The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-10-12
! MYSTERIOUS DEATHS
PEOPLE DIE AFTER FOUR DAYS
SPREE.
Fatal Results Attend Drink Which was
Begun at Democratic Luau at Kai-
lua, Hawaii.

News was received this morning by
the steamer Mauna Loa of three mys-
terious deaths at Kailua, Hawaii last
Tuesday, the 9th. One married couple
and a male friend died within few
hours of each other after having been
on a prolonged spree which was begun
at one of Prince David's luaus. Deputy
Sheriff L. A. Andrews wrote to High
Sheriff Brown. the details of the triple
deaths and sent the stomach of one of
the victims together with some of the
samples of the liquor which was drunk
in order that analyses can be made Of
Il .em.
hIgh Sheriff Brown says that 1t is
possible that the people may have died
from alcoholism but he will have care
full examination made of the stomach
and the samples of liquor as soon as
possible in order that steps can be
taken by the next steamer to Hilo to
punish the perpetrators of the crime If
such led to the wholesale deaths. The
letter from Deputy Andrews which is
dated Kailua, Hawaii, Thursday the
11th, is as follows:
"Three deaths occurred here in Kali
lua suddenly on Tuesday, October 9tn.
I was at Kohala and took the S. S.
Upolu for Kailua on the morning of the
10th. l had DIR. Lindley make post
mertem examination of two of the dead
bodies and am seding you herewith by
hand of William Nahale, police officer,
the stomach of one of the victims, Kaeo
by name. The other two victims were
Alexander Burgers and his wife, a Ha-
waiian woman.
These people went to a luau or feast
given by Prince David on Saturday the
9Th. l understand that liquor was free
and Burgers and his people who are
all given to eXcesses in this line prob
ably took more than was good for them.
On Sunday the 7th the drunk or spree
a nf x a
father of Mrs. Burgers where also lived
one G. Ako who is a notorious liquor
seller, and who supplied them with all
they required of gin, brandy and whis-
key, he having just laid in stock q
case) of each.
ION Monday the Sth Kaeo went into
a sort of comatose condition and so re-
mained until Tuesday evening when he
died. Mr.. and Mrs. Burgers their grown
up son and another young man, Ma
kaku continued at Kaeo's house all
day Monday drinking and in the even
ing young Burgers went home, the next
morning CTuesday) Mr.. and Mrs. Bur-
ges went home about p. m. Mrs. Bur-
geS was taken ill about a. m. and went
into the same comatcse condition dying
about IL before the arrival of the doc
tor. Mr.. Burgers appeared sort of dazed
when the doctor arrived but very little
was said to him, about p. m. he sent
for the doctor (who had been perform
ing the autopsy on his wife,) and said
he thought he was going to die also,
that he was blind or nearly so. Soon
after he went into the same cOmatose
condition and died about hours later
and then Kaeo died last of all, the two
boys young Burgers and Makaku came
down sick the next morning Tuesday
and were nearly blind and comatose bu
they recovered in the afternoon suffi-
GENTLY to sit up and talk intelligently.
Young Burgers told me that the gin
they got from Ako was in a bottle that
had had the cork drawn. That it tast-
ed queer-flat.
"A little fluid looking like whiskey
was found in a gin bottle in the houst
of Kaeo. 1t has a peculiar smell.
am sending it down, although there il
so little of it that 1 am afraid there is
not enough for analysis. I also send
you one bottle each of the gin, brand.
and whiskey which c. Ako had still un
sold.
"Dr. Lindley thinks the liquor the,
drank must have been drugged afte
opening the bottle, possibly that can b
discovered en- analysis of the stomach
Mr. Cathcart has inquired carefully in
to the case and can give you informa
tion that l have left out.
'I expect to return to Hilo starting
tomorrow by the way of Waimea."