JOHN TUHI HANGED FOR MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2570, 21 April 1923, Page 1

JOHN TUHI HANGED FOR MURDER.

FACES END BRAVELY. John Tulii, the young Native, who was found guilty of the death of Herbert Henry Knight, at Johnsonville, on 17th October, .1022, paid the full penalty at the Terrace Gaol at a couple of minutes past 8 o'clock on Thursday morning. Death was instantaneous. Tulii faced Ihe end bravely. He did not sleep Ihe previous evening, and at 3 a.m. was playing draughts with t lie warder who was in charge of him. In the morning he ato a good breakfast and afterwards asked to see the warders, with whom he shook hands and said good-bye. At 8 a.m. the little procession moved from the corridor outside his cell, the order being: The Sheriff (Mr W. A. Hawkins); Dr. H. Gilmer (gaol surgeon); the prisoner, accompanied by Father Murphy, of St. Mary of (he Angels; the executioner, who was disguised; the Inspector of Prisons (Mr M. Hawkins); the Gaoler (Mr -J. C. Scanlon); the visiting Justice (Mr E. Arnold) ; and ; 1 liree Press representatives. The (Inal ceremony was conducted indoors, in the old tailors' workshop, and lo this Tulii —the second of his name to he hanged in the Terrace Gaol, the previous one going to his death in 1880—walked steadily. His face bore the signs of the ordeal he had gone through, but on being asked if he had any statement to make lie spoke strongly, and said: — “I have not much to say. If is to thank all those here for their kindness to me, especially Mr Scanlon. 1 have passed on my statement to him.”

Tulii then glanced at Father Murphy, who said Tulii had asked him to say: “I wish to thank all the ollieials of the gaol from the lowest tc the highest for the kindness they have shown me. I have handed a statement to the gaoler whieh explains all. May God have mercy on my soul. Good-bye, all.” Prisoner then beckoned lo Mr Scanlon and Mr Arnold, and shook bands with them, and, addressing Father Murphy, said, “good-bye”— hi.- last words. The party remained within the precincts of the gaol for the hour prescribed bv law, after which the incpiest was held. Mr F. Tv. Hunt, S.M., presided, and returned the usual verdict, that death was due to hanging, and was instantaneous. Tiie body was interred at Karori. PRISONER CONFESSES GUILT. The statement lo which Tulii referred and whieh had been forwarded to the Under-Secretarv for Jus- : ice, was made available mi Thursday afternoon. It was witnessed by (• ->noler. The statement reads: "I am guilty of the crime for which 1 have been condemned. As 1 am about to pass into Eternity I realise the awful nature of the crime of murder. 1 cannot explain the motive that prompted me, to do the awlui deed. Some demon must have

a ken possession of me. No one elie is guilty. T alone am to blame.

“All the accusations I made a:;iill>t all unknown person are inline. Also all 1 said about the real men! meted out lo me by the ie!eelives is likewise untrue. The .■ 1 1 v reparation I can make is lirst

! :iII In make 1 his <-<>ntorsion of my ■nill In the public. ! accept my execution as Hie only net of atouenenl ! o;m make to the God whom have outraged. 1 offer every step lake from my cell to the gallows is a further aet of reparation for iiv crime. I place my hope of mcr■v and forgiveness in the sufferings md-dealli of Our Lord Jesus Christ, throughout my life my knowledge if religion was very limited. I had iot the comfort and help which it <ives. If t had been brought lip differently in the fear and love of find, I would have led a. different life and would not have been in the position in whieh I (ind myself today. The knowledge of God and praotice of religion I fee] sure are the only means to keep one from sin and crime. I publicly thank God for bringing me to the knowledge of llis love and mercy even in these last clays of my life. “Again I am heartily sorry and deeply regret my awful crime, and 1 ask the public not to think too harshly of me hut to remember ] am a Native, with different ideas and dispositions from the pakeha, and to consider my surroundings and upbringing. “In conclusion, 1 throw myself into the arms of a Merciful God, fully trusting in His pardon and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. May God give me courage to meet my end with Christian resignation, and may He in His great love have mercy on my poor soul. Farewell. “(Signed) JOHN TUHI.”