The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-01-26
n BLOODY AFFRAY AT THE POL
FACTORY.
Terrible Struggle With a Midnight
Robber Armed With a Knife-Tele-
phone Didn't Work.

A South Sea Islander employed by
Judge Wilcox as a watchman at the
poi factory, Kalihi, was attacked and
fearfuly cut with a knife early this
morning. The old man had a bag of
money which is supposed to have been
the object of the assault. He defended
himself to the last though at the cost
of fearful slashes and loss of blood, and
managed to keep his treasure. This
morning efforts to talk with him We're
made and he indicated his assailant was
a Japanese.
the old man had been employed for
eight or nine months at the poi fac
tory He carried all his money in a
small bag, which he hung round his
neck He was an eccentric character,
but sober and industrious and a very
good workman. He was carefully saw
ing his money, and told Mrs. Wilcox
that when he got a big bag full, he
would give IT to her to keep safely for
him.
In the tarO fields or wherever he was,
Kukuma, as he was called on account
of his nationality, was to be seen An
gering his bag of money. 1t was all
quarters and halves. If he was paid a
dollar piece he indicated by signs that
he wanted the small change. Several
times q day the old man would retire to
his room, open the bag and enjoy the
pleasure of counting his little hoard
Kukuma was warned that he was
running risks in making IL appear that
he slept with a lot of money by HIM,
but he did not fear. He asked per-
mission to sleep in a room in the poi
factory and was maze watChman there.
There was a bed in the room, but Ku-
kuma turned the bed out. He wanted
to sleep on the floor, he said, talking
in signs, for he only speaks the langu-
age of the Kukuma. If his ear was
close to the ground while he slept he
could hear anyone who approached.
Last night he did hear someone.
Some time between two and three
O'Clock this morning he rose to fight
off an assailant who was evidently arm
ed with a long Knife. In the fight that
followed kukuma showed himself ready
to defend his bag of money which only
contains $14, at the cost of his life.
A fearful scene of blood met the eyes
of those who went to the old mans as
sistance after the battle was over and
the wOuld-be robber had fed. Ku-
kuma's room was despatched with
blood from end to end. The walls and
floor ran red Everything in the room
had been thrown about as if a Ions
struggle had taken place. between the
unarmed South Sea islander and the
man who attacked him with a diIk
outside the fight was continued and
for fifty feet from the door the old mar
left his blood on the ground as he fought
WIQ pare nanuS ana arms against J0t
aSSailant with a weapon. Then Kuku-
ma evidently fell but still resisting
and it is supposed that the assailant
fled on hearing assistance coming ir
response to the shouts of Kukuma.
Kukuma's wounds are mostly in the
hands and arms. showing that he trieC
to fight the knife away with them. His
left thumb was chopped clean off by 6
slash from the robber Both his hands
and arms received blow after blow will
the knife.
E. Montgomery was the first white
man to reach the scene of the fight
I<ukuma lay bleeding on the ground
exhausted by the struggle and his loss
of blood. A native who is supposed t.
have frightened the robber away, bu
whom there is some reason to suspect
was on the scene. Montgomery tried
TO telephone for the police. There was
no answer to be got from central. H,
decided that everyone was sound asleel
in the telephone station and hasteneC
back to stop the flow of blood from Ku
kuma's wounds. After hastily makins
some bandages, Montgomery renewed
his efforts at the telephone. He trieC
for half an hour to rouse central. TheI
he saddled a horse and rode to the sta
tion, to get assistance to carry the
wounded man to the hospital The po
lice station tried for a while to ge
Deputy Sheriff Chilingworth, who wa:
awake at home, but without success.
Kukuma is now at the hospital. II
answer to questions as to the national
ity of his assailant he shook his heaC
at all nationalities suggested until th
word jap was spoken. Then he nodded
This is the only clew the police have 81
far.