THE TE AROHA MURDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5943, 25 February 1881, Page 4

THE TE AROHA MURDER.

(Per United Press Association.)

Grahamstown, February 24th. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr Kenrick.R.Al., and Messrs Ehrenfried and W. Wilkinson^ J.P.'g, and Wikiriwhi and Hantonga, Native, Assessors, John Procoffy was charged with the wilful murder of Himiona Haera at ie Aroha, on the 10th inafc. Superintendent Thomson conducted the case for the prosecution; Mr Wilkinson appeared to watch the case on behalf of the Natives. The Resident Magistrate eaid: Before going on with the case I would Bay tbat I received a subpoena to produce the depositions taken at the inquest, and to give evidence of what occurred there. In consequence of having received that subpoe'aa I shall leave the Bench. I am only sorry that the onerous and unpleasant duties of this case should have fallen on the Justices, as the proper, person to hear it is the man who is paid by Government for such work. Mr Kenrick then vacated the chair, and. Mr Ehrenfried took possession. -, Mr Brassey then said: I object to your brother Justice, Mr Chairman, sitting on this Bench after the Bcurrilous article which appeared in this morning's paper, of which he is the editor. I ask that gentleman to leave the Bench, as he must be biassed by the article m question. The article was most, untruthful. Everything written in the morning paper has .been written in condemnation of the prisoner, in contradistinction of the Evening Star, which has been most fair in all its reports of this matter. I am surprised to see that the editor of the Advertieer, after the articles in question had appeared here, has the apidaoity to Bit on the Bench to hear this case. .. ~ , Inspector Thomson said he had made inquiries in Auckland, and there was onlyV one gentleman, a merchant, who' understood the Russian language; but he declined -to undertake to interpret, inasmuch as the accused does not speak the Russian language' but merely a patoi*. ■■■;.■

Mr Ehrenfried Baid that Mr Wilkinson waa sitting on the Bench not as editor of the Advertiser, but as a Justice of the Peace. ; Mr Brassey again said: I ask, Mr Wilkinion,.if yon.will sit on the Bench. If you do you will do so with the full knowledge that the public of this place consider you biassed, after; the article in this morning's issue. I ask Mr Wilkinson if he can, with fairness, hear the case. .-:■•■■■ ■;.-..

Mr Wilkinson: lam sitting on the Bench at the request of the Resident .Slagistrate, who has been prevented from .presiding in this case by counsel for the prisoner, who has been guilty of a most-unwarrantable course in sending him a subpoena. . . ' , Mr Wilkinson did not leave the Bench. The evidence given up to the present ia the same as at the inquest.