ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19983, 28 October 1927, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDER

BABY’S DISAPPEARANCE A TRAGEDY OF THE GUMFIELDS [Per Frew Association.] AUCKLAND, Oct. 27. The trial of Paul Lendich, aged 39, a Dalmatian gum-digger, on a charge of murder, commenced in the Supreme Court to -day. The charge related to the alleged disappearance on August 23 of a newlyborn infant of a Maori girl, Rosie Te Whiu, aged 19, with whom accused had been living. The girl was the principal witness, and her evidence, given tediously through an interpreter, occupied the whole of the day. Mr Patterson, for the Crown, said that in the eyes of the law the murder of a newly-born infant was as much murder as causing the death of a man in the prime of life. Rosie Te Whiu, in her evidence, said she went to live with accused at Kauri Flat about two months before she gave birth to the child on a Tuesday in August. Accused was the only one in the house with her. He put the baby on the bed and told her it was a girl. The baby cried and she gave it a drink. She went outside, and when she returned the baby had gone. Accused said he had taken it to a place known only to himself, and told her not to tell anyone he had taken the baby away. If she did he would kill her.

When her mother went to see her, said witness, she asked where the baby was, but witness said she did not have a baby. Her mother asked accused to send for a doctor, but accused said witness was quite all right. When she went to her mother some days later a doctor called to see her. Accused took her back to his whare, threatening to kill her if she did not go with him. In reply to Mr Findlay, counsel for the defence, witness said accused and she agreed that the baby might be expected about October. Through Mrs Dcvich accused had asked her to get clothes ready for the baby. The case was adjourned until tomorrow.