deep and lasting importance to the j whole of tho Northern Island, if not to tho colony at ' largo. f The court-martial was constituted as follows: Prol sident, Major George; Members, Captain l'enne- - father, Capt. Ilussey, Copt. Wilson, Lieut. Alalone . Lieut. Cleary, Lieut, tfoulks. Judge Advocate' I Lieut. Chapman. Prosecutors, Major McDonnell t and Mr. Commissioner H. T. Clarke. For the de--5 fence, Mr. Commissioner I'. H. Smith. Interpreter Mr. W. G. Mair, K.M. r Tho Court opened at 10 o'clock a.m , and the pro- , ceedings commenced by tlio Judge advocate reading [ the proclamation declaring Martial L\w in the ' district, and also the warrants authorising the President and the Judge Advocate to assume their respec- ! tivo offices. . Previous to any evidence being taken, the two * reporterst present received an intimation that it was expected that they would not publish the trials ■ until a final decision had been coino to, aa ? tho wholo has to be referred to His Excellency before the law is carried out. t-'evoral days must elapse before a full report can be laid before tho public. THE CHAIiGF. The chargo brought against Hoaro Poururu, Hcmoru To Auru, Hako Tukino, Hckar.i, llawira To JUihirn, Eaniera VVeretoptoko, Hunin 3lurupO| 1 Heahea Te Pakehini, llaki Waihou, Hoani Hupa, Utuku To Bangi, To Aka o tau Te Hum, Te Meihaiia Te Thwu, Tamati Nga to Hoko, Tio Wahu, Paraharaha, Mikaire Kirimaungu, Tura Te Mitutarewa, Wiiimu Kepa Te Amopa, Panapa Kangi- , tewai, —that they, on the 22nd day of July, 1865, at or near Whakatane, in the Bay of ; Plenty, in the Province of Auckland, in the [ Colony of New Zealand, did filoniously, wilfully, ; and of malico aforethought, kill and murder one L James Fulloon, ono Frederick I'ringle, one iiobinson, and one other person namo unknown, against the peace of our Sjvoroign Lady the Q,ueen, her Crown [ and dignity, P 0. Stapp, Brevet-Mujor, I Commanding Kxpeditionary Fores, Opotika, 2nd November, 1865. Warrant and Authority appointing Brevet-Major George, President of a General Court Martial at Opotiki. By virtue of au authority granted to me by his I Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of tho Most Honorablo Order of tho Bath, Governor and Commander in-Chief in and over her Majesty's C .lony of New Zealand and its dopeudoncies, and ) Vice-Admiral of the sime, &c., Ac., and autho.ising r mo to convene or causo to be assombled from time • to time General Courts Martial for tho trial ■ or punishment of Natives concerned in 1 tho late barbarous murders and acts of i cannibalism on tho East Coast of Now i Zealand, I do hereby inetituto you President of a r General Court Martial, to be assembled at Opotiki, ■ on the Gth of November, 1865, for healing and examining into, according to tho powers and directions i in all such matters as shall then and there be brought i beforo you, and for so doing this shall be a sufficient warrant and authority to you and all others concerned. (Signed) 0. Stapp, Brevet-Major, Commanding Expeditionary Force. Given at Opotiki, 2nd November, 1865. Brevet-Major George, Expeditionary Force, Opotiki, [Corw] Warrant appointing Lieutenant Chapman Officiating J udgo Advocate. By virtue of (lie authority granted to me by his Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of tho Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief i.. and over Hor Majesty 8 Colony of Now Zealand ;.nd its dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c , authorising me I to convene and cause to bo assembled, from time to time, General Courts Martial, for the trial and punishment of natives concerned in the iato barbarous murders on tho East Coust of New Zealand I do hereby instituto you Officiating J udgo Advocate of a General Court Martial, to beassembled at Opotiki on the Gth dav of November, 1565, for hearing aud examining into such matters as may be brought before it, and for so doing this shall bo a sufficient warrant and Jauthority to you and all others concerned. (Signed) C. Ptapp, R.M., Commanding Forces. Given on this 2nd November to Lieut. Chapman, Expeditiouaiy Force, Opotiki. Orders issued on Colonel Lyons assuming the command at Opotoki. Lieut -Colonel Lyons has much pleasure in publishing the following communication received from tlio Hon. the Defence Ministor, dated Wellington, 13th Novomber, 1865 -'I am at tha samo time to request you will convey t"> Major f-tanp tho thanks of tho Government for the zeal, ability, and discretion with which ho has performed very arduous and important duties from tho time he joined the force, and especially since ho assumed the chief command. —(Signed) J. Holt, Captain and Under Secretary.' In giving over the command of the Expeditiously Force, I feel it incumbent upon me to express my thanks to tho officers, non-commissioned officers, a'id men composing it, for the hearty manner in which thcy-have co-operated with mo on all occasions in tho performance of very arduous duties, and moie particularly for the gallantry they have displayed whenever engaged with tho onomy. I sin.erely regret parting from a force with which I have served for upwards of three months with great ealisfactl n to myself, and in doing so heartily w ell it ovoty success in the future, whether with the swoid or plo ° gl '- o.i&».