KAKA EXECUTED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1008, 22 June 1911, Page 3

KAKA EXECUTED.

PRISONER’S REMARKABLE FORTITUDE. Auckland, June 21. Tahi Kaka for the murder of John Freeman at Whangarei, on April 5, was hanged at Mount Eden Goal this morning. Death was instantaneous.

Just before eight the hangman entered the condemned cell and pinioned Kaka’s arms behind and the mournful procession then commenced, Rev Hawkins reading the first three sentences of the burial service in Maori as they wended their way to the scaffold. Kaka, dressed in prison garb, walked firmly between two warders, ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold, and took his stand on the drop without assistance or the slightest tremour. 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 I am the last man hanged, any how !”

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The bolts were withdrawn, a slight tremour of the rope, and Kaka had paid the full penalty of his crime.

The time from his emerging from the gate till the final scene was enacted was exactly 4 minutes 15 seconds. The whole proceedings went without a bitch. The scaffold was in a corner of the punishment yard. Those present were the gaol officials, the sheriff, the gaol surgeon, Revs. Hawkins, Budd, McPherson and representatives of the press.

As Kaka came to the scaffold his boyishness was plainly apparent. His short-cropped hair, smooth face, and altogether handsome appearance was stamped on one’s mind. The condemned man, from the time he was sentenced, was resigned to his fate, slept well, putting on a stone in weight. At the time of his execution he weighed 160 pounds. During the past few days he showed signs of restlessness. He spent most of his time in 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 soun lly till just before 6 o’clock. He did not ask for any breakfast. As the warder in charge left the cell he said “ Goodbye.” To ano.her 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 coloured picture of the Crucifixion in his hand he met his fate in the same resigned manner in which he took the sentence. This was attributed by the Rev. Hawkins to his belief that he had made his peace with his Maker, and would be forgiven in the next world. Revs. Hawkins and Budd 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 was returned.

MURDERED MAN’S PARENTS. Timaru, June 20. This morning a Timaru Post representative waited upon Mr and Mrs John Freeman, old age pensioners, aged 84 and 72 years respectively, living at Timaru, parents of John Freeman, murdered in the Puhipuhi bush by the Maori youth Tahi Kaka, The pressman expressed the sympathy of the New Zealand Press in their sad bereavement, and sought a message of intercession from the Freemans to Cabinet on behalf of the Maori. The parents were in tears, and the old man finally replied: “John was a good and honest lad. He died cruelly. Cabinet has twice decided that there are no points upon which mercy can be shown. I am not above Cabinet. I cannot interfere.”