The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-22
ARMED LEPERS At BAY
IN The OAHU NOUN TA|NS
The Police Make Dangerous But
Successful Raid Near
kaena Point.
Leprous Cattle Thieves Taken After Fierce
Resistance---Capt. Robert Parkers Strategy
and Pluck Win BloodIess Victory.

At bay with rifles and knives three
desperate lepers, who have defied the
officers of the law for a year in the
mountains near Kaena Point, on this
island, were captured yesterday by Cap
tain Robert Parker of the Police De-
Akau, Apana, Espinda and C. Elvin.
The capture of the three men was made
under circumstances which required
nerve and caution and happily no
casualties resulted, although the lep-
rous men were splendidly armed.
For year past ranchers in the vicini-
ty of Kaena Point have been losers of
cattle. H. NJ Won Holt. l.. L. McCand-
less and Walter Dillingham; were vic
Tins of the depredations and complaints
were made to the police. Various at
teinpts have been made to ferret out
the raiders by the officers of the dis
-
trict but without success. Recently 1T
became known that three lepers, Ka-
pea, part South Sea Islander, Opunui
and Kamealaniliilii and Kapea's wife
were living in a cabin high up on the
slopes of the mountain which projects
in promontory toward the sea. AT
night the men emerged from their place
of concealment and made inroads upon
the cattle herds, obtaining their liveli-
hood mainly by this means. Occasional
ly they went down to the sea and fished.
1t was evident that they had friends
who helped them and kept their secret.
The district officers We're never able to
locate the cabin exactly, and during
their attempts to capture the trio they
knew that armed men opposed their ad-
vance.
Yesterday morning under the direc-
ton of High Sheriff Brown. Captain
Parker and his officers boarded
freight tram at Honolulu and when
within half a mile of Kaena Point they
detrained Captain Parker took the
precaution to lock the native brakemen
in work car attached to the train and
give the key to the white conductor
with the request that the men be re-
leased only after passing the Point.
The Captain did not take any chances
on signals being made to the lepers
from their place of watch on the hill
side
The officers proceeded toward the
mountain and on the road met an Of
was accompanied by a native who was
familiar with the lepers' haunt Cap
tain Parker required the native to dis
mount from his horse and exchange
clothing with officer Akau. In this
guise Akau went ahead of his COM
panions. When close to the place where
the cabin stood Akau went ahead. AS
he came in sight of the habitation he
saw one of the lepers, Kapea, sitting
before the door, pounding poi. Kapea
looked up and, supposing it was the
native known to him, made no move
ment at first, but he quickly discovered
his error and jumped toward the house
where he got a knife. Before he had
chance to use it Akau had pinioned
him to the ground. The struggle arous-
ed the other lepers who rushed to where
their guns We're kept. Captain Parker
and the other officers had by this time
sprung into the clearing, and before the
guns could be brought to bear upon the
invaders, they had overpowered the
men. The lepers put up a desperate
resistance but without result
The officers found evidences of the
raids which had been made upon the
cattle herds and also had a chance to
see the way in which the lepers kept
guard and watch upon the outlying
country. They had arranged places
from which they could see without be-
ing observed and much of the railroad
and the approaches to their haunt were