THE EXECUTION OF KARA

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 21 June 1911, Page 8

THE EXECUTION OF KARA

SHOWED NO EMOTION

BY TELEGB.APH—PRESS i <!SOCIATION

AUCKLAND, June 21

Tahi Kaka for the murder of John Freeman at Whakapara on April 5 was hanged at Mount Eden gaol this morning. Death was, instantaneous. Just before eight the hangman entered the condemned cell and pinioned Kaka's arms behind. The mournful procession then commenced, Rev. Hawkins reading the first three sentences of the burial service in Maori as the procession wended its way to the scaffold. Kaka was dressed in prison garb and walked firmly between two warders. He ascended 13 steps to the scaffold and took his stand on the drop without assistance or the slightest tremor. Rev. Mr Hawkins recited the Lord's prayer, which Kaka in a steady voice repeated. Asked By the Sheriff if he had anything to say he replied firmly, 'I hope I am the last man to be hanged anyhow." As the hangman pinioned his feet he said, "You are pretty smart at your work." Just before the lever was pulled he said, "Hoorah." The bolts were withdrawn and with a slight tremor of the rope Kaka had paid the full penalty of his crime. The time from his emerging from the gate till the final scene was just over four minutes.

The whole proceedings passed off without a hitch. 'Die scaffold was in a corner of the punishment yard. Those present were the gaol officials, the sheriff ,the gaol surgeon, the Revs. Hawkins, Budd and McPherson, and representatives of the press. As Kaka came to the scaffold his boyishness was painfully apparent. -The condemned man from the time he was sentenced was resigned to his fate, and slept well, putting on just a stone in weight. During the past few days he had shdwed signs of restlessness, but spent most of his time writing. He was visited at eleven last.night by the Rev. Hawkins, who remained some time. He was persuaded to go to bed at ten minutes to one, and slept fairly sound till just before six o'clock. He did not ask for any breakfast, and as the warder in charge left the cell he said "Goodbye," and to another warder he said: Will meet you in the next world." Just before reaching the scaffold Kaka shook hands behind his back with one of the warders in attendance, and with a colored picture of the Crucifixion in his hand he met his fate. The resigned manner in which he'took the sentence is attributed by the Rev. Mr Hawkins to his belief that lie had made hia peace with Mb Maker, and would be forgiven in the next .world. The Revs. Hawkins and Budd enter an emphatic protest about the manner in 'which th«» scaffold was erected within sight and hearing of the condemned cell. The customary inquest was held, ahd the usual verdict returned.