A CHATHAM ISLANDS TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16267, 18 July 1918, Page 6

A CHATHAM ISLANDS TRAGEDY.

TOHUNGAiaM ALLEGED. At the coming criminal cessions of tho Supreme Court, four natives from the Ciiatiiam Islands —Hare Piwari, Peter Piwari, Katie Piwaj'i, and Pitau Piwari —will be charged that they assaulted and wounded liia Horomona Kobe 60 as to cause her death. It appears that the doceased and tho accuseu were all one lami.y, and lived togetaer, thougii tnere is considerable dimculty in tracing tueir actual relationship. "iviiidngaism" appears to have been the reason for tho alleged crime. Evidence was called, when tne four accused were primarily charged at tiie Chatliaxn Islands Magistrate's Court, oa Juiy 3rd, to the effect that tho actions towards the deceased had been with a view to expelling the "evil spirit with which she was possessed." The deceased,'it is alleged, had gone over from the household Tohunga, the Bible, to the whisky Tohunga, and it was with the object of driving away the latter "spirit" that tho action, which resulted so seriously, was taken. It was alleged that lor harbouring one of the "whisky Tohunga" persuasion, there were various visitations in the "family," and its possessions, ranging from a visit of wild horses, which effectively razed all tho crops, etc., to tho ground, to vaiious unnatural "seizures" on the part of the victim. "Something," it was alleged, traced the course which should bo adopted in the case of tho "offender," arod that "something" held that she must be belaboured with "basins and cups." Tho "treatment" was duly carried out. Basins and cups were stamped out flat until they became merely flat weapons, with jasrsed edgps, amd with these, augmented by a knife, an axe, and the butt of a run, the' unfortunate Ria Horomann Robe was belaboured, 'ess than two weeks after she had piven birth to a child. Ria became delirious and "saw things," according to the statements for the prosecution, with the result that she was stripped nakejj and plunged into cold water, this being merely another wny of attempting to get rid of the "evil spirit." The result of these attentions was that the unfortunate girl died on Juno 27th last. The natives evidently were impressed with the belief that they Were acting rightly, and it is said that the four natives apprehended received with unbounded astonishment the fact that they were under arrest. At tho inquest held on the body of tho deceased, a verdict was brought in that death was caused by oefsong unknown. Subsequently the four natives re'orre r l to wo-e arrested, and thry have boon committed to.stand their trial at tho (next criminal sessions in Christchurch.