First death a mistake?

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 21

First death a mistake?

A case of mistaken identity is thought to have contributed to New Zealand’s first police fatality — on July 30, 1890. An armed gum digger, known variously as Henry Funcke and Robert Funcke, disrupted a voyage of the passenger steamer Minnie Casey on the Wairoa River near Dargaville. He became abusive and threatening when his rifle was taken from him by the vessel’s captain. Constable Neil McLeod, who had boarded the steamer at Dargaville with his wife and family, took Funcke ashore at Mangawhare, then returned to the vessel. As the steamer pulled away from the wharf, Funcke resumed his barrage of verbal abuse, demanding that the captain return the rifle. He produced a revolver — which had been concealed — and began firing at the moving steamer. The first two shots passed harmlessly, but the third struck Constable McLeod, who was

standing by the railings, in the chest. Settlers armed themselves with loaded rifles and set out in pursuit of the murderer. In the bright moonlight Funcke was seen to lift up his head as if to fire. Two rifles charged with shot were fired at him, striking him in the breast and groin. After his arrest, Funcke made the following statement: “I paid my passage, and they took my (priming) caps from me; so I shot him, as my life depended on my caps. I know my life is forfeited. It is a pity they did not drop me, as now they will have the pleasure of hanging me. My life is of no value to anyone. I shot the man because I thought he was the captain. He took my gun, and I cannot live without it. I shoot birds with it, and get my food by it.” An inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder, but Funcke was later found to be insane and unfit to plead. He never stood jtrial.