Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-03-26

A MOST extraordinary document, or series Of
documents. was suddenly put forth on Thurs
day morning. 1t may be remembered that
some six months ago a most brutal murder
was comm tied on Hawaii, when a native man
first smashed the head Of his wife, with
heavy, blunt weapon, The spoke Of wagon
wheel, and then mutiated her body with
sharp-cutting weapon. For this atrocious
crime he was duly tried, found guilty, and
sentenced as the law directs. This sentence
was passed about five months ago, and orders
we're issued that it be put in execution on
Friday, the 25th instant. During these months
no question was raised az to the Justice Of the
sentence, either on the ground Of crtenua,ing
circumstances not brought forward at the
trial, but since then made known, or as to the
sanity or otherwise Of the criminal when sud
denly, less than twenty hours before the
time appointed for the execution, these docu-
ments, being petitions to HR.H. the Princess
Regent and a series Of letters addressed to
Her Royal Highness, we're passed in, some
alleging the discovery Of new evidence oaan
extenuating nature, and others pleading the
insanity Of the prisoner. Thus the Regent and
her advisers were placed in most difficult
and painful position. The time was too short
to allow Of anything like an investigation into
so serious question, but the knot was cut
for the time by the Chief Justice availing
himself Of article lls0 Of the Civil Code, and
granting a respite Of four weeks. Now it is
important to tile public welfare that it should
be known why, and by WHOM, and for what
objects, these petitions and letters were so
suddenly sprung upon the executive. The
petitions contained the signatures amongst
others Of Right Reverend DR.. Maigrct, Bishop
Of Arathea, and aSnumber of his clergy. A
to their motives wo have no wish to say a
word probably pure philanthropy, possibly
disapproval of capital punishment. However,
we know not. But when we hear Of another
group of names, it seems as If some light were
let in on the subject.
The editor aud the staff Of the Adrertiser
appear prominently; the papers were
printed at that Office the signatures of many
persons were procured, Of whom we may
safely say that however kind-hearted they
may be, they know nothing uhafecsr Of the
merits of the case, or the truth of the allega-
tions they have subscribed to. In fact, it
seems pretty plain that the Venerable and
Well-beloved has got down from his pedestal
and has got up this business.
A session of the Privy Council was held on
Wednesday, at which the editor Of the Adrer-
tiser was present as member, and neither he,
nor any one else, alluded to the approaching
execution; yet the very next morning these
petitions and letters were got up.
If during five months this notable friend of
the Hawaians knew nothing of the defective
nature of the evidence at the trial, nothing of
the insanity of the prisoner, how came he to
be so instantaneously enlightened? ? If through
out all this long period no official, medical,
legal or executive, knew anything of this
revelation, may we not ask for some explana-
ton of this strange ignorance, or still stranger
reticence, if the allegations of the petition
were known, and known to be true? Are not
the prisoners occasionally visited by the Gov
ernor, the Physician, the Warders of the Jail
If SO, how or why has this insanity been un-
known all this time-unsuspected for five
months? -r.,
Have not prisoners any opportunity Of com
muncating with friends, and through them
or through the officials of the prison, making
statements to, or asking advice from, counsel
if they wished to produce fresh evidence
How ia it that these petitioners hung back sc
long, and how did they arrive at their concu-
sion? We see pretty plainly the central figure
in this affair. The editor OF the Advertiser
posing in his self bestowed character of the
Friend of the Hawaiians"! Is not this mur.
durer Hawaiian? He must be saved from
the grasp Of the law-dnd by me! My efforts
shall do it, and none shall know it No page
of the EIele, no paragraph of the p. C. A..
shall make known to the public 1 am he !
am Gibson am the editor of the EleIe!
lose money by it ! l am the parsonage o.
whom it was said or sung,-
Let humble G-n, with an awkward shane,
Do good by stealth and blush to hnd it fame!
Why this modest philanthropist actually
addressed letter to the Princess Regent re-
questing her to authorize the appointment oi
committee of medical men nominated b,
himself, to ascertain the sanity or otherwis,
of this unhappy criminal. If this great
champion of the race is so affected by the ma
,ionality of the culprit, who, we ask, was the
victim. Did the well -beloved's tears flow for
her? 1t has taken five months to start them
for the murderer. This is desperate bid fol
popularity amongst the natives, and nothing
| else.
Now, one word in behalf of the poor criminal
How many deaths has he died in the last si,
months! how many more before the time comes
when he must pass to living tomb, if not t.
| the hands VI the executioner! Verify, "the
tender mercies of the wicked are cruel +"
| Article lls0 of the Civil Code provides that
any Judge OF Court of record may, for caus,
shown to his satisfaction, respite any convicted
criminal for any length Of time sufficient for
the purpose of mercy or not to work injury t
amy innocent third parties.
Article llsl provides that " No person a
the time insane shall suffer capital punish
| ment.
\ The Prvy Council will meet again to-day
when probably the matter will be taken unde
| discussion.
Il