The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-01-29
ASLEEP At
THE SWITCH
Man Dying While the
Central" Snored.
THE MURDER OF KUKUMA
Police Handicapped and Robber Is
AIDED by Miserable 1.le-
phone Service.

To the miserable telephone services
may In part be laid the blame for the
death of kukuma, II South Sea Island
err, employed as Waterman at the Ia
lihi poi factory OF Judge WILCOX, VINO
was brutally stabbed and beaten early
Friday morning by persons yet un-
known to the police phc unrortunate
victim died at the queens Hospital
Saturday afternoon.
The motive of the terrible assault ia
supposed to have been robbery, for the
man was known to have a small sum
about his body. Kukuma was 80 bad
| ly cut and beaten that ne was unable
to speak word to the police or hos
pital attendants concerning those con-
nected with the dastardly affair. Some
time between 2 o'clock and O'Clock
Saturday morning, some person or per-
sons weut to his room at the factory.
He was set upon, and from the ap-
pearance of the room desperate
struggle must have taken place. Blood
was spattered in every direction. The
furniture was overturned and II was
evident that the old man sold his life
dearly.
His money was carried in n smau
Dag NnlCn ne usually kept Oh MS per-
son. 1t is believed that III the attempt
to get control of this bag, that knives
were used, for the old mans hands
were terribly hacked and cut.
From the appearance of his hands
face. a thrust of the knife was made
drawn through them, almost severns
the thumb and fingers. Above tbs
wrists deep gashes were inflicted. One
of the most terrible wounds was In his
face. a thrust of the knife was made
into his cheek from the right side,
completely penetrating 1t and laceraC-
ing the flesh in a terrible manner. y
cut on the head five inches long ami
very deep, was either made by knife
or some blunt intrument The attack
was one of the most tlendlsh in the an
nails of crime in Honolulu.
The wounded man was found by an
employee named Il. Montgomery. HA
rang up the central telephone office.
but could get no answer. Time and
again he made the effort to communi-
cate with the police station. but in no
case could he even obtain an answer
from the central.
After the midnight hour, those who
are compelled to use the telephone find
that the greatest difficulty is met In
making their signals heard in the CEN
trail office Montgomery finally de-
SPARED of communicating over the
wires, and saddled horse on which
he galloped at breakneck speed into
town. The patrol wagon was sent to
the scene and removed him to the hos
pital.
T Upon arrival the doctors were of the
opinion that most of the blood in the
mans body had left his veins. The
cash on his head was stitched up and
the hands and arms bandaged. The
hole in the right cheek was bandage6
and packed, and 1t was then found
that the old mans jaw was broken.
Deputy Sheriff Chilingworth impan-
ed jury composed of G. c. Grifiiths,
w. Il. Brunette, A. =. Taylor, Charles
Spencer, A, G.. Nicholas and Mr.. Jefrs,
which viewed the body at the hospital
The jury was adjourned to meet when
called by the deputy sheriff. who hopes
to find some clue which will result in
bringing the assassns to justice. Dur
ing the last hours Of the old mans life
the surgeons were compelled to almost
stand him on his head in order to keep
up the action of the heart, which was
well nigh drained of blood. The de-
ceased had been in Honolulu but g.
short time, and was a reliable eul-
ployee of Judge Wilcox.