TE NGAE SHOOTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 114, 24 January 1940, Page 5

TE NGAE SHOOTING

SUICIDE AFTER TRAGEDY AFFRAY AT TE TEKO "In my mind there is 110 doubt That Tukehu took his own life, probably due to the incident at Te Teko" stated Suly-Inspcetor E. J. Carroll, in concluding his evidence at the inquest into the death of Robert Tukehu who was found shot at Te Ngac on Sunday. The Coroner, Mr G. A. Brabant, of Whakatane, who conducted the inquest at Rotorua, returned a verdict that Tukehu had shot himself. William Emery, storekeeper at Rotoiti, stated that at about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning he first saw the deceased, Tukehu and had driven liim to Te Ngae. He learnt that the Maori had spent the night at Sam Emery's home at Rotoiti. Witness had been told to hurry because Tukehu said that his mothei "\vas^seri ously ill. On leaving him at Ngae corner, he had seen Tukehu run into the scrub. "There was nothing in iiis manner to indicate that he had been involved in a tragedy, and there was no signs of blood on hi:-; clothes," Emcrv stated. Meredith Moore, medical practitioner, of Rotorua, stated that an examination disclosed a wound in the front of the chest which in his opinion had caused death. Death would have been almost instantaneous, he added.

Police Search. Acting on information from the "Whakatane police on Sunday, SubInspector E. L Carroll said a search was made at Tc Ngac for Robert Tukehu. Considering it possible that deceased had gone to his mother's house, the police undertook a thorough search but the wanted man had not been seen by either the occupants or neighbours. Inquiries were also made at Rotoiti wliere a •car was located, allegedly abandoned by Tukehu. No trace of Tukehu could be found. No one appeared to have seen deceased since he had left the taxi. The police party returned to Rotorua to search Mokoia Island, and just as they arrived a telephone message was received that Tukehu had shot himself. Deceased was found lying on his back in a gully with a singlc-barrcl-led shot-gun lying near his feet. "It would appear that Tukehu had hidden in scrub nearby and possibly saw the police searching for him. The gun belonged to deceased and "had been in the house for about ten years. Just before the gun shot was heard, deceased's mother and another 'Maori woman saw Tukehu running from the house to the gnlilVy continued the sub-inspector. There •was no evidence of any farewell message. Mr Brabant then returned the verdict as stated above.