CHARGE OF MURDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 October 1941, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER

STOREKEEPER’S DEATH

MAORI STANDS TRIAL.

ALLEGED STATEMENT TO POLICE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, October 28.

The trial began .in the Court, Wanganui, today of a Maorv. Pipi Katene, labourer, aged .28, pleaded not guilty before Mr ’Justice Smith to the murder at Waitotara on the night of August 4 of Arthur Harding Parkinson, storekeeper, aged 79. When the Court adjourned at 5 p.m. 13 of the 17 Crown witnesses had given evidence. The case is likely to last all day tomorrow. Mr N. R. Bain, for the Crown, stated in his opening address that-the evidence would show that Detectives J. Murray, Wanganui, .and T. W. Allsopp, Hawera, went to Patea, where they interviewed Katene in a billiard saloon on August 6. Accused was asked what money he had in his possession and told the police that he had 5s 6d, inviting them to search him. It was alleged that when searched Katene had two of the three cheques missing from Parkinson’s office and also about £2O odd in notes and silver. When asked by the detectives where he had obtained the money, Katene allegedly put his hands to his face and said: “I done it; poor old Parkie.” Accused was then 1 ' warned and subsequently gave a long statement. Senior-Sergeant E. W. Dinnie, fingerprint expert and photographer, Criminal Registration Branch, Wellington, produced photographs taken at the store, and also photographs of prints found on the mallet and torch. These, he said, were identical with Katene’s,