THE EXECUTION OF TAHI KAKA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 6

THE EXECUTION OF TAHI KAKA.

DEATH INSTANTANEOUS,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Auckland, June 21. The young Maori, Tahi Kaka, for the murder of John Freeman, at Whakapara, on April o, was hanged at Mount Edeii Gaol this morning. Death was instantaneous.

Just beforo eight o'clock the hangman entered the "condemned" ceil and pinioned Kaba's arms behind him. The procession then commenced, the Rev. H. A. Hawkins (Superintendent of Anglican Maori Missions) reading the first three sentences of tile burial service in Maori as it wended its way to the scaffold. Kaka, dressed in prison garb, walked firmly between two warders. He ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold and took his stand on tlio drop without assistance or the slightest tremor. Mr. Hawkins then recited the Lord's Prayer, which Kaka in a steady voice repeated. - Asked by the sheriff if he had anything to say, ho replied, firmly: "I hope" I am the last man to be hanged, anyhow." As the hangman pinioned his feet he said: "You arp pretty smart at your work." Just before the lever was pulled, he said: "Hooray!"

The bolts were withdrawn, and with a. slight tremor of the rope Kaka had paid the. full penalty of his crime.

Those present were tho gaol officials, the sheriff, the gaol surgeon, the Revs. H. A. Hawkins, E. C. Budd, and MTherson, and representatives of the press.

The condemned man, from the time of his sentence, was resigned to his fate. For tho past few days he showed signs of restlessness, and* spent, most of his time writin;*. He was visited at 11 o'clock last night by Mr. Hawkins.

Just before reaching the scaffold Kaka shook hands with one of the warders in attendance, and, with a coloured picture of the Crucifixion in his hand he met his fate. ■ Ilis last word was "Alio" (farewell).

The Revs. H. At Hawkins nnd E. C. Budd enter an emphatic-protest about the manner in which tho scaffold was erected l — within si.L'ht 'and hearing of the condemned cell.