MAORI CHARGED WITH MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 24533, 6 September 1941, Page 8

MAORI CHARGED WITH MURDER

Accused Committed For Trial (P.A.) WANGANUI, September 6. After hearing the evidence of 11 police witnesses in the Magistrate’s Court today, Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., committed Pipi Katene, labourer, aged 28, for trial on a charge of murdering Arthur Harding Parkinson, storekeeper, of Waitotara, aged 79, on August 4. Katene, who was handcuffed tc a constable, sat in the dock with his head bowed throughout the proceedings. Katene was arested in Patea on August 6 by Detectives J. Murray and T. W. Allsopp. Detective Murray, In evidence, said that when questioned about a sum of money in his possession Katene put his face in his hands and said: “I done it. Poor old Parkie.” Detective Murray also produced a long statement made by the accused. Kariata Wereta, widow, of Okaiawa, said Katene was her brother. Till August 8 last she lived in Waitotara and for several weeks before his arrest he had been living with her. Since June 1941 his wife had been an inmate of Patea hospital. While living with her the accused was not working. He went to Patea on August 5 and said he was going to see his wife. The witness added that she had used the mallet produced in Court for crushing corn. She had not used it for about two years. It was kept in a shed at the back of the house. In reply to Mr S. G. Cathro, counsel for the accused, the witness said Katene’s wife had since died. SAW MAORI BOARD TRAIN William Patrick Tarrant, railway guard, of Wanganui, said he was in charge of a mixed train which left Wanganui at 10.20 a.m. on August 5. The train departed from Waitotara, where a Maori boarded it, at 12.53 p.m. He did not know Katene, but was able to identify him as the person who got on the train at Waitotara that day. Constable W. J. Olsen, of Waitotara, said that in May last Katene made arrangements to pay him certain moneys. Two payments of 10/- were made, the last being on July 31. On that occasion Katene discussed his financial position with the witness and said he had not gone to a job that had been offered him, adding: “I don’t know where the next 10/— is going to come from.” The witness saw Katene in Waitotara at midday on August 5. On the afternoon of August 6, said Detective Murray, he and Detective Allsopp went to Patea and interviewed Katene. He said he had not done any work for about four months. He had been drawing the Social Security unemployed benefit to the extent of £2/5/- a week. When asked what money he had he produced 5/6 in silver and in reply to Detective Allsopp felt in his pockets and said he had no more money, adding: “Search me.” Detective Allsopp felt inside one of Katene’s pockets and found two cheques. The witness added that he also felt in Katene’s pockets and found in his possession one £5 note, nine single £1 notes and six 10/- notes. The cheques, notes and silver were placed on a table and Katene was asked where he got the money. He then put his face in his hands and said: “I done it Poor old Parkie.”