The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-04-02
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

[SPeeial Correspondence Of the GaIs,ts.l
NEN YORk, Feb. Is, 1879.
The value Of the testimony Of experts in Grim
iual eases is somewhat doubtful. Some tius ago
there was the trial OF Jesse Billings for the shooting
Of bis wife. in which much expert " testimony wa.
taken as to the behavior of bullet in passing
through pane Of glass, aud as to many other mat
tiers connected with bullets aud powder. No sooner
did oue expert swear one thing than the 90 other
side " went out and soon found another expert who
was wiling to swear 10 the exact opposite. No
wonder the jury disagreed. Then came the trial Of
Nathan +. Hart in Maine for the murder Of neigh
bor, who vas woman and relation of his. IThe
proof Of his guilt depended largely upon whether be
did or did not, write certain anonymous letters.
Some experts in psnnanship sw0re that be did
while others swore that he didn't. Later still we
have had tue trial Of Mrs. Kate Cobb for the murder
Of her husband. Professor Doremus. tie well known
chemist performed various experiments in the court
and took particular pains to make clear to the
jury his for believing that Mr. Cobb came to
his death BY arsenic. The defence placed on the
stand professor FROM Yale College who swore that
be did rot agree with Professor Doremus that be
did not approve bis methods, nor did be admit the
justice Of bis conclusions.
To be jurynan OF such occasions is to be a very
much perpexsd person, and il no wonder that the
eo7radietory evidence Of the so-caed Iexperts is
oiLtn 1EDoTels anu the Feruict f0unQ accordance
With the evidence outside of their testimony
DuelIug. except perhaps among German students,
or the officers Of some Of the European armies is
generally supposed be obsolete, or nearly SO but
the list Of dUel for the last year published BY the
CIucfuzuti Co-mereiaI shows that such encounters
are by 10 means rare. The list includes twelve
daels, ten having been fought in America, and two
IN Europe In seven cases one Of the c0ubatants
either killed or wounded, 10 one case both were
killed. while IN four cases there was nobody hurt
Probably more duels might be added the list but
Is II not long enough it is TO prove that the civil
ration Of the nineteenth century can still produce
occasional pair Of fools?
There Is mania just now for public challenges /.
il began with pedestriauisu. but now everybody
seems 70 be anxious to challenge anybody to do auv-
thing We have had challenges from champion lager
beer drinkers, champion apple pie eaters, champion
onion eaters, Snd champion doughnut eaters Can
not yen send Us champion fish eater to cap the
climax Speaking Of eating reminds of driu king
and drinking reminds me that Mrs. President HAYES
who Is strict temperance advocate, has been giving
oGeuee 10 the temperance incorporates of Boston by
wearing in public wine eoloTed dress. At least so
says the Boston Herald, bu; there is possibility
thst tue HsrIid intends this for Joke.
The committee charged with the duty of iuresti-
eating the eypheT dispatches which passed between
the Democratic leaders during the late presidential
contest mas been at work IN this city. Much esti-
mony was taken, and the fact that certain Demo
Gratis were willing TO purchase the votes Of members
X. i
Republicans claim tha: the plan was not corsumuatsd
because the uen Of the Retaining Boards were toe
honest to be brbed, auG the Democrats assert that
they could. easily enough, have bought up these
alleged honest uen had not Tildeu interfered and
put step 70 the negotiations Il is amusing read
the head lines Of th4 party organs for In stance the
SGH: d" 4 clean, eis1r and faH denial bv Samuel J.
IIiasH-" g he had no knowledge or Suspicion that
Proposals FOR the Sale Purchase of Electoral Votes
were Made" Then the Tinss: TiiGsais PitiaJ1e
plfrhr - 4 ,TT -t-Ey-
ste." When the evidence can be looked at 50 com
pl4cendy from two sta~dpoints, differing widely as
those Of the SHa AID Tiaes the finding Of the com
1iftee whatever 1t may De, readily be hailed
victory by both sides.
The comic opera, Pinafore, is all the rage here
NJ ; Just now. In fact there is a small feet Of "Pi-
uaiores under sail, the piece being performed at
no less than four theatres in New York and one IN
Brooklyn- As this is thoroughly English - Pi-
naf0re ~ il IS somewhat remarkable that Brother
Jonathan likes the cut Of it so we'll but it seems 70
ft hin vel as if it we're made expressly for him
instead Of for his cousin J. Ball The airs from the
operetta are becoming quite popular aud ueope are
repeating each other tie often recurring biz Of da
logus :" What, neFerF' . No never P'-WhAt e-Ter
- Vel, hardly eEer-7 In spite Of any difference.
/ there must be sth some strong boud Of uniou be-
tween the English speaking races on both sides Of
I the AlautIe when play so intensely British can
Y become 50 popular with American audiences
The ice the Hudson is in splendid condition fot
ice-y4cht ealing fact Of which the owners Of ice
7 yachts are not slow il aFailing themselves Th,
ice-yAcat is remarkable affair. 1t is frame worn
set uPon runners ana carrying usually large main
sail and iib. The speed attained By these boats
Z Is so1staing wonderful, in some instances being
equal to thar Of express train. One pecaIiarity
these craft Is that they have always the sheets trim
med tat Aft. whether the wind be ahead or free II
fact with the wind dead astern they are obliged q
follow diagonal course. thus 4Eording to the eye
4 Of tae sea-faring man the singular spectacle Of
craft 8ctuEliy beating 70 leeward JIP
/ NooSrreHr cnNnrzr M - uin Ma,