CHARGE OF MURDER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143472, 20 April 1911, Page 3

CHARGE OF MURDER.

AGAINST A NATIVE,

For Press Association.

AUCKLAND, April 19,

A Native named Tain Kaka was arrested at Kaikohc last night, on suspicion of having murdered a gumdigger named John Freeman. It appears that Freeman has been missing from his whare at Puhipuhi, near* Whangarci, since April 5, and at the time of his disappearance was in possession considerable sum of money. Largo search parties have been searching the country, but no trace of the missing man has been discovered. The accused man is to bo taken to Whangarci,l where he will bo charged, and a remand will bo applied for to allow further investigations. Kaka was the last man seen in Freeman’s company, and since then ho has been spending money freely.

A FULL CONFESSION.

WHANGAREI, April 20,

A revolting crime committed in the depths of tho Puhipuhi State forest has been revealed. Kake, a Native youth aged 18, was arrested at ICaikoho on Tuesday on a charge of having murdered John Freeman, a European gumdigger, with whom Kako resided in a whare. Suspicion fell on Kako by his prodigal spending of money and because Freeman was not seen for ten -days. Kake was brought down to Whakapara (the nearest station to Puhipuhi) this morning, where ho was met by a police sergeant. Accused confessed to tho sergeant that he hit Freeman over tho head with a heavy wooden bludgeon, killed him, robbed him of £4O realised by tho sale of gum, dragged the corpse into a* secluded place, and buried it. He offered to show the JTnrial-placo to tho police, who with thdir capfcivo immo liately set out for the scone of tho crime. They will return to Wllangarei to-night or to-morrow with accused and tho body of the victim.