MANSLAUGHTER CASE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12401, 17 November 1908, Page 3

MANSLAUGHTER CASE.

— ' ; ♦" . .- • ■ '■ . MAORI SUPERSTITION; [United Press Association.] Auckland, Nov 15. At the Court to-day Hjrini Ngatimo Hohepa and. Ema, his wife, were found guilty of the manslaughter of their child and were sentenc- j cd. , Mr Carruthers, their counsel, pleaded for mercy on the grounds that the husband had been suffering strongly from the influence of a religious mania, and that the wife had been acting under fear of her hUßband and his father, together With superstitious dre ; ad. .He added that the.juryj by their verdict and recommendation to mercy-had brdugnt ;ln what almost amounted to ah acquit 5 tal. . ; His Honor said that the verdict implied no such thing. : No fear of injury to herself: could justify -any mother in burning her child to death Addressing the male prisoner the judge said he had committed " a shocking crime under the influence of barbarous and . ignorant superstition; but if the Itfaoris dreaded makutu they must be brought to dread still more the power: of the law to prevent crimes under that influence. His Honor imposed a sentence of ten years. ,-. '■■. Prisoner thereupon hissed out. Go to " and he was quickly hustled below. The female prisoner was sentenced to five- years, the judge saying that it was plain that she had dreaded the volence of her husband and his father. -