17 year old Tahi Kaka watched on as carpenters built a scaffold for his forthcoming execution. The
work was clearly visible from the teenager’s tiny cell at Mt Eden prison and the sight was too much for visiting clergy who complained to the prison management, without much success. The young man with the boyish appearance had been charged with the murder of John Freeman at Puhipuhi, Northland.
In the evidence he gave at his trial he described how he accompanied Freeman in pursuit of gum and noticed something bulging in Freeman’s hip pocket. When Freeman said he had £2O Kaka though he was joking and said “Give me the money or I’ll kill you.” Freeman, who had a spear in his hand and a spade at his side, said “Come on, kill me”. He dropped the spade and taking the spear in both hands threw it at Kaka. Then he threw the spade, striking Kaka on the shoulder. Freeman tried to grab Kaka but the young man ducked and Freeman fell on top of him, with both then falling to the ground. Kaka said he saw Freeman trying to get an axe out of his bag and so hit him three blows over the head with a stick. Kaka then ran away and when Freeman did not follow, returned to the still body. Although Freeman was just barely alive Kaka thought he was dead and cried over the body. Thinking he would be hanged for killing Freeman and, remembering the man said he had money, took the money out of Freeman’s pocket and fled.
Kaka was found guilty by the jury, after an hour's deliberation, but was recommended to mercy on account of his youth. He was sentenced to death by the judge.
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| Tahi Kaka's grave - Cross marker supplied by Discover Waikumete & Photo by Geri Eccles |
According to the newspapers at the time, from the time of his sentence Tahi Kaka seemed resigned to his fate. He ate and slept well, putting on a stone in weight. The resigned manner in which he took his sentence is attributed by the Rev. Hawking to his belief. He had made peace with his Maker and would be forgiven in the next world.
As he was taken from his cell to the scaffold on the 21st of June 1911 Rev. Hawkins read the first three sentences of the burial service in Maori. As Kaka ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold his boyishness was painfully apparent but he took his stand on the drop without assistance or the slightest tremor. The Rev. Hawkins then recited the Lord's Prayer, which Kaka repeated in a steady voice. When asked by the sheriff if he had anything to say, he replied firmly: "I hope I am the last man to be hanged, anyhow." As the bolt was being drawn Kaka’s lips uttered a single word, “Aue” (Oh dear).
Death was instantaneous.
Public Burial A, Row 3, Plot 82
Sources: Papers Past
WAIRARAPA AGE, VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 10252, 31 MAY 1911
SENTENCED TO DEATH WITH RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY.
THE MAORI KAKA https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19110531.2.21.21
MANAWATU HERALD, VOLUME XXXIII, ISSUE 999, 1 JUNE 1911
THE AUCKLAND MURDER.
KAKA FOUND GUILTY https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19110601.2.13
EVENING POST, VOLUME LXXXII, ISSUE 145, 21 JUNE 1911
TAHI KAKA EXECUTED
DEATH INSTANTANEOUS. CONDEMNED MAN'S LAST UTTERANCES. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19110621.2.61
Compiled by Geri Eccles
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