MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3384, 13 January 1920, Page 6

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

TRAGEDY AT RAETIHI. f MAORI BOY SHOT. 1 OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. RAETIHI, Jan. 10. 1 An. adjourned inquest on the body of : ta. Maori boy named Rangihopukia, who‘ was found dead in his father’s wharel on December 18th last, about -six miles from Raetihi, near Mangawhero bridge, which lasted two days, has collclli<ledThe circumstances surrounding the tragedy are mysterious, as no one was seen in the. vicinity all day, the boy being sent home late in “(he afternoon to light the fire. -The :t'ather°:‘lrrived about 6 pm, and swore he‘ found the dead rbocly of the boy on the floor.‘ Examination by a doctor revealed the ; boy was shot through the heart with ‘:3 rev-olver bullet. The police. afterwards found a revolver hidden im a tin "trunk in an adjoining room and a blank cartridge and some cartridges were also found in the house. The verdict was th':~Lt the deceased, Rangihopukia, was killed at. Orauka--»kuru on December-17th bybeing shot through the heart with a revolver bullet, but there is not sufficient evidence _at present totdetermine who fired the shot. i __