The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-09-02
-oss on xArAr AID SIra.r, FoR 1855. 1850 .xp 1ss'

OAHu-The returns of conviction on the Island o.
Oahu are in come respects very gratifying. | alludt
especially 10 the diminution in the number of case.
Of drunkenness, adultery and fornication- Mr.
Gri@mbd, Police Justice Of Honolulu, SAYS in his re.
portt8the District Attorney
"It gives me pleasure TO be able to state that the
record of this Court shows a very considerable de-
erease in the number both of trials and convictions
from that ofthe preceding year. Although the mum
Der Of cases is still very great, and intemperance
stalks through the land it is encouraging to find
that IFS onward course has been checked.
is a sadiening sight to see day after day new
faces brought before the Court, with the marks Of
intoxication fresh upon them, and 10 know thu, the
rgnnt which has done the work is composed If in
gradients the continued use OF whDb must inevitably
lead to paralysis and death.
Four-ffths of the twenty-five hundred conviction.
for the year 1856, may be traced directly 10 the in
Guence of intoxicating substances
During the latter part Of the past year the Prefee,
Of Police has been actively engaged In the suppression
IF the sale Of beer. His exertions have TO a certain
extent been successful. but so profitable is.this traffic
that il IL difficult to meet the ingenuity Of those who
hereby make their gain
The course pursued by the Department Of the
Interior in refusing TO grant licences has had its effec;
By removing q cover beneath which dealerS in these
f. Substances we're accustomed 10 shelter themselves
I am hopeful that by persuing the same policy the
present year will show adecrease from the past, and the
coming from the present. This, however, above all
others, is an evil to successfully meet which demands
constant and uuriring vigilance. IL the course adOpr-
ed by the Project OF Police is persevered in and his
measures pushed forward with vigor, | know no bet
ter means Of prevention"
His views have proved correct, and hence n diminu-
ton in drunkenness in each succeeding wear. The
sane means. which arc now continued, have the
same COED results
A. B. Bates. Eco. District Attorney, in his report
for 1855. presents some important views, and to
which in his report for 1857 he Ca Is my attention
again He says:
sThe large number OF constables that are appoint
ed for the convenience of the public out Of HnuolnIu,
I am inclined TO think are, in the discharge of What
they assume TO be their duties, becoming n class Of
petty plunderers, and doing much more mischief
than good The system of allowing one half or
the penalties imposed to be paid 10 rhe informer,
induces the country constables, who receive no
other compensation for their services, to becoine
spies upon their n~eighbors and over jealous in
their efforts to secure convictions They are told
wrong has been or is to be committed, and they
pounce upon any one who is able to pay, often
reg Irdless whether there is proof that would Justify
n conviction. l would ~recommend that there should
not be more than two or three constabIes appointed
70 attend upon the several justices our of Honolulu,
and thasfbey should be paid fees for the actual ser
vices the perform. In accordance with a fixed rule.
I feel assured such a system would secure equal
S4ithfulness Of the officer AMI prevent many com
plants that should not be made.
Having 50 often expressed my views in former re-
ports on the system of imposing pecupiary penalties
for the correction Of morals, and the necessity of an
amendment Of the statutes regulating appeals, without
receiving the approval Of the Legislature, l only refer
to what | have before said as expressing my opinions,
which are becoming more fixed by my experience. .
He further adds !" In the Courts of Record thirty
one persons have been convicted on trial, ten dischrg-
ed sfter = verdict in their favor Of Not Guilty.
and fourteen dismissed upon the motion Of the District
Attorney, on the ground that there was not evidence
that could be produced to convict them or that public
policy did not demand their trial.
During the past year there has been one person
tried and convicted Of murder in the frst degree, who
has suffered the penalty Of death-the only case
hat has occured on the islands since I hsve discharg-
ID the duties Of prosecuting officer which is now
slmoet nine years
Il VII Be ohserssd by the schedules attached thar
gdsno0 Of = morn heipous characrer are hut seldom
committed, and almost entirely BY foreigners. who in