THE EXECUTION OF KAKA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12766, 22 June 1911, Page 5

THE EXECUTION OF KAKA.

THE LAST GRIM SCENE

K4KA DIES BRAVELY

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 21. Tahi Kaka, for the murder of John Freeman at Whakapara on April o, was hanged at Mt. Eden Gaol this morning, death being .instantaneous. Just before eight o'clock the hangman entered the condemned cell, pinioned Kaka's arms behind,, and the mournful procession commenced, the ißev. Hawkins reading the first three sen • tences of the burial service in Maori as they .wended their way to the scaffold.

Ktika. dressed in prison garb, walked firmly between two warders, ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold, I'lid to<£k his stand op. the drop without assistance or the slightest tremor. The" Rev. 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—"l hopo I am the last mail 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 something 'which was probably "A-u-e'; ("farewell")- -The ,<bolts were withdrawn, there was a slight tremor ot the rope, and Kaka had paid the full penalty of his crime. - •^The time from his emerging from the gate till the final scene wa-s exactly four -.minutes fifteen and two-fifths of a second,.

The whole proceedings passed oft without a hitch.

The scaffold was in a corner of the punishment yard, and those present were 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. With his short-cropped hair, and smooth face his altogether handsome appearance was stamped on one's mind.

The condemned man, from the time he was sentenced, was resigned to his fitte. He slept well, and piit on just a stone in weight. At the time of his execution he weighed ICOlbs. During the past few days he showed signs of restlessness, and spent most of his time in writing. He was visited at eleveno'clock last night by the Rev. Hawkins, who remained some time. He was persuaded to go to bed at 10 minutes to one, and slept fairly soundly till just before breakfast. As the warder in charge left his cell he said "good-bye." To another swarder .he said—"l will1 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 coloured picture of the Crucifixion in his hand, met his fate. The resigned manner in which he took his sentence is attributed'-by the Rev. Hawkins to his belief that lie lvfid made peace with his Maker and 'that .he would be forgiven in the next

■v/ord. The, Revs. Hawkins and Buda enter an emphatic protest about the manner in which the scaffold was erected, within sight and hearing of the condemned cell.

'The customary inquest was held and the usual verdict avas returned.