SENSATION IN NORTH

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20833, 17 June 1939, Page 8

SENSATION IN NORTH

MAORI’S FRENZIED DRIVE CRASH INTO SECOND CAR ATTEMPT ON OWN LIFE (Special to Times) KAIKOHE, Friday Four persons are in the Bay of Islands hospital at Kawakawa as the result of a sensational episode enacted in Okaihau this afternoon. William Paki, aged 20, a Maori, living apart from his wife, a white woman, visited the hoarding-house where Mrs Paki lived and appealed to her to return to him. She refused, whereupon Paki threatened to take his own life and that of their son, aged 4, who is in Mrs Paki’s custody. He left the house with the child and took a motor-car from a garage belonging to Mr N. R. Absolum. Placing the child in the front seat he drove the car at a high speed repeatedly up and down the street, each time passing the boarding-house, calling out to his wife: “Will you come back to me?” Mrs Marsh, of Rangiahua, with her daughter, Dawn, aged 3 years, drove into the township in a sedan car, and Paki's car dashing by raised a stone which shattered a window in the sedan car. Mrs Marsh proceeded on her way, and Paki turned, followed and dashed into the sedan. The impact between the vehicles was terrific, all four occupants being injured, Mrs Marsh and the boy seriously. Attempt on Life Paki continued on in his car for about a-quarter of a mile. When the car stopped he got out and attempted to take his life by cutting his throat with a razor. Soon after he entered a house by the roadside and from there telephoned to his sister-in-law, saying that he had “done in” Billy and himself. Mrs Marsh's condition was critical, her chief injuries being to the head. Paki’s son Billy is in a serious state with a fractured skull. Dawn Marsh was well enough to be taken to her home. Paki’s wound in the neck has been attended to and his condition is not serious. DEATH OF MRS MARSH BOY’S CONDITION CRITICAL PAKI EXPECTED TO RECOVER (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WHAXGA'REI, Saturday Mrs Marsh, of Rangiahua, who was injured when the car driven by Paki ran into her sedan at Okaihau yesterday, died in the hospital at Kawakawa this morning. The boy’s condition is considered critical. Paki’s condition is serious, but he is expected to recover.