Evening star., 1932-02-08
BY RUSSELL OWEN.

hONOLULO, FeOrOary IN AN Al
Since the murder OF Joseph Kahaha-
wal which has so upset these smiling
islands, the four persons accused Of
the murder, including Mrs. Grace For
tescue and Lieut.. Thomas H. Massie
U. S. N, have been kept in seclusion in
Pearl Earbor Navy Yard. An old
cruiser is their home while on bail.
The accused see few people outside OF
the Navy group, and talks with them
for publication have been taboo. This
is the first interview they have per-
mitted.
They seemed glad to talk and there
were few reservations in their manner
or conversation, except as to the actual
manner in which the killing was done.
Their attitude could not be described
as one of indifference, but it was GER
tainly not marked by trepidation or a
feeling that they had done something
for which they should be ashamed or
sorry.
Little Conserved by Predicament.
The seriousness of their predicament
apparently affects them hardly at all.
Mrs. Fortescue's chief concern seems to
be that the affair was bungled.
Mrs. Fortescue met me in the navy
ward and walked across the long bridge
like approach to dismantled old ship
and led the way to their quarters In
the stern.
Would you like some coffee?" she
asked. and sent the steward for two
cups, which were served with the in
formality of shipboard environment.
She is tall, slim woman, with blonde
hair and rather narrow face, which
shows few traces of the terrific eX-
periences through which she has passed,
She is alert and smiling and her eyes
are quick with vivacity touched at this
time with an expression OF lively
curiosity and some wariness. But her
manner was outwardly frank and there
is no doubt that under less strained
circumstances she would be woman Of
charm.
Glad Affair Is In Open.
During the interview, she wore a
cherry-colored suit and a tight-fitting
hat of the same shade. She sat stiff1y
upright in a chair with her arms rest
ing on the table and occasionally slipped
her coffee.
How do I feel?" she said in reply to
question Mostly that I am glad
the affair is all out in the open. Those
DAYS when my daughters name was
suppressed, when it was not known
whether or not she had been the victim
of an assault and when people looked
curiously at us and wondered, were
worse than these last few weeks There
is a great sense Of relief. She had a
bruise on her cheek, you know, and
people asked questions about 1t. 1t was
awful. Now that the worst is over, I
feel more at ease than I have in
months"
Mrs. Fortescue's daughter, Mrs. Mas
sic, was the victim of an assault by
several men last September and her
identity was kept from the public even
during the trial Of the five men, in
Guiding Kahahawai, who were accused
of the offense. 1t was not until KAMA
hawai- was killed and his body found in
an automobile in which were also Mrs.
Fortescue. Lieut. MasSie and two en-
listed Navy men. Edward ]. Lord and
Albert O. Jones. that the name of Mrs.
Massie was made public.
Has Slept Better Since.
st have slept better since Friday the
8th'-the day of the murder-''than
for a long time" Mrs. Fortescue con-
tinued. My mind is at peace. I am
satisfied and I am not worrying"
She was smiling At this point Lieut..
Massie came into the ward room in his
shirt sleeves. Mrs. Fortescue had ex-
planned he had not been feeling we'll for
a few moments and had been lying
down. But he also was smiling and
at ease. He is a man of small stature
Young and somewhat pale. But, like
Mrs. Fortescue, he even joked occasion
ally as If appreciating objectively the
rather grim humor of some things
which have been said in connection
with the case. He was sleeping well
also, he said.
Mrs. Fortescue was asked what had
been her immediate reaction when
overtaken in the car. how she felt and
what her mental experiences had been.
Il think my strongest impression was
being dumbfounded that they wanted
to know M name, that I could not
keep it qd(et," she said. They had
not mentioned my daughters name in
the first case and could not under