THE AUCKLAND MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 999, 1 June 1911, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND MURDER.

KAKA FOUND GUILTY

Auckland, May 30. The jury, after an hour’s deliberation, found Kaka, the Maori, guilty of the murder of the old man, John Freeman, at Puhipuhi, and he was sentenced to death, with a recommendation to mercy on account of his youth.

In his evidence at the trial Kaka stated he was 16 or 17 years of age. He described how he accompanied Freeman in pursuit of gum. He noticed something bulging in Freeman’s hip pocket. Freeman said he had £2O. Prisoner added; “I thought he was joking,” and said : “Give me the money or I’ll kill you.” Freeman had a spear in his hand and a spade at his side. “Come on ; kill me,” said Freeman, who dropped the spade and taking the spear in both hands threw it at prisoner. Then he threw jthe spade, striking prisoner ou the shoulder. Freeman made to clutch prisoner b}' both hands. Prisoner ducked and Freeman fell on top of him, both going to the ground. Freeman was trying to get the axe out of his bag and prisoner hit him three blows over the head with a stick. Prisoner ran away, and as Freeman did not follow, prisoner returned. Freeman was not quite dead and prisoner was very sorry for him. He cried because he thought he was dead. Prisoner thought he would be hanged for killing the man, and remembering that Freeman had said he had money, prisoner took the money out of his hip pocket.