Tahi Kaka Hanged

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 334, 22 June 1911, Page 8

Tahi Kaka Hanged

THE FINAL SCENE. A PLUCKY END. Ey Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. Tahi Kaka, for the murder of John Freeman at Whakapara on April 5, was hanged at Mount Eden Gaol this morning. Death was instantaneous. Just before 8 o'clock the hangman entered the condemned cell, pinioned Itaka's arms behind him, and the mournful procession commenced, the Rev. Mr. Hawkins reading the first three sentences of the burial service in Maori as they wended their 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 without assistance or the slightest tremor. The Rev. Mr. Hawkins recited the Lord's Prayer, whick 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 to be hanged, anyhow."

As the hangman pinioned his feet he said, "You are pretty smart at yoiir work."

Just before the lever was pulled he said "a-u-e"! ("farewell"!). The bolls were withdrawn, there was a slight tremor of the rope, and Kaka had paid the full penalty of his crime.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 exactly 4min. 15 2-ssec. The whole proceedings were without a hitch. The scaffold was in the coiner of the punishment yard. Those present were the gaol officials, the sheriff, the gaol surgeon, the Revs. Hawkins, Budd, and McPhcrson, and representatives of the press. As Kaka came to the scaffold his boyishness was painfully apparent. His short-cropped hair, smooth face, and altogether handsome appearance was stumped on one's mind. The condemned man from the time lie was sentence was resigned to his fate, and slept well, putting on just a stone in weight. At the time of his execution ho weighed 1001b. During the past few days he showed signs of restlessness, and spent most of his time writing. He was visited at 11 o'clock last night by the Rev. Mr. Hawkins, who remained for some time. Kaka was persuaded to go to bed at ten minutes to 1 o'cl'vk, and slept fairly soundly till ju-t 1' 'ore C o'cloc!:. He did not ask frr an ■ breakfast. As the warder in charge Mt the cell he said good-bye. To an : 'ier warder he said, "I- will meet '■ 'i in the next world." Just before "aching the scaffold Kaka shook ' ids behind his back with one of the "rders in attendance, and with a colo- picture of the crucifixion in his lia: 1 met his fate. The resigned manner in which he took his sentence is attributed by tthe Rev. "r. I-lawkins to his belief that he had made peace with his Maker and would be forgiven in the next world.

The 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 tho usual verdict returned.