THE EXTREME PENALTY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2340, 11 October 1921, Page 3

THE EXTREME PENALTY

TE KAHU EXECUTED,

Auckland, Oct. 10

Hakaraia Te Kaliu, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Patrick Richard Elliott at Ongaroto, on Easter Sunday, was hanged in Mount Eden Gaol at 8 o’clock this morning.

When asked if he had anything to shy, lie replied in Maori: “Yes, give my love to my parents. Now I am about to go, I feel ’.t very much. I have the greatest regard for all.” Death was instantaneous. As the condemned man was led to the scaffold between two warders, he tried to stand upright, but his strength failed as he placed a foot ‘on the first of the 16 steps leading to the scaffold. Preceded by the Sheriff, he was sustained by a warder on each side. He groaned on his way up to the platform, and sagged completely when he stool upon the trapdoor. This had been anticipated, and he was suspended from the gallows by a. belt passing under his armpits. This device, invented by the superin Leo dent of the gaol, was used, as far is known, for the first time in the history of hanging. He faltered repeatedly in his responses to the priest who attended, and also when replying to the question if he wished to say anything. He once seemed to lapse into partial unconsciousness until touched on the shoulder.