THE KOHIMARAMA MURDER CASE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1809, 20 October 1874, Page 2

THE KOHIMARAMA MURDER CASE.

An inquest was held in Auckland yes£ terday afternoon, at the Freeman's Bay Hotel, before "Dp. Philson, cdroner, and a jury, on the body of. a young Maori woman named; Henrietta T© Puniy-she whose; murder at Kohimarama was reported in yesterday's telegraphic columns. "VTe clip the following from the Auckland Star-:^: . ..-v •. ■ : .' „ - H:

Mr. W. Chapman,■.■"foreman'.; Mr. Richard De Thierry acted as interpreter for the native witnesses.

Mr. Browa watched the case for the accused. ';'..; :.:

Messrs. John Sheehan and Paul were also present to note the proceedings. About a hundred natives were gathered about the hotel.

The jury having viewed the body of deceased, Pirika, a native, was called, and, having been sworn, deposed: lam a native man without regular occupation, residing at Orakei. I knew deceased, and on Tuesday last I was in town; On the previous day I had a conversation with deceased, and on the Tuesday evening I returned to Orakei at dusk, and went to niy house, and pulled off my coat, and went, according to promise, to meet Henrietta Pukema. I found her at the cook-ing-house, with two natives and a halfcaste. I shewed them my likeness. Henrietta went out and I followed. We went to the back of tho kitchen. She caught me by the back, and said, " Let us go to Chapman's house." We went there, and went to sleep on a bed. Newton, the accused, now in custody,, came into the house. That is the man (pointing id accused). We were both awake at the time. Newton felt, about and caught hold of my hip.; There was no lighfe in the house. He said, •'Who is this?',, when deceased pitched me.that;l should not say who was with him. Newton called out three .times, but I did not answer. He then rsaidj "Who is with you?'?.-'"when ; I. replied, "Only my old woman;" meaning, my owm wife; -