Tuhi’s Last Confession.

Patea Mail, 4 December 1880, Page 4

Tuhi’s Last Confession.

A fuller confession is made by Tuhi of the manner in which he killed Miss Dobie near Opnnaki. The Coroner, with Mr Wilson Hnrsthouse, visited the prisoner under guard on Tuesday? after his first short confession had been made known by Mr Hnrsthouse; and Tnhi then volunteered the following particulars, which Mr Hnrsthouse interpreted: “1 left Opnnaki without any intention of committing any crime, but to look for a horse on the other side of Te Ngamu. I met Miss Dobie, and 1 got off and tied up my horse and lollowed her back. When I overtook her she was frightened, and took six shillings from her pocket and gave it to me. I then took out my pocket knife, and holding her by the shoulder with my left hand, stuck it in her throat. She fell down, but was not dead. I then dragged her to the first flax bush, and as she struggled I cut her throat again. I then dragged her to another flax bush and afterwards to where she was found, where she died. I took off my trousers and threw them in a flax bush. I thou went to catch my horse, which had got away from where it was tried. Whilst catching the horse Honi Piharna and party passed. I hid myself from view, and when they were gone I caught my horse and followed them, and, riding fast, I overtook them near the telegraph office. I rode quickly amongst them, and passed some of them before they saw me. The knife I killed her with is the one marked T.H. I did not throw it away; it must have dropped. The blood on the moleskin trousers is her’s. That on the other trousers is pig’s blood. The blood on the coat is hcr’s. I don’t know why it was so little. I had five shillings on the morning before the murder. When I came back I spent three shillings and sixpence in the hotel, and gave three shillings and sixpence to a man named Lamuu, of Parihaka. I gave Coffey a threepenny bit for matches and a half-penny for a pipe. After the deed I washed my hands in the small stream. I washed nothing else. I told nobody what I had done, neither my wife nor my father. I want now at oncejto be killed. I do’not want any more trials at all.” When told that could not be, he said “ May not the relatives kill me, or may 1 not kill myself. She called out once before I stabbed her. She saw me get oft’ my horse, but she did not run away.”