CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

NZ Truth, Issue 65, 15 September 1906, Page 6

CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

MAORI TAINGATA AND PAKEHA KOTIRO. ;

At Tauranga Police Court on Monday Te Kere Tekumepp, a Maori, and a " white girl named. Maud Hartnell were changed with committing an.indecent act. . The Court was cleared during the hearing.

A boat builder named Robert Farqiihar saitf that oh Friday afternoon, about 8.30 v he was on the beach looking towards the wharf and was astonished to see the two accused committing .an indecent act ; he' was about 40 yards away, but. could see v them plainly, and was 'certain they were the two who were . having intimacy.

A billiard, marker' named. Murphy astounded the Court" 'by announcing that he. was only .. two /yards' from; accused when .the act ;took place. He did not .interfere (not .being a spoil §port)i : Twp' other men named Henshaw and Bettleheim swere with witness. " ' v : . ■'■; •' ; :

Naughty Maud! denied the offence and ; said she oftlyv asked, Te Kere -to "pull her -aboard, "-and he - said he would. The Maori '-also pleaued no£ guilty to- the charge; : but JV sP - Hulme and CommoM ; ¥ou'nd hoth accused guilty, They^hlered To Kere Teku trieno* to conje^ : . up... for sentence, when called- upon ; hut immoral Maud, w.horn Constable Brbwn^-said, was a red-hot character," sojourns for .a -mqntlr^n-Mount •' Eden gaol; ;Apparetitly tfte". magistrate's beliefe' m the olti \ axhjtge V ''A place;; for : ei^rything and everything m ats place.'^v/ '; •'•