Parihaka Murder.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 336, 26 November 1897, Page 2

Parihaka Murder.

At the inquest on the Maori woman who was murdered at Parihaka, on last Sunday, the News reports : Dr Walker deposed : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at New Plymouth. I have just made a post mortem on examination of the body of deceased, who was evidently a well nourished and strong young woman. The clothes have not bean removed. The garments are saturated with blood and the face and hail are similarly besmeared. On the back part of the right shoulder is a clean cut wound, 4 inches long and 2in in depth, and the wound is filled with blood clot. A little above and behind this is a second wound 2 inches long and gaping widely. Still below this, below and behind the ear, is another deep incised wound three and three-quarter inches in length. The external jugular vein and branches are severed. On the back part of the head beginning just above the right ear and running obliquely downwards and backwards is a third incised wound 4| inches in length. The edges are clean cut and retracted to a distance of one inch at the centre. The cut goes right down to and through the skull causing a fracture, which extends from about one inch behind the right orbit right round the skull to one and a half inches behind the right ear. The fracture measures 12 inches. The cavity of the wound is occupied by blood clot and brain matter, portions of the latter bemg found among the hair. On removing the skull cap, there is found to be a large cavity extending down to the mudella, The latteral signus was ruptured and from the base of the brain was occupied by effused blood. Death was caused by a sharp cutting instrument, 3uch as a tomahawk. It was impossible that the wounds could have been self-inficted. They were sufficient to have caused almost instantaneous death. I have no doubt the woman has been murdered.

Constable Hickman found an axe, a woman's night dress stained with blood, and a man's shirt in the river, a short distance away from the scene of the late murder. Several other articles have also been found which will most likely identify the murderer.

Enoko, charged with the murder of his wife at Parihaka, was brought before the Court at New Plymouth on Tuesday and remanded till next Wednesday.