Shot for a Ghost.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14216, 4 June 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

Shot for a Ghost.

A PITIFUL TRAGEDY. A young Maori named Mateau Puma, was placed in the dock at the Auckland Supreme Court a few days ago on a charge of murdering Tc Alalia Horomano at Waingaro in the Raglan district on March loth last. Some interesting evidence abmit old Maori superstitious was given. "Oil the fateful evening," the Crown Prosecutor stated, "tho prisoner and another native were in a whare squaring up matters in connection with a bush-felling contract. AVhen they had finished the prisoner's companion went outside to catch his horse and ride to his habitation. I'urati also going into the paddock, when the figure of a human being wiis seen on the track passing down the hill about a. chain or a chain and a-lialf away. A challenge was issued as tho figure moved forward: "If you are a Maori speak or I will shoot you." This was repeated in English, and as there was no response the prisoner discharged his firearm (a double-barrel mm) and the figure disappeared. The two Maoris then returned to the whare, put out all lights, and peered into tbe darkness, but no further sign of the object was seen. In the morning they went along the track and found a deaf a'd dumb native lying on the grounl. He was carried to the whare mil ibe prisoner and his friend did wlnt they could to relieve tbe injured man. but ho breathed his last in .a few minutes." Cross-examined by Mr Peed, whe appeared for the defence, Takurafca, Pawiri, the prisoner's mate, was a.sk.rl: "AVhat opinion did you form when no answer came from the object?" Witness: "I tlimight it was a ghost."

His Honour: Have you previxidy seen anything that you thought was a ghost?—No; but I have head aVut them and I thought this was ;i ghost—the tilings the peonle had always been bilking about. "We caine to the conclusion that it was a ghost. It did not speak and did not answer. Proceeding witness stated that the prisoner was greatly distressed on finding thft ho had shot Hot-omano. He voluntarily gave himself up to the poli-- \ inking witness to accompany Lira to llntdan. Mr Tole: Did von have any ghosts 'n the house that night?— No. No spirits?— No. Did you liave am- kind of spirits?— No. His Honour: Do yovt think ghosts will do you any harm?— The old people in the village have spoken about bad people, ever since I was a child, and T thought this object, was what they had always been sneaking about—a "ghost had come at last.

After further evidence Mr T?eed sub-t nvtt.ed on behalf of the accused that when he challenged the object, on the hill in both tho Maori and European languages and got no reply ho did not know whit to .make of it. .so he discharged his gun in the darkness, in- ! tending mereij io frighten away » the j

ligure. '.llm accused anil the deceased ! were on friendly terms. The accused j born a, good character, and after ha 1 discovered the mistake ho had made ha j did all thai a respectable man coulrl do. eventually giving himself up to tho police. The accused, in evidence, said that when he saw tho dark object on tho hill he called out: "Who are you, friend?" Ho felt afraid. No answer 1 was received, so he discharged his gun !at random, without putting it to his ! shoulder, his intention to frighten the apparition. Ho thought it was the spirit oi Home dead person or A man 011 murderous intent." Cross-examined by Mr Tola, tho accused said that the ghost theory was not an afterthought. He. had told' Mr Gilniour ol the ghost at Ragland on the clay after the occurrence. Mr Reed: When did you think this I object was a spirit ?—When I shot at I 1 ... thought it wan a ghost. ! H's Honour: Didn't you tell us you 1 did not aim at the ghost but only wanted to frighten it?— Yes; I pointed my ! gun at tho object and tried to frighten

A Juryman: When you didn't get a rcpl\ to your challenge did it not occur to you that there was a deaf and dumb person in the district?—No; it. was at such a late hour and deceased was never out 011 the hills at that time belore.

Tn addressing tho jury, Mr Reed reviewed the circumstances surrounding 1.10 incident and remarked that, though it seemed ridiculous to the JMiropean mind in the twentieth century to have faith in ghosts and spirits, old traditions died hard with the Maoris, and it was difficult in one or two generations to eradicate beliefs and superstitions handed down through many years Counsel submitted that tlio whole of tho circumstances supported the probability of accused's story Tt was a lamentable easo of misadventure.

> After Mis Honour's summing up the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty," and tho prisoner was discharged. '