The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-01-19

Two men, who have been suffer
ing severe penalties of the law for
their misdeeds, but have shown
that they were repentant, and try
ing, to the best of their ability, to
lead better lives, and to be, in the
lowly sphere that they have occu-
pied for years, an example to their
fellow prisoners, were made happy
beyond expression Wednesday, by
having their liberty given them.
These men were Kaapuni, a native,
and Christian Friest, a German.
All Tuck. a Chinaman had his
sentence Iessened by seven years.
The occasion of the release was
the first anniversary of this Gov
ernment's birth. 1t was thought
well bv the President and both
Councils to exercise the power of
clemency that is vested in them,
and to release a few of the prison
ers in the Oahu Prison. Those
who were released. and the one
who had his sentence committed,
were considered the best ones to
have clemencv shown them, as
they have all been most faithful,
honest, and well behaved since
their incarceration.
The most important pardon was
that o. the native man, kaapuni.
He was sentenced about twenty
wears ago to be hung for murder.
His sentence was afterward COM
muted to twenty-five years impris-
onment at hard labor, and, taking
into account the time allowance for
good behavior, he had only little
over one year more TO serve.
Kaapuni has been working at the
Station house for some time past,
and has been considered the most
faithful "trusty" there. Yesterday,
all unsuspecting, he was sent out
to the prison and told that there
were some things there for him to
bring back to the Station house.
On one pretext or another he was
kept at the prison until the Attor-
ney-General and the Prison In
spectors arrived, when the convicts
were all mustered into the court
yard of the Jail. He was the first
one called upon to have his pardon
read to him. He had no idea Of
what was coming and apparently
did not thoroughly understand the
purport of the document which
Marshal Hitchcock read in English.
But when c. P. Iaukea, who was
interpreting into Hawaiian, reached
the part where it said that 1t was
granted unto Kaspuni q full and
free pardon" the native, who had
spent twenty years Of the best part
Of his life behind prison bars, start
ed, then looked incredulous, but
st last, realizing the fact that there
was no deception IN the matter,
but that from thenceforth he was
free man, the tears springing TO his .
eyes he bowed his head upon his .
breast.
Christian Friest was next called .
I'D by Tailor Low and his pardon
was read TO him. He was not so
Of his feelings as kaa-
punt, but he, nevertheless, showed
that he was deeply conscious ofthe
fact that be was again free man.
All Tuck. the Chinese who had
seven year communication Of SEN
enee granted him, received the in
'ormation with the stolidity Of his
ace. but was wresthed in smiles
Is soon as the ceremony was over
ind he had received the congratu- 7
atoms Of those present.
When the Acknowledgement had .
concluded the reading Of the par
Ions he made a short address 10
he prisoners, telling them that the
power Of the Executive
vas not intended to interfere in
INV way with the functions Of the
,ourts. but was now simply IS s re-
ward for good behavior in prison,
ind that each man had il in his
power 10 reduce his time by obeying
he laws Of the prison. He re-
-iewed the cases of each Of the men
and pointed out how
hey had been rewarded for their
-ood behavior. His remarks were
translated into Hawaiian, Japan
Sc. Chinese and Portuguese by the
present
While the Attorney-General was
peaking, the two pardoned men
we're seated on a bench alone. i .
brought them & suit Of
.1o.ln- closS o-6 . la- eD0 a.