MOTU RIVER MURDER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15774, 15 March 1922, Page 6

MOTU RIVER MURDER.

THE CROWN CASE CONTINUES

MARAENUI PA EVIDENCE

The hearing of the murdet charge against Rutene Topi was> continued in the Supreme Court this afternoon, the witness Hikitaia Koraurau, of Maraenui, being proceeded with. The witness said that on November 9 he accompanied Constable Blakelcy from Maraenui to the river. When they arrived the body had been found, and the people were assembled. Witness saw the body before the constable, the body then being in a clump of small manuka on the right hand side of the track going towards Omaio. Witness said that he had a pea rifle of his own, and his father, Koraurau te Kani, had a gun. It was about a month before the incident that he had used the gun, and he had not up till then cleaned the gun. At the time of the investigations he had no cartridges. Mr. Burnard: What were you using the gun for about a month before?—l used it to shoot a pig. It is a common thing for the natives to shoot pigeons?—l don't know about others, but I shoot pigeons. What cartridges did your father have '•hen the gun was used?—Red cartridges. Were they of the Remington make?— I forget. Do vou know the number of the shot? —No/

How many cartridges did you use to hoot the pig?—One. Witness added that his father bought he cartridges, and the, one with whic* vitness shot the pig was the last one. 'Tip father had not bought any shot after hat.

Tu Gage, laborer, of Maraenui pa,, lso remembered the arrival of Zamwkka. at Maraenui- On November _ 4 le was cutting chaff with Koopu Eruiti ind some other men. On the Tuesday "oflowihg the Friday witness was lookng for some of his' horses in the Motu riverbed. While doing so he saw a white horse, which he recognised as belonging to the hawker, on the Omaio side of the river. He tried to catch the horse, but could not, and he then saw he hawker's two pack horses. One had a pack saddle, but the other did not. The horses had ropes round their necks, and one of them had a swollen head as the result of the tightness of the ropes. Some distance fi-on» the horses he found two packs. Alongside the packs was a oiece of ground, which looked as though horses had been tied there for about a night and.day. When he saw the packs lit! came to the conclusion that the owner of the packs was in trouble. He then went back to the pa to bring Henry August along as a witness. Hemy and witness called Rutene, Peeti, and others. They took some time to get ready, iind Henry and witness went on ahead, and they tried to catch one of the horses, .vhich was nearly choked with the rope. They succeeded'after a lot of trouble, ind then they caught the other one. Witness assisted in the search, which was continued on the following day, and ie was present when a manuka stick with a rope attached was found. He was also present when Eruiti called out hat he had found the body. The body .vas in a clump of manuka. Witness aid that he had a double-barrelled neach loading gun of his own, but he lad no cartridges at the time this event ook place. He had used the gun five >t six months before, and when the )ohce inspected his gun, it was rusty, ■nd the barrels were full of cobwebs.

Ngawati Ngara, another Maraenui lative, who was one of the chaff-cut-ing party on 'November 4, also describd the visit of. Zambukka. After the haff-cutting, witness went to Hawaii, eturning the next day. He did not mow how many people there were livng at Hawaii, nor did he know the listance.

(The native said that he had been at Hawaii for two days, although ho added hat he returned to, Maraenui the following day). To Mr. Burnard, witness said that he tad been working for a native named FTerewini on a potato patch. A uative tamed Hiauga was also there. Mr. Burnard: Do you remembei seeng Hianga and Rutene take a gun and :omo back with a pigeon?—Yes. Was it accused or Hianga who k.ad he gun?—Rutene.

Did you ask him any question about the gun?—No. Did you. notice whether Rutene took trie gun or left it somewhere near where you were working?—He left it at '.hat place where wo were working. Whereabouts?—At the gate down be!ow the potatoes. Did you or he make any remark at the time?—No.

Witness added that when Hianga and lutene returned' they all went back to Maraenui. At 2 p.m. witness went back to his work.

Mr. Bumard: Was his gun still there? -After we had been there some time

vorking, Rutene came on the scene. \» Witness said that Rutene went back to his home, but witness did not see him take the gun. Mr. Nolan: Could he have taken the run without your seeing it? —I was not there when Rutene left.

Mr. Nolan: You don't know what Rutene did with the gun?—No. Where was the gun when you saw it last?—At that gate. „. " How many days before you were chaffcutting on the Friday did these things happen?—l'could not exactly say. •Was* it, a week?—Over a week before. His Honor: How long was it after vou were chaff-cutting that you went to Hawaii?—l went the evening I finished chaff-cutting. How long did you stay there?—l came ,back on Saturday to my work at Maraenui. He added that his woAc then wi.s scarifying potatoes. Ho was two days at that before he came to the chaff-cutting. His Honor: When Rutene came with the gun was it two days before the day of the chaff-cutting?—Yes (after the question-had been repeated). Tataua Koopu, also a Maraenui laborer, corroborated the evidence of the visit of the hawker. Witness was also engaged at the chaff-cutter on Friday, November 4.—Proceeding.