TAHI KAKA EXECUTED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10269, 22 June 1911, Page 4

TAHI KAKA EXECUTED.

A GRIM SPECTACLE. THE YOUTH GOES BOLDLY TO HIS END. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. Last Night. Tahi Kiaka, the Maori youth sentenced to death for the murder of John Freeman, a gumdigger at Wifoaksapiara, on, April sth, was hanged at Miount Eden Gaol this morning. Death was. instantaneous. Just before eight o'dlock the hangman entered the condemned eel, amd pinioned Kaka's arms behind him. A mournful procession then commenced, the Rev. Mr Hawkins, Anglican Maori missioner, reading the first three 'sentences of the burial service in Maori as they wended their way to the scaffold. Raka, dressed in. prison garb, walked firmly between his two warders, and ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold. He took his stand on the drop without assistance or the slightest tremor. The Rev. Mr 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 iman to he hanged, anyhow." As the hangman .pinioned his feet, > Kaka said: "You are pretty smart at your work." Just before the lever was pulled, Kaka said: "Hooray." The bolts were withdrawn, and a silight- tremor of the rope showed j that Kaka. had paid the full penalty I of this crime. | The time from his emerging from the gate to the final scene occupied exactly four minutes fifteen and twofifthjs seconds. '. The whole proceedings passed without a hitch. The scaffold was erected 'in a icorner of the punishment yard. Those present were the gaol officials, the sheriff, the gaol surgeon, the Revs. Mr Hawkins, Mr Budd (Gaol Chaplain), the Rev. Mr Mcpherson, and representatives of the Press. As Kaka came to the tscaffold, his boyishness was painfully apparent, and his short-cropped hair, smooth face, and altogether handsome appearance remain stamped on the mindsi of those who saw him.

The condemned man, from the time of his sentence, has "been quite resigned to ihis fate. He ate and slept well, putting on just over a stone in weight. At the time of Ms execution he weighed 1601b&.. During ttlhe last few days he showed signs. of (restlessness, and ispent most of has time-in writing. He was visited at eleven o'clock last night by the Rev. Mr Hawkins, wiho remained for some time. He was persuaded to go'to bed at ten minutes to one, and he slept fairly soundly tili just before .six o'clock. He did not ask for any breakfast, and as> the warder in charge left the cell, he said good-bye. To another warder he said: ''l will meet you in tfhe next world."

Just before reaching tine sicaffold, Kaka shook bands 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 • .rhich lie .took his sentence. This is-attributed by/the Rev Hawkins to 'ihis''belief that he had made' .peace witlx, his Maker, and would be forgiven in the next world. '■• ■ •'■'•.. -■■-> .'■' ■■'■ '■■•': The Revs. Hawkins arid Budd enter an emphatic protest about the manner in which the scaffold was erected within the isight and hearing of the condemned cell.

The customary inquest was held, and the usual verdict was returned. Kaka wore-white trousers and a white shirt open at the .throat, displaying a remarkably fine physique, with his hroad chest and shoadders. His handsome boyish head was heid high, almost proudly. H© was nos over tall, hut splendidly proportioned, with markedly, boyish features. 1 ' Kaka was an imposing fig ir?. Never once did he hesitate or show signs of fear. As Kaka emerged into the <.]*eu yard, his eyes took in the whole scene of the gallows* in ouo swift glance. Then, witli unhesitating tread, he crossed the sroae flags and cflimhed the steps to th,o gallows, the steps being narrow, at? •,«, and wvt by the rain. When the hangman, ;t siiglitlybuilt young man, who dil not ;v<ar a iiiask, proceeded to bind Ka ! ;a . aii'.'J-,, the condemned man *>r<n[»hfc his heels briskly '* to; ':ber, ai'itf straightened his body like a soldier As the exeentioner stepped forward to place itihe white cap over Kaba's head and face, there was no sigin of fear. The impression a.n»ng official witnesses was that there was no caUousmess, hut sheer strengith of mind to go imfluiohingily to the end. "*■-

As the hangman placed the noose over Kaka's head, and lightly pulled it into position, there was just <a tremor, aaid the small prayer book in his left hand marking the jpiotttre of the Crucifixion .shook ever ,so little. The hrave hut misguided youth ocrahl be seen to pull himself together. His (body became.erect and still. A moment or two was occupied in drawing .the bolt, during.wiMch time the 'condemned man's laps uttered a, word which sounded like "Steady." The lever was then , piulted, the trapdoor flew open, &n<l all was ■over. ■ '■'/