THE PUHIPUHI MURDER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 85, 30 May 1911, Page 7

THE PUHIPUHI MURDER.

TRIAL OF TAHI KARA. By Telegraph.— press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The trial was begun at the Supreme Court to-day of a young Maori named T*ihi Kaka, charged with the murder of John Freeman, an aged gumdigger, at Puhipuhi, in the Whangarei district, on or about April 5. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Tole) traversed the details that have already received publicity. Freeman went out to his work with his kit of tools on the morning of April 5, and was followed by a dog belonging to the whare. The dog returned in four days, hut Freeman was never. seen alive again. He had been missing some weeks when suspicion fell on Tahi Kaka, who was spending pioney freely, though previously he was ?hort of cash. Later on Kaka admitted ijiat he had followed Freeman up on thq piorning of April 5, and finding out that he had money in his pocket, demanded jipme. A scuffle ensued, and the accused hit the old gumdigger over the head with a stick and caused his death. The evidence had not concluded when the court adjourned till to-morrow.