THE TRIAL OF RUA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 22, 1 May 1916, Page 8

THE TRIAL OF RUA.

the charges. The charts preferred agamst Rim and the other prisoners arc as loliow ; llua Hepetipa, otherwise knowll ®!* 11 mi Konemi, <U Matmgapohatu: U “That on Lot* 2nd day oi April, 1J . he did coumd am! procure Toko Uua, To Alai pi, and -Thor persons to "under William George W nivht, Alexander McGowan, Frank .Rogers John Ml, «“‘l "“""TV tnl Now Zealand police force; (2) thab with intent to resist and prevent the lawful apprehension and detainer o the said Una Hepetipa, he oid counsel and procure Toko Kna, le - <■ 1 > and other persons to discharge < William George Wright, AU-xamler McGowan, Frank Rogers l-ibbet, Jmu Noil, and other members ol the * on Zealand police force, arms loaded rut! destructive materials. Alaka Kanuehi, of Maungapohatu : “That he did assault, resist, and obstruct one James Sinclair Williamson, a. police constable in the execution ol

his duty.” Atoa Horomona: “Tnat, wit i i tent to resist and prevent ot the law* fnl apprehension and detainer o one Tina Hcpetipa, lie did actual been y h'arhi to Police Constable Michael Palmy.” ... Whatu Hun: “That he did, with intent to resist and prevent the lawful apprehension and detainer of one Pun Hepetipa, attempt to wound or do actual bodily barm to Police Constable James Sinclair Williamson. Tiolce Hnknipai: “That ho did assault, resist, and obstruct one Michael Fahey, a police constable, in the execution of his duty.” Pukepuke Kanara: “Jhat he did, with intent to resist of and prevent the lawful apprehension and detainer of one Pua. Hepetipa, attempt to discharge at Police Constable Arthur Skinner arms loaded with destructive materials.”

SATURDAY’S EVJDENCE. j Rotorua, April 29. in tho Rua case to-day, Sub-Inspec-tor Jo in is tone stated that when the advance 'party of police entered ivLauiignpoliatiij Rua, who it appeared had been drinking, asked d ten sheep would he enough to feed the whole party of police, and Maoms. He claimed.he was the Holy Ghost. Vvhen ■firing commenced Rua was removed out of the firing line. Cross-examined by Mr Lundon, Johnstone said that before the Commissioner arrived Rua spoke in an undertone to his followers and waved ids hand. He called out in Maori. During his struggle with witness no shot was fired tdl Rua was ham-hull-ed. As Rua continued struggling the Commissioner ordered him to be irogmarched. Alter tho arrest Rna offered to pay the linos, but withdrew bis offer on finding the expenses of the expedition would be added. Constable Moore, one pf the advance party, stated that Rua had been handcuffed when the first shot was fired. Toko Rua hit McGowan with .his second shot. Witness fired four revolver shots at him, and ho ran away. Wright was shot by To Maipi from behind. Before Rua was handcuffed ho waved to his people, who wore on the rise near tho Gisborne track, and they all went, back, Rua and bis sons going with them. One Maori was batoned. The police gathered the Maoris’ guns on Sunday afternoon. There might have been twelve, including two rifles. Toko ran before the first shot was fired. Witness, as a policeman, was holding a rifle in position to Justify Rua in thinking ho was going to shoot. Witness saw no preparations for hostilities other than Rua keeping the i Maoris together on the track. Tiie case was adjourned to Monday morning. There are ton police witnesses still to give evidence.