TRAGEDY IN WHARE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3270, 23 February 1937, Page 5

TRAGEDY IN WHARE

OLD MAN FOUND SHOT DAUGHTER’S HEAD BATTERED A death in most tragic circumstances is reported from PaUmiahoe, where at eight o’clock on Sunday night Mr Toko Whakaia, aged 70, was found in his fourroomed whare ,on : the Waiau- Pa Road. His elder daughter, Mrs Etc Toko, aged 30, was severely injured by being struck on the head with a massive iron kettle which was shattered.

Late on Sunday night John Toko, aged about 25, a son of deceased, rode on horseback to some neighbours about two miles away on the Mauku Road and announced the tragedy at his home. He was later arrested and lodged in the cells at Pukekohe.

It was found that Mr Whakaia had been shot in the chest at pointblank range with a single-barrelled shotgun. His daughter was found by the police lying on the earth floor - of the whare beside her dead father and feigning death herself to prevent any further onslaught. A tragic story was told; by the remaining members of the family, who fled from the whare after the shooting and sought refuge in the house of Mrs E. A. McAlpine, a few hundred yards away. It was stated: that there yas no warning of .the tragedy. The shot, was fired across the tiny living ropm of the whare and Mr Whakaia fell dead .near a window. .

A desperate effort to wrest the weapon from the assailant was made by Mrs Toko, who was successful in wrenching it from his grip. The gun fell to the floor, and was picked up by one of the children, who ran with it to Mrs McAlpine’s home. ' '*/*.'■ “ Mrs Toko was ‘then bettered on the head with a large iron kettle and fell' to the'floor 'beside her father. Although she was barely conscious sjhe realised the po§siJbjL ity of a further attempt and lay :StiH. An inquest was opened yesterday in the yard near the whare before Mr C. K. Lawrie, district coroner. The - inquiry, was. adjourned after, evidence of identification had been given. ’ /.•.. .>• i '