WOMAN FOR TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25023, 13 October 1944, Page 6

WOMAN FOR TRIAL

DEATH OF THBEE BOYS LOWER COURT EVIDENCE (P.A.) WANGANUI, Thursday The deaths of three Maori boys, aged six, seven and eleven, who were found dead at Putiki as a result of head wounds 011 May 11, resulted in a married Maori woman, Alice Te Paru, aged 48, being committed by .Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., today to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of murder. Bobo Te Weri, Ilangi Te Weri and Jiuakavva Te Weri, suffering from severe wounds in their hearls, were found by their aunt, Mrs Mini Kui Emia, with whom they were living. Subsequently the accused, also suffering from wounds, was found. William Emia, uncle of the three boys, said that as their father had died and their mother was in hospital he had brought them from Hamilton to stay with himself and his wife. The accused was his niece, witness said, and iier husband was in the armed forces. She had requested, and he and his wife consented, that she come to live with them. Witness added that the accused was under medical treatment. Mihi Kui Emia, wife of the previous witness, said the accused was worried about what witness described as a strange complaint. Witness, the accused and the three boys were in the house on the night of May 11, but after the boys wer® put to bed the accused suggested that witness go to a card party in Wangatiui. Witness finally agreed. She saw the boys before she left and gave them sweets. The accused appeared perfectly normal. "On arrival home," witness continued. "I found the house in darkness and 1 called out to the accused, but there was no reply. Later, when I turned on a light, I saw what had happened and called for help." Dr C. R. Davies said he found the accused in the sunporch. She was suffering from scalp wounds and was unconscious. Near by was an axe. The wounds could have been self-inflicted. Detective-Sergeant K. J. Robertson, answering Mr J. Hussey, who appeared for the accused, said the accused had been under medical observation at Porirua. He had not yet received any report regarding those observations, but the superintendent of the mental hospital wanted accused back there. Witness added that he had information from Dr H. L. Widdowson, medical superintendent at the Wanganui Public Hospital, and Dr P. D. Lynch, pathologist, Wellington, that the accused was not sane. LATE MR E. T. D. BELL TRIBUTES PAID IN COURT (P.A.) "WELLINGTON, Thursday Tributes to the life' and work of the late Mr E. T. Dillon Bell were paid in the Supreme Court today by Bench and Bar. The Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, expressed their sense of loss and paid a tribute to the eminence of Mr Bell, who specialised in the law of trusts and trustees and whose knowledge therein was encyclopaedic, coupling with this his fine character, strict, integrity, selflesstiess, charity, essential kindness and unbounded generosity. Mr A. M. Cousins, on behalf of the Law Society, said Mr Bell had proved himself one* of the ablest, solicitors the Dominion had known. In association with the late Sir Charles Skerrett he had been instrumental in drafting the Chattels Transfer Act. His life had been an example of faithful and unselfish service. OBITUARY MR T. W. DAVIS (0.C.) HAMILTON, Thursday The death has occurred of Mr Thomas William Davis, Vialou Street, Hamilton, at the age of 84. Mr Davis was born at Kyenton, Melbourne, and came to Hamilton with his parents when he was four years old. His father was attached to the 4th Waikato Regiment, and opened the first bootmaking shop in Hamilton. Mr Davis joined the Railway Department, and was employed in Hamilton and the King Country for 33 years. He was an original member of the first band to be established,in Hamilton. He is survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters. There are nine grandchildren. MBS MARY McGAHAN (0.C.) TUAKAU, Thursday A resident of Tuak. i for 56 years, Mrs Mary McGahan died at her home in Harrisonville Road at the age of £8 years. Born in Ireland, Mrs McGahan came to New Zealand with her parents, the late Mr and Mrs James Fagan, in 1865 in thu small cargo ship Avalanche, which carried about a dozen passengers. The family settled first at Three Kings, Auckland, and later were among the earliest settlers in Mangatawhiri Valley. In 1880 Mrs McGahan married the late Mr Thomas McGahatn They lived at Pokeno, Mercer and Tuakau. Mr McGahan predeceased his wife by 30 years. Mrs McGahan is survived by two sons and three daughters. MAKOGAI LEPER STATION It was to the credit of the Makogai leper station that since its establishment 33 years ago no nursing sister had contracted leprosy, said Mr P. J. Twornev, of the Leper Trust Board, Christciiurch, in a statement on the station. It was that achievement, coupled with the large proportion of cures effected, numbering about one in every four patients, which had made Makogai known as one of the best leper stations in the world. In an address to the Catholic Men's Luncheon Club yesterday, Mr P. J. Hackett paid a tribute to the wonderful self-sacrifice of the priests and nuns at Makogai. Mr Hackett visited the station while serving in the R.N.Z.N.V.R. Anyone who had visited the island would not hesitate to contribute to appeals for funds to carry on the work, said Mr Hackett. SOCIETY OF ARTS Reference to the apathetic attitude to art in Auckland was made by Mr R. 0. Gross, president of the Auckland Society of Arts, at the annual meeting last night. Mr Gross said the society had a membership of only 450, which in Auckland, with a population of 250.000, was an average of less than 1 in 600. Mr Gross said the annual exhibition held in June had been a success. The presentation of the Bledisloe medal for outstanding work was made to Mr J. Turkington for his oil painting "A West Coast Beach." The following officers were elected:—Patron, Sir Cecil Leys; president, Mr R. O. Gross: vice-presidents, Dr Gilbert Arche.v, Mr John Weeks, Miss Ivy Copeland, Mr David Payne; council, Miss Ida Eise, Miss Bessie Christie. Mr R. Tizard, Mr J. C. Tolc. SYDNEY FLYING-BOAT The following passengers left for Sydney by a Tasman Empire Airways flyingboat yesterday;— Messrs J. Genovese, C. Macintosh, H. Brown, S. Divecha, G. Penney, G. Springhall, C. Prevost, L. Bovee, Dr H. Strong. Mesdames D. Macintosh. B. Brown, M. Evesden, Misses N. Bloomfield, M. Phillips. PERSONAL ITEMS Sir Donald McGavin has been reappointed a member of the Board of Health. Mr R. S. James, accountant, Chief Post Office.' Hamilton, has been transferred to Wellington. Mr W. A. Mardon, chief clerk of the Works Department's district office in Whangarei. has been appointed inspector at the bead office, Wellington. Mr P. Dunstan, of the Treasury Department, Wellington, has retired after 42 years' service. He was educated at the Thames High School and joined the department as a cadet. From 1914 to 1918 lie was officer in charge of the war loans office in the accounts section of the Treasury and in recent years has been officer in charge of the accounts section. r