The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-12-13
MAKA MURDERER MEETS HIS DEATH.
Noa Expiates His Crime the GaIIows According
to the Law of the Land
The Execution Conducted with Proper Reverence and
flakes Impression on Those Present

NOa, the MOl0ktl outlaw, paid the
death penalty for the murder of Asa
ma. The execution took place within
the courtyard of Oahu prison, in the
presence of Marshal Brown, Captain
of Police Parker, Warden Low, half
a dozen physicians. the newspaper
men and "A score or more of guards.
Seven minutes after the death trap
had been sprung the heart of the con-
demned man ceased to beat, and in
nine minutes the surgeons pronounc-
ed life extinct. The execution was
successful in every particular.
Noa died without a preceptible tre-
NOR Half supported by two guards
on his journey to the gallows he step
ped with unfaltering step upon the
death trap. and Strengthening up, he
stood motionless while his legs were
bound with strap. He showed no
fear when the moose was adjusted
about his neck, but rather assisted
the guards by holding his head high.
When Rev. Timoteo, who had follow
ed the condemned man upon the scaf-
fold, commenced to pray, Noa rever-
emily bowed his head. The minister,
with eyes closed and hand upraised,
had not finished when one of the Jail
guards slipped the black cap over the
murderers head. Warden Low stand
ing in the courtyard below, took out
his watch. 1t was the signal With
rattle and bang the trap fell, and
an instant after Noa's body hung
dangling in mid-air.
The courtyard was as silent as
death. and the eyes of all within it
were fastened upon the body. There
was not tremor in the body or the
movement of muscle. After a short
interval one of the doctors broke the
silence by saying in low voice: "He
is dead; his neck was broken" Five
minutes after the trap had been
spr~ng, Drs. Cooper, Emerson and
Howard approached the body; and
commenced their examination. Del
icate instruments were used to deter
mine the action of the heart. The
spectators closed in around the scaf-
folding, conversing in low tones. Four
minutes elapsed and then DR.. Cooper,
turning to Warden Low. said, Life
is extinct"
At the end of fifteen minutes the
body was cut down and removed to
an adjoining shed, where Drs. Cooper
and Howard performed the autopsy,
AS had been expected, they found
that the vertebrae of the neck had
been dislocated, paralyzing the spi-
nal cord, and producing almost in
stant death.
The arrangements for the eXecu.
tion were very thorough, and We're
carried out to the letter. At daylight
yesterday morning the warden and
his assistant commenced preparations
The gallows were erected in the
courtyard behind the main building
in such position that a bridge led
to them from the rear entrance of the
main corridor. Electrician Hoffman
was early on the ground and arrang'
ed the trigger of the trap so that il
could be set off by one of the electric
buttons within the basement of the
Jail. The other two buttons were use
less. Three guards were placed in
front of the buttons. Upon an agreed
signal from Warden Low the guards
pressed the buttons, one of which
sprung the fatal trap.
At 9 o'clock Marshal Brown, accom-
panied by Captain Parker, arrived a
the prison. A few moments later Pc
lice Judge Wilcox, who acted as inter
prefer, arrived and was joined at the
entrance by the members of the press
and the physicians. The physicians
present were Drs. Cooper, King, Bond
Emerson, Howard and Hessler.
About o'clock the condemned mur
derer was ushered to the Warden's of
| flee. He wore n cotton shirt and blue
oyeralls, but his feet were bare. The
prisoners hands were bound securely
in leather cuffs attached to heavy
| strap around his waist. Two guard,
half supported him as he shuffie6
across the floor. He looked compus
! ed enough, but with bloodshot eyes
! glanced about uneasily as if startled
| by the strangers crowding about an(
uncertain what was about to occur.
! Marshal Brown then read the dealt
warrant, in clear tone of voice. !
was translated rapidly into Hawaiian
by Judge Wilcox. Noa stood will
eyes dcwncast, but not q show of feel
ing. Only the twitching of his bar
| toes showed that the condemned MAJ
fully realized the import of the war
rant. The ceremony was quickly owe
and then Warden Low ushered tn
spectators into the courtyard, wher
benches had been prepared for them
At exactly 9:20 o'clock Noa sur
rounded by four guards, and accom-
panied by Rev. Timoteo, emerge,
from the rear entrance to the maii
corridor and crossing the bridge stoo,
upon the gallows. Before leaving tn
Warden's office Noa had been offere,
and accepted drink of whiskey
Once upon the scaffold he glanced a
the suspended moose, and then n
the trap, but did not look toward I'll
spectators. He had been bowed owe
and half supported by the guards ol
his way to the gallows, but once n
| stood upon them. he shook off tn