KAKA HANGED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 371, 21 June 1911, Page 5

KAKA HANGED.

DEATH INSTANTANEOUS "HAERAE" [by telegraph.—press association.] Auckland, This Day. Tahi Kaka, for the murder of' John Freeman at Whakapara, on April stb, was hanged at Mount Eden Gaol this morning. Death was instantaneous. Just before eight,the hangsman entered the condemned cell, and pinioned Kaka's arm behind. The mournful procession commenced, the Rev.-Haw-kins leading. The first three sentences of the burial service in Maori were repeated as the procession wended its way to the scaffold. Kaka was dressed in prison garb, and walked firmly between two warders. He ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold and took his stand on the drop wthout asistance 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: "I hope lam 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 cried: "Haerae." The bolts were withdrawn, and with a slight tremor of the rope, Kaka had paid the full penalty of his crime.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 exactly four minutes fifteen and two-fifth seconds. The whole proceedings went without a hitch. The scaffold was in a corner of the punishment yard, and those present were the gaol officials, the sheriff, the gaol surgeon, the Revs. Hawkins and Budd McPherson and the representatives of the press. As Kaka came to the scaffold his boyishness was painfully apparent and his shoitcropped hair, smooth face and altogether handsome appearance stamped on one's mind that the condemned man from the time of his sentence has resigned himself to his fate. He ate and slept well putting on just a stone in weight. At the time of the execution he Weighed 1601bs. During the past few days he showed signs of restlessness. He spent most of his time writing and was visited at eleven last night by the Rev. Hawkins who remained for some time. He was persuaded to go to bed at ten minutes to one and slept fairly soundly till just before six o'clock. He did not ask for any breakfast and as the warder in charge left the cell said "Goodbye" and to another warder said "I will meet you in the next world." Just before reaching the»caffold 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 punishment Was attributed by the Rev. Hawkins to his belief. He had made his peace with his Maker. The Revs. Hawkins and Budd enter an emphatic protest about the manner in which the scaffold was erected within the sight and hearing of the condemned cell. The customary inquest was held and the usual verdict returned. Timaru, This Day The parents of John Freeman who was murdered by Tahi Kaka, state his age was 48. He was reported to be an old man. The aged father of the murdered man refused to intervene, stating that Cabinet had twice decid* ed no mercy could be shown, and he was not above Cabinet.