The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-12-09
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
Deliberate Suicide Of Postal Clerk
Henry kaia.
Drink and Dependency said 70 BE the
Cau-e-R Report of Shortage I'm Com
pany Military Funeral.

pany Fund9-NIIIitary Funeral.
For perhaps the first time in the
history Of the country, native Ha-
waiian has taken his own life. Not
long since q half-white committed
suicide, and a few months ago a man
and woman were found dead at Kula,
supposedly from the effects Of poison
administered by the hand Of one or
the other, out the theory of suicide
was never fully substautiated.
Saturday morning the community
was shocked 10 hear that Henry Kaia
had ended his life by shooting him
self through the head with rifle. a
telephone message to the police
station at II o'clock conveyed the in
teIIigence. Deputy Marshal Hitch
cock, with Captain Parker, repaired
TO the scene, just back of the prison,
and found the dead body OF Kaia
lying stretched full length on the
floor, with a hole through the head.
The weapon used was a 45-calibre
Springfield rife belonging to the Ma
tionaI Guard. This was lying across
the dead body. Attached TO the trig-
ger guard was black silk necktie
made into a loop. Kaia Is supposed
10 have sat on the side Of his bed and,
placing the gun barrel in uis mouth,
fired the weapon by pulling the trig
ger with his right foot. The ball
passed through the roof Of the mouth,
through the head, out and through
the ceiling of the house. When the
body was picked up the right foot was
still in the loop.
COROSER's JURY.
A jury, consisting Of J. Kuaana, a.
X. Akau, J. r. CoIburu, Joe Helelu-
he. J. X. KaunamanO anu Joe Punt,
was empanneled by Coroner Hitch
cock. The remains were viewed ia
the afternoon, and, after hearing an
account of the tragedy from cousin
of the deceased, the jury adjourned till
o'clock in the evening, when further
testimony was taken.
INQUEST.
At the inquest held in the Deputy
Marshal's Office in the evening, Louis
KekumanO aud d. K. Brown, both
employees of the pOstOffice. gave evil
dence The former testified TO seeing
the deceased on Tuesday and Friday
last at his home. Went there in re-
spouse to "A telephone me ssage; found
Kaia sick in bed with fever; said he
would be at work Monday morning;
deceased made no complaint about
anything or anybody; knew that
Kaia was in the habit OF drinking;
saw him Monday morning before 10
O'Clock, just before he left the post
of LsaH bod hGnf. 1rinl-ing the niOhr
before and that morning.
Brown told of meeting deceased
Saturday, morning at S:45 on Liliha
street; asked him how he felt; Kaia
replied same old trouble; replying to
a question from Brown Kaia said he
never intended coming back to work.
After some further conversation
Brown said $50 long" Kaia replied,
saving don't say $50 long" but
''goOd0ye;" repeated this several
times; deceased never spoke of any
family troubles. Brown testified that
Kaia had repeatedly spoken to him
about driking; on Thanksgiving day
deceased said he'd been suffering from
delirium as a result of drink.
y cousin of the deceased was called.
She told of her brother coming home
a little after 10 o'clock Saturday morn
ing; he omplained of being unwell
ana SAlu WOulO lie GOWN Tor WnlleJ
few minutes sfterward heard shot, but
paid no attention to- it, as brother had
fired his rifle several times the day
before; went from house Of a neighbor
and found brother dead on the floor;
deceased had not lived with his wife
for some two years.
Kaia visited Rev Alexander Mack
intOsh about o'clock Saturday morn
ing. He went there to seek advice on
certain business matters. Remained
only few minutes.
VERDICT.
After hearing the testimony of the
witnesses named, the jury rendered a
verdict that the deceased came to his
death 10y his own hand. a rifle being
the weapon used.
Kaia had not been at work in the
postOffice since Monday morning and
was known to have been drinking
more or less for several days. This,
coupled with domestic troubles, is
supposed to have been the cause of
taking his life. Deceased was an
energetic. bright young man, well
liked by his employers and all with
whom he came In contact. He had
been an employee of the Government
for many years, and took an active
part during past years in the volun-
teer fire department. He was captain |
of Company O., y. CT. H, member of
the FOresters and Y. III /.
1t Is learned that Kaia had used !
fF1NN .tE h1l 70 A