THE EAST COAST TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 285, 11 April 1889, Page 2

THE EAST COAST TRAGEDY.

A SENSATIONAL STATEMENT. WHAT THE NEAR PROSPECT OF THE GALLOWS WILL DO. Haira denies his Guilt: He Accuses his Brother. HE SAYS HE DID NOT CONFESS TO THE REV. MOHI TUREI. ASSERTS THAT HE SAW HIS BROTHER COMMIT THE DEED. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.j Nafisb, last night. The Evening News to-night has the following:— There are further developments in connection with the recent East Coast murders.

We learn that Haira te Peri, who was convicted by a jury at Gisborne of having murdered the Pook family, now states that he never committed the crime, and furthermore denies the statement that was telegraphed all over the Colony to the effect that he had confessed to a Native clergyman at Gisborne.

The Bev. Mr Parkinson, of St. Augustine’s Church, who is chaplain to the gaol, visited Haira te Peri the other day, and he says Haira told him that he saw the murders committed, and that his brother was guilty of the act.

The Bev. Mr Parkinson drew up a report embodying this statement, and forwarded it to the Minister of Justice. He also communicated with Sir James Prendergast, acting Governor, in connection with the affair.

From what we can learn the prisoner does not altogether exonerate himself, he being present when Mr and Mrs Pook were killed, and the little boy struck on the head with the axe, but he says his brother was the principal in the matter, and he seems to wish that he should be arrested and tried for the murder.

The trial of Haira took place at Gisborne ; the case against him was very strong, but the evidence was purely circumstantial. However, if his brother is tried and condemned, Haira will not get off scot free if he be a participator in the crime. The date for the execution of Haira would have been fixed before now had it not been that he made the statement mentioned above.

The authorities are now considering the matter.

When Haira is understood to have made his confession to the Bev. Mohi Turei, they were making reference to a passage in Scripture, which had a bearing on the subject. When Mr Booth went to him, he was sullen, and would say nothing. In the presence of Mr McOlutchey, Haira said : “It is done now ; lam condemned to death, and I might as well go now as at any other time.”