MAORI GIRL’S BABY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 162, 29 September 1927, Page 11

MAORI GIRL’S BABY

Dalmatian Gumdigger in Dock on Murder Charge KAITAIA AFFAIR (From Our Own Correspondent) KAITAIA, To-day. ACCUSED of murdering the female infant of Rosie Te Whiu, and concealing the body, Paul Lendich, a Dalmation gum-digger, living at Kauri Flat, to-day appeared before Messrs. T. S. Houston and W. R. Grigg, J.P.’s.

Detective De Norville prosecuted, and Mr. J. B. Reynolds appeared fori the defence. Giving evidence, Rosie Te Whiu, aj comely Maori girl of 19, said that she became acquainted with Lendich in 1926. They kept company and after a time she found herself in a certain condition. Lendich induced her to go and live in his whare with him, and on August 21 a child was born in the whare, accused being present. After a while she went outside and when she returned the baby had gone. The accused told her he had thrown it away. He declared: “We don’t want any babies.” At this she began to cry. He said, “Don’t cry; it will be all right.” He instructed her not to tell anyone he had thrown the child away, and threatened her with violence if she should do so. After a while Mrs. Devich came to see her and asked if she liad had a baby, and she replied “No.” During the night accused told her not to tell her mother. The following morning her mother and her sister, Mrs. Borovich, visited her, accused being present. Her mother asked her if she had had a baby. She replied “No,” and the mother threatened to get a nurse, a doctor and the police. Accused said: “Do not get the doctor as he might send her to the hospital and operate on her.” She remained with Lendich four days and then became very ill and went home to her mother, and Dr. Rix was sent for. Her mother and sister then told accused that the doctor had said she had had a baby. Accused said: “The doctor is a liar.” One day during her mother's absence accused came and took her away to his shack again, threatening to thrash her if she did not go.

I He often ill-treated her. Hex i mother came for her on the following i day and accused ordered her mother ] out, knocking her down and kicking her. She took her mother home and the police were sent for: also Dr. Rix. who again examined her. Mrs. Mihi Borovich, sister of Te Whiu, gave corroborative evidence. When accused told her there was no baby sho accused him of killing it and he replied: “If you mention the baby again I will kill you.” Bella Te Whiu, mother of Rosie, was sure that she had given birth to a child. After the doctor had been to see Rosie accused came and asked why Rosie bad broken her promise. He was very angry and excited and walking up and down. He told witness she must make Mrs. Borovich stop talking about the baby or he would tear her in two. Later there was a tribal meeting amongst the Maoris and accused came and tried to get Rosie from them. He did get her away, and witness went to his whare to fetch her. Accused then knocked her down and kicked her. Rosie took her away, and he shouted after them — “Take that old cow away home or I’ll come and clean you up.” The people of the tribe then sent for the police. Cross-examined by Mr. Reynolds, witness said: “Rosie is not simpleminded. She is quite normal in every way. I do not know it if people look upon Rosie as somewhat mad. She is my last child.” Paul said some time ago that he would marry Rosie, but witness opposed marriage until she knew of her daughter’s condition. She was sorry Paul had got into this trouble. She did not ask the tribe to send for the police. The court then adjourned for lunch. (Proceeding.)