The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-08-04
ATROCIOUS MURDER
CARPENTER MEETS
DEATH AT HILO.
Said to Have Refused to Give His
Money to Thugs who Then Took His
Life.

HILO, July 31.-The police are inves- |
tigating what appears to have been a
cold bloOded murder, whereby a Japa- |
nese carpenter named Motto Hiro was
killed because he refused to produce as
much money as a gang of Japanese
thugs demanded. The murder occurred
July % and a Japanese woman was the
indirect cause of the tragedy.
1t appears that Motto had become end-
incurred of an alleged slave of Funa-
koshi, the proprietor of a disreputable
lodging house. on lower Front street.
this hotel is resort for disreputable
characters, among them Watenabe, an
umpire at Japanese wrestling matches;
Ushipima and Sea, gamblers from Ho-
nolulu, and these men act as lieutenants
for Funakoshi. Besides a wife this
latter has two and possibly three mis-
tresses, who are said to contribute to-
ward his support Stories are told that
japanese laborers from plantations stop
in Hilo to wait for the Kinau to take
them to Honolulu to catch the steam
err for Japan and before they can get
aboard the Kinau this gang of thugs
relieve them of their money and some-'
times beat them. 1t is said also that
they have levied blackmail in a syste-
matte manner upon merchants of their
nationality, and when the amount has
not been forthcoming the merchants
have been beaten.
Mato is reported to have agreed to
purchase the Japanese woman from
Kunakoshi for $500. Thursday was to
| have been settling day, when Motto Hiro
| was to hand over the cash but he did
not materialize. Thursday night he he
| tired to sleep in his cottage back OF
| Hata's store, which is on Front street.
| At one a. m. he was awakened by two
japanese knocking on his door, He was
fol ion NV m a Agftg
where he was confronted by sixteen
| Japanese most Of them thugs and gam
| blerS.
Here he was surrounded and a de-
mand made upon him for $1,000, which
| he steadfastly refused to pay Finally
| the men assaulted him and he was
! taken to a room and locked in. At 8
a. m. Hatas brother began a search,
| which ended at Funakoshi's. Here he
was told that Motto Hiro had been
| found in a room with a woman and
! damages had been demanded and that
! Motto Miro had been locked in the room
with the woman and given time to con-
slider. Hata's brother was allowed to
see Motto Hiro, and when he was shown
into the room he found Motto Hiro weak
from punishment and unable to do
much talking. He complained of being
| hungry and said they would not let him
| have anything to eat.
Soon afterward the story of Moto
! lIiro's trouble was spread among the
japanese carpenters, and they at once
decided to raise the money to pay the
ransom. By night time they had Sc
cured 5000, and when one of the men
Il waited on Funakoshi it was discovered
that Motto Hiro was dead.
| When the police reached the room
Motto Hiro was found with two stab
wounds in the neck, and lying under ms
arm was the knife with which the deed
| was done. On the floor two japanese
swords were lying. To the police it
was said by some men in the place
that the murdered man had been found
in the room with the woman in the
case and that the swords had been
given them by which they might take
their lives in true Japanese style The
woman also stated that she had been
caught in the room with Motto Hiro.