The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-28
INQUEST ON
Geo. KA|HENU|
Verdict of Accidental Death of
Man Thrown From
Horse.


jury on the body of George Kaihenui
who died at the Queen s Hospital after
having lain in a police station cell fol-
( fourteen hours booked as common
drunk, that the surgeon who performed
the autopsy did not discover them unit
the top of the skull had been removed
and serious fracture was then reveal
ed Even though the police officers
knew that the man had met with an
accident, and so reported to the hospital
attendants, examination of the body
gave no evidence of injury, and the
substitute diagnosis of drunk was pro-
nOunced and the man consigned to a
cell. But even then the officers in
charge viewed the ease with suspicion
and when Thanksgiving morning came
after twelve hours had elapsed, they
! felt it was a case for physicians, and,
after the police surgeon had examined
| Kaihenui and failed to locate any in
juries they took the bull by the horns
and returned the man to the hospital.
A coroner IS jury Investigated the case
yesterday afternoon and evening and
gave verdict that the deceased came
to his death from ga fracture of the
skull and a hemorrhage of the brain
caused by accidentally falling from a
horse in Kawaiahao lane at Honolulu,
County of Oahu, ON Wednesday, Nov
ember %, 19OS.''
The verdict eliminates any sugges-
ton of neglect on the part of any one,
although it is reported that the jury
had such an item under discussion while
analyzing the testimony. In view of
the report of Dr. Mcdonald, however,
who stated that not until he had opened
finally caused death, and the fact that
the police had at least twice performed
their proper duty by taking the injured
man to the hospital the jury decided
to render a straight verdict of death
by accident. The suggestion that the
man was under the influence of liquor
was not entirely borne out by the tes-
timony, DR.. Mcdonald stating that
there was no evidence of alcohol when
he examined the stomach.
Puulo Nuhi, an aged but active Ha-
waiian, saw Kaihenui fall from his
| horse. He first. saw Kaihenui riding on
| King street toward Waikiki opposite
the Territory stables The horse tried
| to 90 into the stable, but the rider
| turned him toward Waikiki. After con-
siderable maneuvering the horse started
down Kawaiahao lane, and suddenly he
saw Kaihenui fall, the fall being occa-
stoned by the turning of the saddle. The
rider struck the ground and was drag
| ged. The horse plunged and seemed to
step on the man. Finally the horse was
freed from the man and galloped off
| The witness ran over to the PROSTATE
man, as did two others Police Officer
Mana was driving on King street and
the witness hailed him and told him
what had happened. Mana sent a call
to the police station for the wagon.
| The man rode as if he was sober
DR.. Mcdonald, who performed the au-
| topsy on Kaihenui, testified that the
body was well developed and well nour-
ished, and there was evidence of a re-
cent surgical operation on the head,
where trepanning had been attempted
in the right parietaI region, above the
ear. The head had been shaved. There
was obscure evidence of a bruise on the
head above the left ear. On laying back
the scalp he found a mass of clotted
blood.
He found on removing the upper part
of the skull a considerable fracture
above the left ear, fbut it was of such
nature that l did not recognize it I'M
til the head was open. There were no
ovid Of
orrhage or wounds of any kind 1t was
only after | opened the head that /
found the damage It was a severe in
jury, too, but, as | have said, there was
no external evidence of it. The opera
ton had even been made on the right
side of the head at the hospital.
g In my opinion it was a fatal injury,
and even had the operation been per-
formed on the left side. / don think
his life could have been saved. l found
no evidence of alcohol
Officer John Mana testified that he
was driving along King street shortly
after clock when his attention was
called to Kaihenui by Nuhi. He was
told that the man had fallen from his
horse. Without getting out of his hug
gy, but driving down close to the man.
he turned about and drove to the cor
ner of King and Punchbowl streets.
where he sent in call to the police
station for the patrol wagon. Return
ing, he tied up his horse near the Ter
ritory Stables, and went over to where
Kaihenui was lying. A japanese and
a Hawaiian were looking after him.
The wagon came and TO officers Odds
and Fred Iaukea Mana reported the
accident. The man was then taken to
the Queen 5 Hospital. Later on. Mana,
drove to the police station, and shortly
afterward the patrol arrived from the
hospital bringing Kaihenui The of
ficers reported TO the lieutenant IN
charge that the doctors had examined
Kaihenui, found no wounds. and said
he was drunk. Mana says he did not
smell liquor on the man. David Nahoo-
lewa testified that he went to the as
sistance Of Kaihenui and looked after
him until the police arrived
Bicycle Officer Olds testified that af-
ter placing the man in the patrol
wagon, the wagon was sent to the hos
pital Kaihenui was able to walk with
an officer on each side of him. He was
conducted to the operating room and
placed on the table. Officer Olds stated
that he told the hospital DbvSiciau that