WAIKATO TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 11

WAIKATO TRAGEDY

SHOOTING OF POLICEMAN EYE-WITNESS' DESCRIPTION EVIDENCE AT INQUEST LETTERS LEFT BY MAORI [from ora owx corbespo>tdext] HAMILTON, Monday Inquests concerning the deaths of Constable Thomas Heeps, aged 50, who died in the Waikato Hospital yesterdav from a gunshot wound in the head, and of Henare Hona, aged 20, a Maori, / who also died in the Waikato Hospital Yesterday from a gunshot wound in the head, were opened before the coroner, Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., today. 7 Evidence relating to the shooting of the constable was given by James Spence Downs, share-milker, Tatuanui. "Witness identified the body of the Maori as that of a man who was known to him as Laurie King. Deceased had been employed on Mr. Porcv Rushton's farm at Tatuanui since Thursday. Witness said Constable Heeps called at Mr. Push ton's farm a few minutes < before 4 o'clock on Saturday and was talking to Hona in the cow-yard. The constable then called witness over and the three of them went into the room occupied by Hona. "When we entered the room," said witness, "Constable Heeps said to the Maori, 'Let's have a look at your clothes.' The Maori said, 'Here is my coat, behind the wardrobe here.' Constable Heeps then closed the door and had a look. He said, 'Bring out your other clothes.' The Maori bent down and pulled one of his bags out from under the bed. "Happened in a Plash" - "HoLa was side-on to the constable," said witness, "and the Maori put some i things on his bed. Mr. Heeps examined Hona's right hand and found that a portion of his little finger was missing. Constable Heeps then pulled up his lip, and saw that he had some teeth missing. "When the Maori bent down to get some more clothes out of his bag the constable said, 'Bring out your suitcase.' The Maori said, 'Wait a bit,' and he put some more things on the bed and bent again. "Hona then pulled out a revolver and shot the constable, firing twice," said witness. "It- all happened in a flash. Constable Heeps fell at the first shot and I rushed from the room to seek assistance. "I fan around the house and saw the Maori outside. I thought he. was following me. but I do not know if he had a gun in his hand. I did not see

v him again." Detective A- J. White then gave evi- • dence of identification concerning Con- ' stable Heeps. Former Employer's Evidence Giving evidence with respect to the Maori, Herbert Horatio Spencer Westmacott,- farmer, of Rangitoto, identified deceased as Henare Hona, who had been in his emplov from November, 1933. On Saturday, October 6, said witness, Hona had accompanied him to Otorohanga for the' purpose of attending military drill. On the Monday after, he was working as usual. On the Tuesday, witness learned that Hona was missing from the farm. On the same day as the Maori left the farm a .303 rifle from which the bolt had been extracted also disappeared. Shortly afterward, letters were handed to witness by an employee who had found them on the dressing table i y in a room occupied by the native. One 1 was addressed: "To the first one that enters this room," while another was ■written to a Maori girl named Rora. I . A third letter bore the inscription, I "To my dear friends." These letters I indicated an intention on Hona's part to commit- suicide. I Witness said Hona had been receivL ing a wage of 10s a, week. On the Sat- [ urday he had been paid £l. It was / most unlikely that he would have j possessed any other money. At this stage the inquests were adjourned. Letters ol Farewell The first letter referred to in the evidence at the inquest was written by Hona oil an envelope. It stated briefly: "Dead. Love to all, from Douglas Cyclone." The letter written to the Maori girl '*■ was as follows: — "Well, dear, you failed to come that !j time, and yon see, this is the result. From the death-trail to my flora. Shot myself. Well, Rora, last .Sunday night, when you and the "old woman went down to Jonah's home, I followed yous and heard all what was spoken out. Well. Rora, you told roe to keep secret, and yet you spread it out yourself, and I heard from the start to the finis. So, darling, forget me for I am gone, end you are a lucky one. I wish I'm in your shoes. Greet me good-bye, my dearie. I'm leaving you to-day. Marry the ' one you fancy. I wish you love lnm, too. "Well, my lost darling, there is no moro Night Shadow to whisper in your ears. ant. iiow our lips and mind are parted. I »ni left alone broken hearted. Why I thought you were true —you were true' all right—l know that there was somebody tellinjt you off. Well. it's just too bad. My tirne am t long. Don't bother to look for me. Yon will /• never find the Mysterious Night Shadow oi Rangitoto Range. Look upon the pansies m the parlour and think of me. Kisses for dearly 'loved one. _ G.L.D.C. xxxxx. I'm tnking the death trail that leads to an end. Good-bye." "Good-bye For Ever" Writing to his friends the Maori stated:— "To my dear friends, hoping that yous haviifg a happy ending, and as for myself, i not too flagh, because my lonesome days are done, and done for ever. Well, friends, I m sorry to tell you that I'm leaving home, although I'm not willing to go, but as the rotten news that's being spread all ° vei the countryside, which made my ideals of \j mind end up in a hurry. So if you miss ' lne, don't worry, because you will never find the Mysterious Night Shadow of_ Rangitoto that plays a lone hand, and ride to his untrue lover who is hidden behind the distant hills. . "I'm taking some of my belongings, and I will lie on them for ever and ever. Somewhere in the bush and some days, you will come across the Night Shadow. Well, friends. I tried to keep out of trouble, but trouble seemed to follow me, and now it will cost me my lonesome life for the deed I've done wrong. So good-bye, friends, goodbye for ever.—Henry Hona." , A postscript read: — "Good-bye, my lonesome garden, in which I used to think of my golden love when I weed the violets of blue. It brings the truth to me. Sorry that I'll have to do this to Bave Rora's life. Forget me, my lonely one, on going, and I'll never change my lonesome mind," concluded ' the letter. "Never return. Show this to my people at Otewa."