THE MAORI WITCHCRAFT CASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11049, 1 March 1898, Page 2

THE MAORI WITCHCRAFT CASE.

(Per United Press Association.) Gisbobnb, February 28. In the Magistrate's Court the hearing of the charge of. murder against; Paaeri Tawera was resumed. Hone Ahntou, brother of the deceased's widow, gave testimony corroborating her evidence. When they went to the accused, Panari stated the cauie of Kapn's sickness in these , terms : " The root of the sickness of K&pu is at Mangata. At the site of the old whare there is a pit there. -K*pn has gone on to that place and that is the reason of hits sickness." He

said that that was a sacred place, and the sickness had resulted from trespassing on it. Paneri wanted them to go there with him to fetch the thing which had caused the sickness. They went with Paneti, and when they reached

the place accused rode up to the root of a ; poplar tree, dismounted and took up a stone { which was at the foot of the tree, gathered up j some giasss growing stt the side of the stone, and wrapped the grass up in his pocket handkerchief. Ha said : " This is the cause of Kapu's illneas. A man. in former times, coming from Ti Keke, on the "sea coast, arrived at this place, and they did not offer him any food. On that account he put a tftpu on that particular place." After ha had done talking.-they returned to Kbitara, where accused took the grass that was in his handkerchief, gave it to th« people profensing the I same religion as himself > and told them tc I hold a ksrakiau (incintaticra or religioui ser- j vice). When they hid.finished their iucauta- i tion he gave the bundle of grass to~Heni. He j; told her to take it and place it under the sleeping mat where Knpu was lying, but not to let him know. He alto demanded money, which was paid. The details of the treatment of the patient by Paueri given by this witness coincided with Hesii'a statement. The people ia the whsi'b could nob sleep fcr Kapu's screams. During tUe time Kapu was lying ill he was occasionally taken untiide the tent, and two or three buckets of water were thrown over him, but he w&e nob,washed otherwise for several day* previous to his death, His body gave off a foul smell, and was at times swollen out as with gas. ' Mr Booth, S.M., intimated that he was f unsatisfied there was sufficient evidence to warrant

him in committing the man for trial, but at the request of the accused's counsel he remanded him till Wednesday morning.