The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-10-17
Sentence of Kahoalii for Treason.

On the opening Of the Supreme Court, on Mon
day morning, His Excellency the Attorney General
moved for sentence in the case of John P. Zephy-
rina Kahoalii, convicted of the crime of treason.
Kahoalii being a~rraigned, he was addressed by
Mr.. Justice Harris, as follows:
John p. Zephyrina Kahoalii-You have been
charged and convicted before this Cont of the
crime of treason. The law under which you have
been found guilty reads as follows:
" Treason is hereby defined to be any plotting or
attempt to dethrone or destroy the King, or the
levying of war against the Kings government, or
the adhering to the enemies thereof, giving them
aid and comfort, the same being done by a person
owing allegiance to this kingdom
"If you have anything to'say why sentence of
death should not be pronounced against you, you
now have the opportunity"
The prisoner said" His Majesty has no more
loyal subject than | / would be willing to risk
my life for him. On the 18th of February, 1 was
requested to use my influence towards quelling the
riot, and did so. I was asked to try and get
Queen Emma to come down town and quell the
riot. and 1 did request her to come"
Mr.. j. p. Green, one OF counsel for the prisoner,
read the following:
|" The prisoner asks the Court to him
to the mercy of His Majesty, fer the following
Feasons, viz:
IL. That he was led on by the advice of others
to draw upthe petition which was produced against
him at the late trial.
80. That it was urged apon him by the friends
of Queen Emma that as His Majesty David Kala-
kaua called in the aid of foreign troops to queTl
the rist of the 18th of February, 1874, it would be
right for the friends of Queen Emma to ask the aid
of a friendly foreign power to interfere in her
behalf.
3. That the prisoner was laboring under the
mistake, that any petition which is for general
circulation can not be considered as reasonable,
as we Hawaiians always consider secrecy one of
the essentials of the crime OF treason
Mr.. Green also read, on behalf of the prisoner, a
document in native, of which The following is a
translation
=" To you, The friends ,oho keep The peace. Salutotions'
Il. In order TO facilitate and secure your guard
ianship, and keeping Of order, l ask yoa to be
pleased not to oppose the government, the peace
and the laws of the land.
- And as / cannot personally be present to
guard my cousin the Queen. / do hereby appoint
John P. z. Kahoalif as my deputy. The verbal
directions or rules that he may make, shall be
binding. -
3. And l shall be gFatifed if my cousin the
Queen confirms this.
'sDone by my hand this 9th day of May, 1874.
ALBERT KBSgIAKEA."
The Court then addressing the prisoner. said /
" You have been fairly tried by a jury of your
own cOuntrymen. Everything has been said that
could be said on yonr behalf, Your counsel.
though young in point of experience at the bar,
presented your case with ability, and eloquently I
addressed every possible argument to The jury
Arguments calculated to have weight with them
but Notwithstanding, you have been found guilty
by a unanimous verdict Yoh have said that be- /
cause your acts were public they We're rot to be
considered as treason that inasmueh as foreign
troops were called in to maintain the peace, there
foreign troops could be likewise called in to
the cause of Queen Emma. Such acts