Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-04-09
Supplement to the Saturday Press, April 9Th, 1881.

do not consider an attempt to commit suicide
after committing murder as an indication of in
sanity, IL might be to avoid pain. punishment or
disgrace from what have heard Of the circum-
stances of this case do not consider that Polua
WAS insane when he committed the deed.
DR.. II. McKibbin. Makes the same answer a."
as made by DR. McGrew.
DIR. J. Brodie, Physician and Surgeon. Been
practicing four years At request of the Chairman
and from my examination ! do not consider him
to he of unsound mind, | have not reason to be-
lieye him to be out of sane mind ] would not be
able to form Il valuable opinion of his insanity
from street rumur (same answer AZ
From the narrative given by DIR. McKibbu sup
posing it to be true, 1 would not consider that
Polua was insane at the time he committed the
act would not consider II to be pyOof of insanity;
have heard the account of his draping his room
and sprinkling cologne water about.
DIR. Il. Hoffman, Physician and Surgeon.
Surgeon and Medical attendant of Oahu Prison
for twenty years more or less and am 10 now
Have seen Poua there several times, five or six
times have conversed with him BOTH in Hawaiian
and English, he speaks English enough SO that
understand him his physical condition is
very good when hrst saw him and now, Is in
very good health; he says so himself his pulse is
good Il have talked with him about the crime he
is very ready to talk about it he is not insane
Having had charge for number of years of the
Insane Asylum have come to the conclusion,
that homcidal mania IL very rare in Hawaiians.
From my long intercourses with Native Hawaiians,
| knew also that their naturally kind and amiabe
disposition is easily reused to a passion by being
ridiculed, Polua tells me, he was by his com
panions. Again think that jealousy excites their
anger beyond almost anything else, and in my
opinion under these mental influences combined
with having taken okolehao, as Poua tells me,
he had taken, the murder was committed.
DIR; c. NJ. Hyde: Am clergyman, residing in
Honolulu; visit thu Prison almost every Sund,y
morning Have Polua twice; talked with
him. He talked without reserve. He seems like
very mild pleasant spoken man. of a larger
physical frame than Hawaiians usually are. He
said that intoxication was the cause of his COM
hitting the ofense; would not have done it but
for that. That was the only explanation he gave
me of the 1 did not ask him about the
particulars of the crime, seemed very penitent;
said he felt hard at first, but had repented. Had
lead bad life. But repented, said he now trusted
in Christ; prayed i'll coherent and proper man
Seemed perfectly sane; said he drank from
habit of intoxication.
Islands, lived here most of my life. Have
Poua in the Prison only once, week before last.
two Sabbaths ago: went with Dr. Hyde. Con
yersed with him i'll Hawaiian about five minutes.
Did not ask him about the particulars of the
crime. But spoke to him of the necessity of pun
isbment for the crime, which he admitted. Spoke
to him about repentance, and of personal trust in
God and Jesus Christ as his Redeemer. He seemed
remarkably self possessed. lie seemed to realize
fully his situation. There was nothing about him
to lead me to think him insane. He seemed to
have no harsh feelings toward any one; seemed
really penitent. Had religious books. Offered no
justification. Seemed to be preparing himself for
his coming fate. l signed the petition because
informed that new evidence had been found,
and that the circumstances might extenuate
know of no such circumstances.
1t mentioned to me at the time, (the night
before the time appointed for executiOn) that he
had been il-treated by the woman and her
paramount; having been tied hand and foot and
placed under the bed. while they paraded their
conduct before him; and he had been driven to
desperation. At the time of signing the petition
understood she was his wife.
Cecil Brown: Lawyer Was present at the trial
appeared perfectly sane. He pleaded guilty, but
the Court would not allow the plea to he entered
During the trial he appeared perfectly sane. IA
lua and Nawahi were assigned to defend him.
Nawahi, in my opinion, is the best Hawaiian
lawyer at the bar. Kalua was not intoxicated
during the trial; Nawahi never drinks: The Court
the evidence adduced l think no foreign counsel
could have defended him better. MIR. Preston
prosecuted. / have no circumstances since the
trial, which would tend to mitigate the ofense
Have heard he a very jealous man, no the
natives of Hamakua told me. From the nature of
the crime and the evidence, believe he was fully
aware of what he was doing when he committed
the crime. Kalua made very vehement address
to the Jury, but he had evidence. +. Spen e.
the clerk of the Court. He made no state
ments, and made no offer of any to the Court
Three or four days Tor week. passed between
taking the plea and going to trial ashford Spen-
Ger was also about the Court. Both he and F.
There was an unusually large number of persons
from Kau at that term of Court have attended
that circuit for five years in succession. The term
lasted more than two weeks.
John l.. kees: signed the petition. know of
no facts III mitigation OF this ofense. DO not
think he could have been in u good frame of mind
mt the time. Among Hawaiians the love of man
for woman is sometimes very strong, 30 also is
jealousy. Think this man was very much pro-
voked.
Elama Am SO years old. Have not seen
Polua. l think Polua was crazy when he COM
United the crime. Among Hawaiians love and
jealousy is strong, and il the woman leaves them
they commit suicide. When the love is strong
they do this. When made those circumstances
they commit homicide, it is sign Of temporary
insanity. Hanging should be the punishment for
persons who commit murder with malice afore-
thought, not in passion.
Kamio: Polua WAS a good man, and when his
property in her was interfsred with he was over
powered, and he carried away with anger. He
looks like good man. In the case of = Spaniard
ON this Island who committed murder, he was
not hung, but only Imprisoned. This Polua case
WAS like Sans case at Waikiki, who killed his
wife then killed himself. l signed the petition
because was asked to, and because of aloha.
Mikasobe: l signed the petition l believed
that Polua committed the crime he In ignorant and
blind DO not know P0lua never saw him. Have
| read the newspaper ACCOUNT Of the murder. Know
of NO new circumstances. Do not know whether
| abe was Polua's wife or not. The sentence Of the
| Court was just, but have pity for the man.
w. J. Wright Do not know P0lua. signed
the petition; read the petition. think no WAS Of
uns0und mind when he committed the deed. His
draping his room, sprinklinG perfumery and cut
/ tine An mad think hA