Holding an Inquest
Coroner Enquires Cause of Death of Old Hawaiian.
Sheriff Saffery [William Edward Saffery] empannelled a coroners jury Thursday to enquire into the cause of death of an Hawaiian by the name of Ben Amina Kapanaia who died at the Malulani Hospital on the 21st of September from bloodpoisoning which is said to be the result of a bite by a woman with whom he was living. The old man lived in Kaupo and is said to have received the wound several months ago. About the middle of September he was advised by Dr. Deas [William Blamyer Deas] of Hana to come to Wailuku at once and have the affected part amputated. He did not appear at the hospital until a week later when an operation was performed by Doctor W. Osmer. According to the testimony before the jury the biting was the result of a drunken row after the two had imbibed too freely of swipes made of sour potatoes. The woman is credited with admitting the biting. The statement was made before the jury that the woman is reputed to be a leper. The case was continued until today for further evidence.
Kapanaia dies after finger bitten by wife
("Nahu ia ka Manamanalima e ka Wahine a Make o Kapanaia", Kuokoa Home Rula, October 8, 1909)
Last week, Kapanaia died at Malulani Hospital at Wailuku, Maui, due to his wife biting off part of his right pinky. The fight and biting of the finger was due to being drunk on sweet potato liquor. The incident occurred months ago in Kaupo, Maui. The site of the bite became progressively infected, and the aggrieved husband went off on his own to the hospital.
Below is the text of the original Hawaiian article:
Nahu ia ka Manamanalima e ka Wahine a Make o Kapanaia.
I kela pule iho nei i make ai a Kapanaia ma ka Halema’i Malulani, Wailuku. Maui, mamuli o ke nahu ana o kana wahine a kaa e kekahi hapa o kona manamana lima uuku ma ka lima akau. No ka ona uala, ulu ka hakaka a nahu’a ka manamanalima. Ma Kaupo Maui, kahi o keia hewa i hana ia ai, he mau mahina ae nei i hala, ua pii nae ka aai o kahi i nahu ia a kua hoolawehala maoli, hele okoa i ke halema’i.