STRANGE TRAGEDY AT THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Patea Mail, 14 December 1880, Page 4

STRANGE TRAGEDY AT THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

MAORI JEALOUSY AXI) MURDER. The schooner Omaha, arrived at Lyttelton from the Chatham Islands, brings nows of a brutal murder committed there on November 19th. The murderer who has been committed for tiral at the ensuing session of the Supreme Court in Christchurch was brought in custody. On November 19 the murderer, We Wharapa or We Paripn, a well-to-do native, and one of the chief landholders in the island, residing aj, Waitangi, was passing along the beach, when a blacksmith, as he passed his shop, noticed something strange about his manner and called him into his shop to have some tea. We Wharapa went into the forge and shortly afterwards went under a cliff on the beach with his head bent and in a very dejected attitude. His actions were noticed by the blacksmith’s wife, who fancied that there was something wrong, and she got her husband to go up to We Wharapa’s house. On reaching the house he saw nothing of We Wharapa’s wife, but observed traces of blood in groat quantity, and he returned to his wife telling her of what he had seen, and also Mr Ueigbton, R.M., of the circumstances. Mr Deighton went to the pah and got Wharapa’s sisters and some others to accompany him, and went up to the house on a search. On entering the kitchen or sitting-room, the walls, ceiling, and floor were found splashed with blood and brains, the floor being covered with blood. Not seeing Whnrapa’s wife about the house, Hood and others went in search and found her body in a gully over a bill near where the house stood. The upper part of the head was smashed to pieces the features being beyond recognition. The R.M. at once swore in some special constables, who went and arrested Wo Wharapa on the beach. Ho made no remonstrance, simply telling the constables to stand off when arrested. Ho refused to say anything, and on the case being heard before the R.M. he reserved his defence, and was then committed to take his trial for the murder of his wife at the next session of the Supreme Court in Christchurch. Wharapa’s wife was a native of Lyttelton, and her maiden name Susan Snoswell. She was niece of Thomas Snoswell, of H.M. Customs. She went to the Chatham Islands three years ago as servant to one of the squatters’ families there, and married We Wharapa about 18 months’ ago. She was about 20 years of age, and We Wharapa is

about 28, ami was one of the principal men on the island, and very well off. He was always of a quiet disposition. Jealousy is supposed to be the cause of the murder. From traces left in the kitchen, where the murder was committed it seems that We Wharapa must have struck his wife on the head several times with a billet of wood, and then taken the fire-tongs and beaten her head to pieces. Since his committal it is said that he has made a confession of his crime in Maori. He appeared first to be in a state of melancholy madness, but latterly he became quite calm. Since his confession of the crime he has been silent about it altogether. The Omaha was ready for sea on the morning that Wo Wharapa was arrested, and those who were there seem to think that he came down to the beach with the intention of getting away from the Island, He is said to be a firm believer in Te Whiti, The news of the murder created considerable excitement in Lyttelton, where the murdered girl was well known. We Wharapa was heavily ironed during the passage. Prisoner was brought in charge of Constable Raynor and the master and officers of the Omaha, He seems very unconcerned about his position.