GISBORNE TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1934, Page 9

GISBORNE TRAGEDY

MAORI OF UNSOUND MIND.

VERDICT FOUND AT INQUEST-

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Gisborne, Nov. 19.

An inquest into the tragedy at Tokomaru Bay on Saturday, in which a Maori named Barlow Karauria, labourer and waterside worker, stabbed his wife to death and then killed himself with a sheep-skinning knife, was opened this morning. Karauria’s brother, Alexander, stated that the deceased couple lived fairly amicably and it was only since the death of his father that Karauria had been acting strangely. Witness gave details of the tragedy as reported on Saturday, stating that he found Karauria - almost dead with the knife sticking in his throat and Mrs. Karauria lying prone in a pool of blood. Dr. N. R. McKay stated that he found the bodies.on the floor of a large room, Karauria’s body lying across his wife’s legs. On Mrs. Karauria’s body were five superficial chest wounds and two severe neck wounds sufficient to cause death. On Karauria’s were two wounds on the neck. < . ' . ( Lena Karauria, aged 20, Karauria’s sister, stated that the couple did not quarrel, but her brother was inclined to go very queer and just sit around. On Saturday morning Mrs. Karauria called witness from the kitchen. She found Mrs. Karauria struggling with her husband, who had a knife in his hand which the witness took from him. Later she heard a noise and found Karauria stabbing his wife. Witness took the children into the garden and then returned for the other children. She found the wife dead and the husband bn the floor alongside. Pani Hauiki gave evidence concerning Karauria’s moods, stating that on Friday he started ordering his wife about. After police evidence concerning Karauria’s mental state the jury returned a verdict that Heni Karauria met her death at the hands of her husband and that the latter committed suicide while of unsound mind.