UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.

Shannon News, 23 September 1921, Page 3

UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH.

HAKARAIA TE KAHU’.S APPEAL. A copy of the petition praying the Governor-General to commute the sentence of death on Kahu, condemned for the murder of Richard Elliott, has ffieen forwarded to the “Chronicle” office, where it may be signed by persons favouring the appeal. The petition expresses the belief that after the last trial Te Kahu informed the police that he shot Elliott accidentally, and the f ollowmg points are urged in corroboration o©the truth of this statement: — 1. The prisoner and the deceased were on a scooting expedition through teai-tree six to eight feet high. 2. The prisoner and deceased were good friends. 3. The prisoner’s gun’has a defect which makes both barrels likely to explode if one trigger is pressed. This fact was proved by Colonel Hazard. 4. The deceased had a comparatively small amount of money on him; prisoner was earning the same wages as deceased, .and is also possessed of several horses and landed interests, and had no urgent need for the money, which he spent at two-up. 5. The fact, that the prisoner had been previously in gaol for theft was likely to influence him-in believing that the police would charge him with the death of the deceased, and he would therefore get rid of the body. - 6. It is typical of the Native race that having denied all knowledge to the police he would persist in such denial to the last moment. 7. In undergoing three trials for murder the prisoner has passed through an ordeal without parallel in British jurisprudence.