The Capture of Winiata.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4428, 4 July 1882, Page 4

The Capture of Winiata.

AN BIOITIKG JOUBNEY,

Barlow gives the following account of the way in which he effected the capture of the murderer, Winiata :—

Soon after the meeting at Whativrhatihoe I went up country to Te Kuiti for the express purpose of capturing Winiata, or Taurangaikai, the latter being the name the murderer has taken since his residence in the Sing country. I found him at the Maungatea settlement, about a mile distant from Te Kuiti. Hearing that he wanted to sell some pigs I interviewed him, and bought the pigs and corn on condition that he delivered them at my settlement. According to agreement he came to my settlement about two o'clock in the afternoon. I gave him two glasse* of brandy, which took an effect on him. We then went to mj wharf and had some food, after which Winiata slept until dark. When he awoke he would not take any more brandy, saying that he was sick throughhaving taken too muohbefore. Winiata was accompanied by four friends', who came down with him. One was his brother, named Tauwhare. Finding that I could not administer chloroform (which I bad at hand) to Winiata, I resolved to give it to his friends, who were likewise in the wharo, and send them to sleep, and so have Winiata at my mercy. I accordingly did so ; but the result was not quite satisfactory, as they did not entirely succumb, but kept waking up at intervals for about two hours. Seeing that I could not get them off, I went over and lay alongside of Winiata, who was lying on the broad of his back with his right hand on his revolver, which was on his left breast. I laid on the right-hand side of him, and leaning over, pushed aside the revolver with my left elbow. I at once seized his right hand, and then facing him, seized the left, at the same time asking for the revolver and telling him I bad beard be was going to shoot me with it. He denied having a revolver, and said he had left it at another house. I then said : " Will you let me tie your hands t " He said "No," and showed fight. I then knocked him down, and tied his bands behind his back with a flax rope. Thinking that he was then safe, the others being asleep, I told him to go outside. He would not go, but locked his legs round a post in the centre of tho whare. I caught hold of him and pushed him out of the door, and he went out so suddenly that I lost hold of him. He made the best use of his time, and ran as hard as he could, and I after him. My wife was standing outßide with my double-barrelled breechloader and cartridges, according to directions. Winiata ran round the cookhouse, whioh was distant about 150 yards, but he was stopped by a high .palisading, and came baok towards the gate near the whare*. He could run too fast for me, and beat me by about 10yds. Ai soon as he came .up to the whare" my wife caught him by the shoulder and upset him. He was singing out " Murder !" and "Winiata's taken!" all the time. As soon as he fell I jumped on top of him. I caught hold of hit mouth, and told him that if he yelled any more I would blow his brain t out, which frightened him so much that he kept quiet. I then fired off the gun (whioh my wife had handed me) four times, at the same time culling out that if anyone came near mo I would snoot him. The noiso of the scufllo outside having awakened two of the Maoris who were in the wbar6, they came running out, but in the confusion and darkness took a wrong direction. My wife in the meantimo was getting horses. I told her to tako the horses by the track round the swamp, e&yirgthat I would *arry Winiata across, 'ibis was by far tho worst part of the journey. The swamp was about one mile and a-half across, and I knew that I should have to carry him tho greater part of tho way. So I

took him on my back and carried him abont half-way across, when I made him walk, as I was tired. Whilst crossing tho swamp I lost my hat and boots, but did not oare as long as I held my prey secure. After having got safely across the swamp I met my wife with two horses ready saddled. I put him on my grey horse, fastening one end of the rope to the bridle and the other end to Winiata's arm, bo that bo could not get away. The bight of the rope I kept in my hand. I ulso tied his legs underneath the horse's belly, bo that he could not jump off. We were at this time about twenty miles from Kibikihi. I started driving Winiata in front of me and keeping my gun ready cocked in my hand in case of any cmergenoy. We proceeded in this manner until we got to Kihikihi, but at intervals I took good care to see that the ropes were seonre on his bands. He muet have had a very unpleasant ride, as I kept the horses going, and we had to cross several creeks, two of which we had to swim. On arrival at Kihikihi at about 4 a.m. there was a light in Corboy's hotel, and I knooked at the door with my gun, calling out for some* one to come down to me. Whilst waiting for someone to come I went and felt Winiata 1 a hands, and found that he had managed to slip the ropes off. I said : " You have slipped the ropes off." He replied : "No, my hands are all right," at the same time swinging round and hitting me in the eyes as hard as he could, and jumping off the horse. The blow staggered me, but as I waa falling I managed to grip* him by the back of the neok, and brought him to the ground. When on the ground he kept feeling for my gun, which I had dropped, but he did not succeed in finding it. Despite bis desperate struggles, I succeeded in again tying his hands. By this time some members of the Armed Conßtabulary arrived, to whom I handed him over. I captured him at my own settlement, the name of which is Mohopui, and is situated about 35 miles from Te Awamutu.

Winiata volunteered a statement of the circumstances connected with his capture, which agrees with Barlow's. He says that on the way to Kihikihi he busied himself in quietly endeavouring to release his hands from their fattening, and just on reaching Kihikihi had managed to get the right one free. On arriving at the. settlement Barlow saw that Winiata had partly freed himself, pulled him from his horse, threw him to the ground, and calmly sat upon him, lustily crying out at the same time for assistance. The hotel proprietor and a constable were the first to respond, and were followed by the Constabulary. Barlow had no fear of his prisoner escaping him, but was apprehensive that the other Maoris would overtake him, consequently he dismounted for the purpose of obtaining further assistance. The Constabulary wanted him to give up Winiata to them, but he refused, saying that he had promised to deliver him up to Constable Gillies at Te Awamutu, and that ho waa going straight there, all he wanted being a guard. As he was resolute, the guard was granted, and Winiata was escorted into Te Awamutu by the Constabulary.