The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-12-15
MORITARO PAYS
THE PENALTY
CContinued from page one.I


taro was cheerful in his belief in SAL
walton and he made a final confession
of guilt and expression of regrets for
the grief he had brought to the family
of his victim. His last address, as
translated by the minister, was an
ideal confession. &
NSheriff Henry went to the prison at
about 1890 and at once proceeded with
the reading of the death warrant. 1t
was a long document and the reading
of it to the murderer through the bars
of his CELL with half dozen other
murderers hanging upon every word
and doubtless thinking of the possible
day to have it's dreadful message read
to them, was a painful ceremony. Mo-
ritaro stood with hands clasped, pale
but apparently confused while it was
read in English and then translated by
Chester Doyle AS soon as the last
words were read Sheriff Henry signal
led to the prison officers and Moritaro's
hands were strapped and he was I'D
forth, with murderers peering at him
through the bars of every window near
him. Moritaro caught sight of Sheriff
Coney who arrested him, just as the
cell door opened. He smiled and shout
Gu OOOud DyG. nc WdlAGu ulLti5oAoN-
ed and took up his place on the trap,
where he made his address in fairly
firm tones. A squad of police, under
arms, stood in front of the scaffold. In
a few seconds the murderer's feet
We're bound and he stood ready to die,
with only his last privilege of speak
ing a farewell to complete the cere-
mony. He had asked to be allowed to
speak.
A Japanese Bible was handed to Mo
ritaro by the minister and in clear
tones he read, in Japanese, the words
of Revelation 2. 10: BE thou faithful
unto death and 1 will give thee a crown
of life"
The murderer's last remarks had all
been arranged beforehand, with the
IRpanese minister, and Moritaro did
not forget anything. He spoke in Jap
anese and his address took several
minutes. The Rev. Okumura repeated
it in English. Then the black cap was
adjusted and the minister spoke brief
prayer. His Amen, repeated by
some of the Japanese present, was the
signal for the dropping of the trap Mo-
ritaro moved little after the drop. A
few tremors and the body hung limp
while the doctors made their examina-
tions to ascertain the moment of death
Drs. Sinclair, Pratt and Moore were
present. In exactly fifteen minutes they
pronounced life extinct. The body was
cut down and subsequent examinations
showed that the neck had been brok-
en- by the fall. In the opinion of the
doctors Moritaro was unconscious from
the moment when he dropped. He wore
a new suit and new shoes, provided for
the occasion.
The hanging was witnessed by one OF
the smallest crowds that has ever at
tended an execution here. The officials,
the doctors, English and japanese press
representatives, were all who saw Mo-
rltaro hang, save for a few convicts
who We're i'm the prison yard.
MoritaTo was true TO the time honor
ed custom Of murderers awaiting the
moose He ate heartily last night and
with "a stomach well filled with good
Jananese rice, he slept apparently as
soundly with the gallows only few
hours ahead Of him as he ever could
hove slept In his baby clothes In far
May Nippon, long before he had amy
thoughts ~ murder His appetite was
good lhis morning ana no carried out
his part Of the program by eating "a
hearty breakfast"
The condemned MANS cell was "a the