MOTU MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 2

MOTU MURDER.

I [ B v TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] ! FURTHER EVIDENCE. I OPOTIKI, Dec. 16. j Out of a total of 39 witnesses in the Zambukka murder case, 21 were heard by the noon adjournment to-day. Thirteen Native witnesses were exam ined this morning. Several stated that they had l )ilid Paul Zambukka sums of money; one witness had paid him £7, and had seen him with a fist full of notes in a roll. Others gave evidence regarding the movements of the accused Topis on lines similar to that of the previous witnesses. Charlotte Koopu, housekeeper for Saxby Brothers, stated that Rutene Topi called between four and five o’clock in the evening of November 4th. and purchased an axe handle and a packet of cigarettes. On November 10, Peeti Topi was at the station and overheard Charlotte take a

telephone message from Sergeant Ferguson from Constable Blakely, stating that. No 6 shot had been found in the deceased man’s head. Peeti said his shot was No 5, and left in a hurry, leaving some of his groceries he had purchased behind. Victoria Milner said she was engaged to Rutene Topi. They were to have been married in November. Tuwahiawa Topi, brother of the accused, identified the two guns as those of Rutene and Sam Topi. AVitness remembered Rutene coming home and saying his father could clean the guns. AVitness saw the guns on the morning of the fourth and also in the evening and thought they were in the same place.