The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-04-02

informed Polua was insane. He signed as a
matter of charity.
Ashmead Spencer was present at the trial.
Knew of no circumstances not then brought out,
but from those circumstances and conversations
he had with Polua, considered him out of his
mind. The man told him he had cut his finger
severely some hour or two before the murder
and never felt it. Polua had worked on a plan
tation at Honokaa in his employ for some
months during the latter part of 1873. Though
the murdered woman was not Polua's wife the
latter told him they were TO be married on the
Saturday if she had not left him on the Wednes-
day. He thought him insane from the way he
talked. Nh. Spencer was subjected TO "A close
interrogatory as TO the basis and logical correct
ness of his opinions.
J. Webb signed because he was informed that
in a recent case a Mexican had been reprieved,
who committed a murder not less atroclous, and
he thought that circumstance, in connection
with the fact that this man belonged to a race
reported to be so impressionable as the
Hawaiians were, "A race who also belonged to the
soil, should be considered by the Princess Regent
before she decided that he should die. He had
since heard the question of the mans sanity
discussed and thought the fantastic character of
Polua's actions warranted a suspicion of mad
ness which ought To be enquired into by experts.
Such an examination, he had hoped, would be the
response to the petition instead Of an enquiry
like the present which appeared TO be both
irregular and inconyenient, keeping a large
number of persons hanging in attendance and
causing the Committee the trouble Of having to
listen to ii great deal of irrelevant matter.
The Chairman explained to the witness that the
proceedings were not irregular or without pre-
cedent, and said the Committe found il no
trouble to listen to anything that could be
advanced in such a matter. Mr.. Justice Judd
hoped that nothing that had been said would
lead to the idea that such an examination as
witness alluded to would not be undertaken
f. Godfrey signed on the general ground of
mercy and because there was a suspicion Of
Earthly wisdom likens most to Gods
When mercy tempers justice"
The man was an uneducated man. Being
Intercepted as to how he knew that, and reply
ing that the man was a Hawaiian native two
Hawaiian gentlemen, members of the Committee,
were pointed out to him with the enquiry if he
included them in his general deduction.
J.W. Luning said the case was misrepresented 10
him when he signed and when he found that the
murdered woman was only Poloa's mistress he
regretted having done so. The Chairman here
upon remarked that he had heard the pollution
of a mans wife adduced as n palliation of the
murder of the man concerned in the adultery
but never of that of the woman.
VIM. Kinney signed because on principle he OBJ
jected to capital punishment. Also because Po-
lua's conduct was but the result of the labor sys-
TEN of these islands, and because, while the State
continued to patroniZe the trade in drink, its
hands were not clean enough to punish this
man.
John Sheldon signed because, from his
knowledge of the natives he concluded Polua
was not in his right mind when he committed
the offence. In reply to the question, do you
think the case the same whether the woman
were married to him or not ? - he said he did
not but a great many of the natives would.
Walter Russell signed because he was opposed
to capital punishment. 4 pointed enquiry as
to witnesses age, elected that though young he
had read up the question on both sides.
Abraham Bolster, Jr., signed because informed
the man was insane and because he thought il
wrong to infict capital punishment. The Chair
man remarked that this feeling against capital
punishment should have been stated in the
petition. The committee could not consider il
as they had no power to alter the law of the
land. No one had ever moved the Legislature
i'll that direction.
II. l.. Sheldon did not read any but the con-
Guiding sentences of the petition, which recon-
mended mercy. He signed because he thought
the worst use you could put n man to was to
hang him. If placed in n position to do so he
thought he should vote for the abolition Of
capital punishment. He signed on the ground
of mercy.
f. Gresley Jackson signed on account of what
he heard of the case thinking there were extern
uating circumstances. Since he heard that the
woman was not Polua's wife he was disposed TO
change his view of the case.
G.. Armstrong and T.. A. Williams signed be-
cause of statements made to them that what had
since the trial aught to modify the
Judgment.
c.. V. Housman signed because he thought from
he heard of the case there were extenuating
circumstances. He heard that the man was
undoubtedly insane mt the time Of the murder
and that he was not properly defended at the
rial. He signed in order to assist n fellow
50 far as his name could do SO.
c. II. Stevens signed because DR.. Webb told
MIN the man was insane.
f. Wunderberg signed on general principles
% assist the man. He relied ON the statements
II the petition.
The committee adjourned shortly after I
o'clock to this day at 10 A. NJ. when any person
who desires to make representations in favor of
Polua will receive n hearing.