THE KIHIKIHI RABBIT SKIN CASE.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 256, 8 March 1898, Page 2

THE KIHIKIHI RABBIT SKIN CASE.

AN AMUSING DEFENCE. (JSY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT). Auckland, Last Nijjht. A Half-caste native prisoner at the Supreme Court this morning took a leaf out o r Adam's book unci blamed dusky Eve for his transgression. Henry Aben, was ihe lulf-castc's mine, and he and a Maori woman, named Raugi Rora (Laura) Kahui, pleaded " guilty " to stealing rabhit skins, which had already been sold by the natives to the Government Stock Inspector, who acts as the buyer of rabbit skins ot Kihikihi, Waikato. The woman simply said she was guilty, but Aben, through the interpreter (George Brown) said oiaculary • " Sin has been committed ever sinco man was first made. When I heard the woman's voice, I committed sin," by which he meant no doubt, that he took not an apple but the rabbit skins. In the course of his further statements, Aben discarded the services of the interpreter and launched out in English on his own account. He blamed those in charge of the rabbit skin store for knowingly allowing the woman to stay in the store till they Mere certain she had stoltn something and then sending for a policeman, instead of putting her out before she had had time to commit an offence. " If that," continued Aben, in his own particular ttyle of English, " is the way to caught every people, why the gaol would soon be full up " The Court laughed in sympathy, but the male stealer <f rabbit skins got twelve months' hard labour, while the woman was admitted to probation.