The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-02-23
JAPANESE SUICIDE
Found Hanging in Hatch
way of Kulamanu.
Must Have Been Dead Several
Hours-Was Subject to Perform
ance of Peculiar Actions.

At about 7:3O o'clock yesterday morn
ing Teru, a Japanese woman, was
found hanging in the hatchway of the
derelict Kulamanu at the old fishmar-
ket. with a moose around her neck. To
all appearances she had been dead sew
eral hours. Kalua, commonly known
as Boots" and a former laborer on
the Oceanic wharf, was the man who
found her and in the Deputy Marshal's
office shortly after, he told the follow
ing story:
Il live at Cape Horn and am employ
ed as captain of the schooner Lavinia.
/ went down from home at about 7:30
o'clock this morning and as l was
crossing from the deck of Kulamanu
to the Lavinia, saw the dead body of a
Japanese woman hanging in the hatch
way of the former vessel, an old wreck.
There was a line running across from
the Rob Roy to the bow of the Kula-
manu-, this passing directly over the
hatchway to the latter vessel. Fasten-
ed TO the line by another of smaller
diameter was the dead body. / called
TO Japanese who was working on one
side Of the Rob Roy. He came over,
looked at the dead body and then re-
turned to his work as if he had wit
messed no unusual sight. I then came
and notified the police"
Captain Hookano and others were
despatched to the scene and took the
body to the police station where it was
examined by DR.. Emerson. There were
evidences of a struggle during strangu-
lation. Slight scratches on the hands
and arms and marks of the rope hav-
ing shifted slightly, were evident. The
body was dressed in a kimona such as
is used to sleep in and over this was
a light overcoat.
1t was learned that Teru was the
wife of Aigawa. a Japanese who keeps
hotel on Beretania street opposite
Kaumakapili church. She was employ
ed by Mr.. Wakamoto to do sewing. At
about $50 o'clock Sunday evening she
disappeared and hunt high and low, the
husband was unable to find her The
first news he received was through po-
lice headquarters. He admitted that his
wife was subject to peculiar actions
due no doubt to insanity.
Although, from the rope around the
woman's neck, it might at first be
thought that she must have hanged
herself; still, from other evidences,
there appears to be something myster-
ious. The face was not distorted, and
there was no swollen tongue protrud-
ing from the mouth. Then again, the
rope around the neck was not a regular
moose, but the rope was wound around
twice, and then tied in a single knot
An inquest was called for IL noon.
The Deputy Marshal being forced to
go away, the Marshal took his place,
and the examination of Aigawa, the
husband Of the woman, was taken.
The examination proceeded no further,
and the continuation of the inquest
was set for three or four days hence. 1t
was learned last night that the arriv-
al of Chester Doyle from Maui would
be awaited before proceeding further
The prevailing opinion is that the
woman was foully murdered and that
she was hung up as found TO throw
the officers of the law off the track
The matter will be thoroughly inves-
tigated and some interesting develop
ments may be looked for.