AUCKLAND MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1931, Page 3

AUCKLAND MURDER

A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT.

MRS KEESING’S PLUCK.

(By Telegraph—Pei' Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 24. A graphic story of the murder here to-day is told by Mrs L. Keesing, a tenant of the house. “We had trouble with a Maori last night,” she said. “He came to the front door about 7.30 o’clock and he threatened to commit suicide by taking poison. 1 said to him: ‘Do it outside! Not in her’e!’ and 1 pushed him out of the door. After that we went to a dance in the Orange Hall with Mrs Johnson, Miss Queenie Driscoll,' and Mrs Johnson’s son, Sydney Driscoll. 1

“When we came home,tel lind it on my mind that the Maori’ might bo dead under the house,” remarked Mrs Keesing. “Before I was dressed this morning, I was kneeling at my bedside, saying my prayers, when I heal'd Queenie calling out ‘Murder f’ from a:i upstair s bedroom, where she slept with her mother. I knew instantly what had happened! I grabbed a flatiron, and I rushed up to the bedroom. The door was locked from the inside. I screamed ‘Open the door!’ Inside I heard Queenie screaming, and I started to smash the door in with the flatiron. My efforts, apparently, frightened the person inside, as the door was quickly unlocked, and the Maori who had been at the front door the night before rushed out, . and he made for me with his right arm raised. In his hand there was a- new sheath knife. I attacked him, arid I caught hold of his raised arm, and I struck him with the iron. He made another rush at me, and fortuntely the French windows on to the balcony were open, so that 1 was able to escape.’’

“The Maori staggered, and. he fell downstairs,” said Mrs Keesing. She went into the bedroohi and she found Mrs Johnson lying on the floor, bleeding from a deep wound in her right breast. She died shortly after. Queenie, said Mrs Keesing, was bleeding from a stab in the right arm, above the wrist, and she was blinded by poison, which had been thrmVn in her face. Her right eye was closed. Mrs Keesing asked Queenie what had happened, but the girl could tell only an incoherent story. She said that she had been in bed with her mother when the Maori entered the room, locked the door, and attacked her mother, who was asleep. Queenie tried to ward off the blow, and, being a strong girl, she had a short, but fierce, struggle with her mother’s assailant. In this struggle Queenie was wounded.

The Maori, who took poison, is nam ed Pahara Rameka Kere.

THE GIRL’S CONDITION

AUCKLAND, June 24. The injured girl is Queenie Driscoll, aged sixteen years, daughter of Mrs Johnson, by her previous marriage. Her condition to-night i s not serious. Pahara Raineka Kere, has geiien'Hv been knowdi as George Rameka. His condition has improved considerably. He is not in a dangerous state.