ALLEGED MURDER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 366, 22 February 1937, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

MAORI CHARGED.

FATHER KILLED

Sister Attacked With Iron Kettle. Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, To-day. A tragedy occurred in a four-roomed whare on the Waiau Pa road, Patumahoe, at 8 o’clock last night, when Toko Whakaia, 70, one of the bestknown Maoris in the district, was fatally shot in the back and his elder daughter, Mrs Ette Toko, 30, was severely injured through being struck on the head with a heavy iron kettle. Her condition this morning has improved. Last night the police arrestet John Toko, 26, son of the dead man, on a charge of murder. He was brought to Auckland at an early hour this morning after having been in the /cells at Pukekohe.

Whakaia was shot in the middle of the back with a single-barrel shotgun. The kettle, which injured his daughter, was shattered. When the police arrived, they found her lying on the earth floor of the wharf. The Pukekohe police were on their way to the scene with a doctor when they saw three Maoris on the roadside, one of whom, John Toko, accompanied them back to the whare.

Mrs. Toko had regained consciousness and recognised John Toko. From what she said, and other evidence, the police made the arrest.

An inquest was opened but adjourned after evidence of identification.