audio by title this day in history november 19 in 1929

On this day, November 19, in 1929

  • produced by Kat Aaron
  • in

Myles Yutaka Fukunaga, a young man of Japanese decent, was hung in Oahu Prison for murdering the 10-year-old son of a wealthy White businessman. At the time Myles Fukunaga was only 19 years old and working 80 hours a week to support his family. After being evicted for late rent, Fukunaga made a desperate attempt at a $10,000 ransom by kidnapping the son of the Hawaiian Trust Company's vice president; this was the same company to whom the rent was owed. The anti-Japanese sentiment in Hawaii was exemplified during the rushed trial in which Fukunaga's court-appointed attorney called no witnesses and left out many useful points of evidence.

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