TUHI’S TRIAL

Patea Mail, 14 December 1880, Page 3

TUHI’S TRIAL

At Wellington. FIRST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. (Telegram from our Correspondent ) Wellington, Monday. The Chief Justice took his scat to-day in the Supreme Court, accompanied by Mr Allan, sheriff. Tuhi, alias Tuihata, alias Tekarea, was indicted for the murder of Miss Dobie at Opunaki on the 25th November. Mr Izard and Mr Chapman conducted the case for the Crown. Mr Norwood was counsel for the prisoner. When Tuhi was placed in the dock, he looked round with a smile of injured innocence ; and when asked to plead, lie again smiled unconcernedly, and uttered in the vernacular “ Kahore.” During the whole morning he stood with his arms folded apparently manifesting no interest in the proceedings. This .may be the result of his ignorance of the English language. The jury comprised Messrs Duncan McDougall (foreman), H. Rudrnan, D. Williamson, S. Sloan, R. Goven, George Perkins, William Thompson, J. Enfield, Edwin Smith, John Smith, R. Thompson, ' and James Webber. No fewer than twenty-two jurymen were either absent, sick, or begged to be relieved from Tuhi’s trial. The Crown challenged two, and the prisoner challenged four jurymen. The counsel for the prisoner raised a knotty question touching the absence of Colonel Roberts, to whom the prisoner made his confession ; and after lengthy argument a happy thought struck the Court that the A.C.’s there as witnesses should be paraded before the prisoner to see if he would recognise anyone who was present at the interview with the colonel. The prisoner recognised one as being present; and then the trial proceeded. Mr Izard, in opening the prosecution, spoke forty minutes. Major Goring was the first witness. His evidence was the same as at the inquest. This witness, in reply to Mr Norwood, said the deceased was a very strong active person, of ordinary stature, and not excitable. She rather liked the natives, and was in the habit of talking freely with them. She was not severe with them, nor did she treat them as her inferiors. The two dogs taken out by her were a spaniel and retriever pup. Witness had no previous knowledge of prisoner, though he had seen him about Opunaki, and knew he had received much kindness from the Armed Constabulary. By the Court: When witness came up to the body, ho found Constables Wilson and Hickey there before him. He did not see the spot by daylight until the following Sunday. Martin Coffey’s evidence was then taken. It was also the same as at inquest. Witness, in reply to Mr Norwood, said the prisoner seemed to have had a little drink, though he could get along comfortably, W. H. Eyes repealed his previous evidence.

In reply to Mr Norwood, witness said : The prisoner knocked at my door at 9 o’clock on the night of the murder, and seeing a constable with a gun be drew back, and said “Good night,” and left. His action struck me as peculiar. Maoris often get drunk, and don’t mind the police seeing.it. The law is a dead letter there. Tho next evidence was that of Denis

Connor, A.C. Nothing new or startling occurred during the trial to-day. It is thought the trial will last three days. Among the witnesses present is Stannard, from Hawera, a fine young fellow. Many Maoris, male and female, are present; many of them in their gaudy colored mats, but all conducting themselves in a seemly manner. Among the multitude present in Court to-day might be seen six Wellington hangmen) each in his turn willing to tender his services in so laudable a service. These six some time ago, unknown to each other, tendered for the hanging of a criminal at Picton. It would he a subject for Hogarth to view the ghastly smile which played on each of their countenances when certain points of evidence were powerfully sheeted home to the culprit. Mr Ebenezer Baker and Mrs Simeon are in Tuhi’s case. Mr Balfour, a Victorian M.L.A., is founding a teetotal town on his estate contiguous to the Albury railway station. During the September quarter, 60,468 tons of stone were crushed at Ballarat for a yield of 28,236 ounces, the average being Odwts 13.96grs per ton. The dividends amounted to £60,907.