OPUNAKE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3723, 30 November 1880, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

Monday. The Brutal Murder of Miss DoWe. Coatiauatioa of the Inquest. When the jury met at 8 a.m. to-day, they were informed by the coroner that further evidence, which would take two hours to obtain, rendered another adjourment necessnry. Mr 11 urs! house stated that to ride to the pah would take at least an hour, they might require more than an hour to return if the witness wanted was obstinate. Yesterday a coat was found by Constable Taylor in Tuhi's whare with blood stain both the sleeves and on the breast. It is understood no signs of attempted violation were discovered by the medical men. Wilson Hursthouse deposed that the body was found 42 yards from the edge edge metal' on. the road. He observed blood on the flax bushes within three yards of the road. He had a conversation with Tuhi to-day. He was wearing

the trousers (No. 2) at the time he last saw him. Houo Pihama pointed at the spot where the black horse was tied, which was not more than 40 yards from where the body was found.

Sergeant McKeown said he met Walter Stannard on the evening of the murder. Stannard's horse was bleeding at the nose at the time. He noticed his clothes were smeared with blood, and there was also a small piece of flax in Stannard's boot.

Sergeant Day deposed that he examined the trousers Tuhi had on when he was arrested; they were torn, fie also found stains of blood on the crutch of the trousers, also on the right knee. He also found a long human hair attached to the trousers. It is, he said, in my opinion, from a European. It corresponded in colour and texture with the hair on deceased's head. I examined the person of Tuhi, and found an old wound on the outside of the ankle of his right foot. It would seem to be about a week old. I noticed on the leg of the trousers (moleskin, No. 1), 'on the inside, a quantity of blood and other matter, such as would correspond with this wound. I arrested both the prisoners, but neither of them made any reply when charged with the offence. The hair I found is sixteen inches long.

Constable McCarthy stated that prisoner struck a match in the stable which he took from a three penny box of matches. It appeared full of blue headed matches. Prisoner seemed in a hurry.

Martin Coffy, re-called, said he saw accused frequently. He spent no money and had no scores previous to his return to Opunake with Honi Pihama since the previous examination. He believed he recollected having served him with a tin box of matches for three pence, and also believed he paid him with a three penny piece. In his stock he had only blue headed matches, and could have possibly sold no others. The threepenny piece received from Tuhi would remain in his possession from the 25th up till Monday morning. This is the coin handed in. It has marks on it which he believed to be blood, and scratches. There was apparently an attempt to obliterate the stains. Carey drew my attention to it. At the time when the deceased, Miss Dobie, purchased a Jead pencil, I gave her as change out of sixpence a threepenny piece and an Knglish penny or two English half pennies. He met Tuhi on the 25th after 5 p.m., and he came back with witness to his store. He was asking for matches and other things to be put down to his credit, but witness refused to give him credit. He was in the shop a* little later, and asked for a paper box of matches which witness gave him. They cost a penny each. He tendered an English halfpenny saying he had no more money, and witness told him to go home, and accepted the money. /

By a Juror—l give and accept tokens, but to a lady should gire small change in silver or English money. Am sure I took this threepenny piece between Thursday and today.

Constable Knowles, re-called, said he had visited Tuhi's whare yesterday, and this coat (handed in) was found in the whare. (Tnhi noticed the coat under Constable Knowles arm, and said in English "That is my coat.") Witness saw stains which he bettered to be blood on the cuff of the sleeve and tail of the coat. It was not concealed, and does not appear to hare been washrd. Constable Taylor said prisoner was wearing that coat on Thursday last when he saw him.. He thought the stains were blood. Prisoner directed him to his whare. Was quite sure he was wearing this coat. Prisoner's wife fcaid Tuhi had brought home nothing but a bar of soap.

Kona Matui said be was at Tamati's whare on the evening of the 25th. He looked unnatural; * observed him frequently looking at the door. He did not remain long, and left Tuhi behind. We bad seen Tuhi earlier in the day at the bar of an hotel. I remember the trousers—moleskins—Tuhi waa wearing them when I saw him at the bar. I cannot say whether be was wearing them at Tamati's whare, because it was dark. I did not notice his coat, but noticed his trousers, because Tuhi had a swollen foot. He had called attention to the trousers. I did not know if he had two pair on, but was certain be had moleskins on. Know they are Tuhi's trousers because they are molesbins; they were then torn at the knees, but not like they now are. I did not observe any blood on them like they are now. I saw prisoner between the time of Honi Pihama's arrival, and on going to the Tumate. I was not then drunk. It was daylight. He had not those moleskin trousers on then. I did not observe that they had trousers—he certainly had not moleskin trousers on. At that time Honi Pihama was here, but could see he had no trousers that he wore in the morning. The prisoner had rags on his ankle.

Constable Whataran, deposed—l saw prisoner about half past eleven on the 25th, he had on moleskin trousers and also another pair on underneath. Can identify the outside pair. The inside of the leg of the outer pair was torn and I saw a striped patch on the leg on underneath the pair. He also wore the hat now on the table. He had this coat on (this was the coat about which other witnesses were doubtful as to identification.)

Tamate Kaweora, sworn, said—Tona and Tuhi came to my whare together on Thursday. It was dark, I told Tuhi to sleep there last night; I did not hear Tuhi's answer. Tuhi had on the trousers coat, and hat after the meal. Roua, who arrived drunk left. Tuhi did not stay long after JKona left, when he was asked to stop he looked ■ frequently out of the door, otherwise he looked as usual. This dosed the prosecution.

Dr Carey, sworn, said I searched the body of Miss Dobie with the assistance pf Mrs Eldet. I observed a punctured cut in the collar of her dress. Found corresponding wound on the neck of deceased. Judging from the puncture in the collar I should say it was made by an instrument about half an inch in width. I found a large wound immediately below the lower jaw* four inches in extent. The whole throat was cut down the vertebral column, but attempts appeared to have been made to cut the throat. A second wound had been made about two inches below the angle of the lower jaw. There was another transverse wound about an inch and a half in extent. Also two other small wounds, one half inch and one as long abreast to the one near the right ear. A fifth slight superficial wound on the left side of the neck, two inches above the claricle. These were all the wounds on the neck. There was also a wound on the second finger about an inch long. Death

was the result of these wounds. Examined every part of the body, and am positive there was no attempt at violation. Under; the clothing was intact. Most of the wounds were on the right side. The knife in my opinion had blood stain on it. That knife would inflict injuries described. I received change from Coffy this morning—sixpence and a threepeny piece. I noticed it had been scraped as if to erase something which looked like blood. She wouldJhare been able to walk after receiving the smaller wounds, but not after the larger. The first wound was a 'continuation of the stab and the cut, and, judging by the cut in the collar, the wound could not be made by a larger knife than this knife.

The Coroner proceeded to read over the evidence, but the jury said it was unnecessary, and farther said it was the unanimous opinion of the jury that there was no evidence whatever against Stannard, and they wished that he should be at once released.

Sergeant-Major Bullen produced the affidavit from Mrs Cook, Empire Hotel, accounting for some blood on the clothes of Stannard.

The Coroner in addressing Stannard, said " I congratulate you. Yon leave this room entirely free, without any stain oa your character."

At 1.52 p.m. the Maori confessed, saying, " I did it."

When Hursthouse interpreted, he asked him if he had any statement to make. He was fairly warned before he confessed, and he said, " It was done by me." Hursthoaae said: "Do you know what you have really said; do you know your position." ■ Tuhi said: "I know; I killed the woman; it was a great sin or crime ; I know it." '

The Coroner then said: " I do not think, under the circumstances, I can ask you gentlemen of the jury to do anything further." . .'...'■ •

The excitement was intense. The interpreter faltered and was deeply moved. So was the Coroner. The murderer appeared calmer than most in Court. Tuhi throughout the day was calm and looked each witness straight in the face and appeared quite collected and cool. He asked a few questions which seemed to test the reliability of witnesses on points where they conflicted but in no case did he endeavor to dispute the ownership of the trousers or question the accuracy of the evidence given against him by men of his own . race. Tuhi was then asked had he anything more to say P He replied "I desire to be questioned/ and this being inadmissable he said, "I have nothing more to say, except that I committed the murder." The scene was most exciting when Tuhi went up to the table to sign his confession and have it attested by the interpreter. The Jury were then called on to give their verdict exactly at 11 p.m. by the Coroner. After a few seconds of whispering the Foreman said that the verdict was, " That deceased Miss Mary Ddbie was wilfully murdered b} r the prisoner Tuhi (or Te" Karen) on the afternoon of November 25th between the hours of two and five p.m." No political significance is attached to the murder. After the committal of the prisoner he said, " I do not wish for any more trials ; I want to meet my death here now." The handcuffs were then put on him, prisoner preserving the same calmness, and looking all, round him, straight in the lace.