MURDER AT KAIKOURA.
At 12.15 p. m. on Friday, Ratima Jacob, a native, brutally murdered his wife at the Maingamanu pah, Kaikoura, stabbing her repeatedly in the neck and breast and killing her almost immediately. It appears that he arrived home from Waipapa just previous, and deliberately sharpened the weapon with which he committed the deed. Constable Smart promptly arrested the murderer, who was brought to Kaikoura and lodged in the lock-up a few hours afterwards. Later news states that this was one of the most cold-blooded and deliberate murders imaginable, jealousy being the cause. The brother of the murderer, it is alleged, had intimacy with the deceased a few days previous to the committal of the deed, and also on previous occasions. The murderer Ratima, arrived from Waipapa, eight miles from Maingamanu, about midday yesterday, and at once ground and sharpened a large sheath-knife. He had made all arrangements for effecting his escape after despatching his wife, knowing that nearly all the Maoris residing at Paho were engaged cutting grass some miles distant. Ratima, after trying in vain to induce his wife to enter the dwelling, seized her, and after a struggle, during which he made several ineffectual attempts to stab her, at length succeeded in doing so, the knife (a butcher’s large knife) passing right through her neck from side to side, cutting through the jugular vein and wind-pipe. The murderer is now very unconcerned, and says he knows that he will be hanged. The Maoris of the pah would have lynched him had they not been dissuaded by the native teacher, Mr Danaher. At the inquest on the body of the murdered woman, a verdict was returned of “Wilful murder” against Ratima Jacob, the husband of the deceased. [by telegraph. J Kaikoura, To-day. The inquest on the body of the native woman, Erana Jacob ,at Maingamanu, on Friday, was concluded on Saturday evening. The evidence clearly showed that the woman was coolly and deliberately murdered by her husband, Ratima Jacob. As showing the premeditated nature of crime, it may be stated that he went to his wife to get the setting-stone and oil with which to sharpen the knife. Nothing direct was proved as to the improper intimacy between the deceased and her brother-in-law, but that such existed and was the cause of the crime is beyond doubt. The jury found that the deceased had met her death at the hands of Ratima Jacob.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG18830129.2.11
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 854, 29 January 1883, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
407MURDER AT KAIKOURA. Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 854, 29 January 1883, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.