Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-04-25
New Zealand Cannibalism-Sh Shocking
Incidents,

New Zealand Cannibalism-ShO
Incidents.
The trial of a New Zealand chief for
the murder of two Europeans is thus
described in a local paper, the Hawe's
Bay Herald:
On Monday, 18th of December, the
trial of Kereopa was commenced before
the resident magistrate at Napier. The
Court House being too small to hold all
the persons who wished to be present,
after the information was read the court
adjourned to the Council Chamber, when
several witnesses gave evidence. Pihana
Tiwhai sworn, deposed: live at Opo-
tiki. | know the prisoner. saw him
at Opotiki in March, 1865. l saw him
and Patrara. The prisoner had basket
with HIM I found that there was a
Europeans head in it. The first words
that | heard him say were, Friends,
this is word from my God to you. If
any minister or other European comes
to this place do not protect him he
must die | die dep Patara said next,
q am come to bring the new God to
YOU. This is the trde God. If minis
ter or European comes within these
bounde,ies he shall not be spared" l
know Mr.. Volkner. He arrived about
five days after Kereopa and Patara had
come TO Opotiki. He came by vessel.
The vessel came up the river and lay
close against the band. AS soon as the
vessel came alongside, the Taranaki
natives tied up the Europeans, Mr..
Volkner and Mr.. GRANGE, and led them
away to the Jail. | saw the whole trans
I IL
tives, Kereopa and Patara, and those
that came with them. Next thing l
saw was Mr.. Volkner being led away. l
could not see who the native was that
was leading him 1 was too far off. 1t
was one of the Taranaki natives. My
wife said to me, "Don't follow them
they are putting Mr.. Volkner to death"
| went away to a mill near. In the
evening l returned I was told that
Mr.. Volkner was killed, and was shown
where his body was. The body had On
black trousers, boots, and white shirt.
There was no head on it. l asked
Kereopa to let me have the body,
to bury it. He said let the fowls Of the
air and reptiles of the earth eat it. l
saw Mr.. Volkner's head, and that of an
other European, afterward at Opotiki,
in tent.
E. Pima Pono, among other evidence,
said: When Kereopa arrived 1t was
dinner time, and he (witness) heard
Kereopa say that g Mr.. Volkner was to
bess.-given up, killed, and eaten" On
the following day they ali assembled in
in the church. l was in the house and
saw Kereopa in the pulpit with wal
club in his hand. Then | heard him
sap that Mr.. Volkner should die on this
day, and that his eyes should be eaten,
and if any one refused to obey his
orders he would cut their heads off; his
tribe would be destroyed and their
houses burnt" The same day Kereopa
said, "Goand fetch MIR. Volkner." The
them. l afterward saw the soldiers who
had Mr.. Volkner in their charge.
stopped outside the church. l saw the
soldiers hand Mr.. Volkner's head into
the church. His head was wrapped in
calico. | saw the blood oozing out Of
the calico. At this time. Kereopa was
in the church. Koreopa carried the
head about, telling them not to be
frighted to eat it. He said that the
whole of the tribe who refused to eat
part of the head would be destroyed.
Another witness said: Mr.. Volknel
was brought to the church. After the
talk was done there, he was led off t.
be hung. Kereopa gave orders to take
him to tree and hang him. The las
l saw of Mr.. Volkner was when he wa.
being led to a tree. I went to m,
plantation. When I returned, Mr.
Volkner was hanging on the tree.
went straight to my own house. Aftel
a short time l returned to the church
and saw Mr.. Volkner's body lying out
side it without the head. Ihaurair
Kari cut the head off Kereopa toll,
him to do it. The head was put int
the church through the window. Kere
opa placed the head on the table befor
him, and took out the two eyes with hi
hands. He said, " Listen, O, tribe. thi
is the Parliament of England" The
he swallowed the eyes. After this tn
head was carried round to ali the pee
pie in the house. | went out. I SAY
the body. Several other witnesses wer
examined, and the prisoner committe
for trial.