THE DEATH SENTENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9538, 15 June 1911, Page 3

THE DEATH SENTENCE.

ACTING-PBEMIEIt MAKES A ■ < : i STATEMENT. (Per PhfßS Association.) :.

WELLINGTON, June 14i

Hon. James Ciirroll, Acting Prime Minister, states in regard to the cle-r cision of the Executive against reprieving the Maori lad, Tahi Kaka, now awaiting execution for the murder of an elderly gunuligger in the: north of Auckland district, -that the matter was considered very.carefully.: The evidence was fully before them, and it allowed no conclusion but that tho murder was premeditated.and deliberately carried out. There : .was: no redeeming feature about the act itselfand the only ground of the- jury's re;;; commendation to mercy was' the prte, soncr's youth. There lind/becirno provocation by the victim which.miglit have worked upon the prisoner's mind; If special leniency was shown, hi',the case it might have a bad effect;on,tho rising Maori generation. ■: Everyone would shrink from confirming .a-.sen-;; tence involving a human being's exist-.: ence, but so long as capital/punish-.. menu prevailed its a];i)!icatio;nUiuisf|:te recognised. ,i:.ft.)ft-;.V. ;