Maori Appears on Murder Charge

Chronicle (Levin), 26 July 1949, Page 3

Maori Appears on Murder Charge

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auckland^ jaiy -25> . Charged with murderhig ,Govind;: liauchhod, an Indiaii hawker, aged 58 years, at a house in Nelson Street • on Anril J9, William Euha Mat!th^ws,: aged t!8, a AXaori laUpurer, , Aple^rled before Mr. Justice Pinlay for trial in ihe Supreme Court today. Mr. G. S. Meredith and Mr. Speight represented tlie Crown, and Mr. G. Skelton defended the prisoner. J\Lr. Meredith said the house was frequented by Maoris .and seamen, and drinking took place there. The deceased was in the liabit of collecting empty l)ottle.s from the washhousb: Tlie Maori woman in charge of the house, Nieky Wihongi, at the tinie was living with an Europeait seaman, Iiay Husband, but previousiy had lived with Mattliews. On April 11 tlie accused came to the house and tried to fight Husband. . Husband would not fightjv and IMatthews tlireatened to kill him and Wihongi, alleged Mr. Meredith. When tlie deceased called for liottles Husband let him in and' the Indian went to'- the washhouse, after which screaniing was fieard. Counsel said Mattliews told a constable in a police car later that he met the Indian in the washhouse. He asked the deceased to get Nicky to come down, but the Indian deelined, nnd went on collecting bottles. Mathews said he grabbed at tlie Indian who threw bottles at him. Counsel alleged tlie accused admitted he then stabbed the Indian. Tlie police found the Indian lying dead in a pool of blood. A blood-stained knife was also found. Nicky Wihongi said in evidenee that she left Mattliews after lie liad given her a liiding. When she began living with Husband, Matthews told her: "I will get you one day. " Witness said once when she wa"s with Husband she held ont her liand to Matthews to make a friendlv end of the assoeia(ion, but the accused slapped her. She said that Matthews had told her in the police car that he had killed tlie Indian. The case was adjourned after six Crown witnesses had been heard. ■ . . ' , s — 1# : ■■.r ; □ e— !