On May 4, 1932, in the sweltering heat of Oahu, Hawaii, a sense of justice seemed to be served in a most peculiar way. The trial of four teenagers, accused of manslaughter, had concluded a month prior, but the verdict had yet to be delivered. The four – Mrs. Massie, her mother Mrs. For tescue, and two others, Jones and Lord – walked into the courtroom, seemingly carefree, despite the weight of their alleged crimes. Mrs. Massie, in particular, appeared as a girl in her teens, her long ordeal seemingly forgotten. Her mother, however, bore the weight of her years, her face etched with worry. Jones and Lord, on the other hand, were joking around, their banter a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere of the courtroom.
Earlier that day, a conference had been held between Judge Charles S. Davis, Governor Judd Darrow, and Prosecutor John C. Kelley. The court wasted no time in delivering its verdict, and one by one, the four teenagers were sentenced to the maximum penalty for manslaughter – 10 years in prison. But in a shocking twist, Judge Davis announced that the sentences could be commuted. Governor Darrow then called the press representatives into his chambers and dropped a bombshell – the defendants had been sentenced to just one hour of hard labor, to be served in the custody of the high sheriff.
The decision was met with widespread shock and outrage, with many questioning the motives behind the governor’s sudden change of heart. Had the teenagers’ counsel and the jury’s recommendation played a role in the governor’s decision? The answers remained unclear, but one thing was certain – justice had been served, but at what cost? The people of Oahu were left to wonder if the punishment fit the crime.
The case of the four teenagers would go down in history as a bizarre example of the justice system’s capricious nature. It was a reminder that even in the most serious of crimes, the system was not always fair or just. The people of Oahu would have to live with the knowledge that their justice system was capable of handing out lenient sentences, even in the face of heinous crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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