The Taupo Murder.

Hastings Standard, Issue 501, 14 December 1897, Page 2

The Taupo Murder.

ADJOURNED INQUEST. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, Dee. 18. The adjourned inquiry into the Waitetoke tragedy was held at Taupo today, when Ngapaki was charged with the murder of Moananui on the 2nd Nov. He pleaded not guilty. Honemai te Hat a, wife of the native clergyman, stated that accused was confined on Oct. 28, and charged deceased with bewitching her. The subsequent acts of accused showed her to be insane. At sunset she toid deceased her time had come, and ran her at a trot to the lake, returning in about half an hour and crying out that the bad spirits had killed Moananui, and that something would happen. Witness also said the accused was suffering from milk fever and witness forced her to partake of her milk, and mixed sorae of deceased's hairs to break the spell, according to native customs. Directly the alarm was given the other natives rushed to the lake and found Moananui covered with blood. Tureara Moana, uncle of Ngapaki, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, also deposing to finding a block of pumice stone in company with Hori, a native constable, next day. He identified a stone produced as like it. The stone is about eight by nine inches, weather beaten, and hardened. It was found in the scrub near where the body was found. Half an hour after the dinner adjournment Mr Noble, the presiding justice, fainted from the heat, which is excessive to-day. The Court, though a large building, is crowded by natives.