ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF KEREOPA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1182, 27 November 1871, Page 2

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF KEREOPA.

The ss, $ a pier, from Wairoa last night, brought down the notorious scoundrel Kereopa, in charge of Major Ropata and a number of his. tjancj, The prisoner would hayo been taken up to the jail last night, but this did not suit tlopata's ideas of display, and Kereopa was accordingly kept on board all night. This morning, between 9 and 10 o'clock, he was marched up in triumph by his captors, who bore a large red and white Hag. From the old Union Bank, Ropata's party went on to the town, while Kereopa was handcuffed and con veyed hy the police to the jail. When he was brought within the precincts of the jail, and before being handed over to the prison authoiities, the turnkey, Mr C. Maroney, commenced to search him. Kereopa made a rush to get through the gate leading to the prison yard, but was held back, and a sharp razor, which he had concealed on his person, fell to the ground, and opened in falling. Quick as thought, though still handcuffed, he sioopgd and picked up the weapon, and swept it across his throat, inflicting a very serious gash. The wound would no doubt have been more serious, had not the turnkey observed the movement, and seizing the would be suifide by the back of the neck, threw him to the ground. Though the principal vein or artery were not severed, there was a profuse flow of blood from the wound. Medical aid was sent for, and we are informed that three doctors were soon in attendance on the prisoner, whose wound is not supposed to be of a fatal character. Re now lies in rathet a weak state, in the jail, and when we saw him to-day he was talking earnestly to another native prisoner. We hear that Ropata has received the iUOOO offered by the Government for the capture of Kereopa.