Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-04-09

THE questioning of the petitioners as to the
reasons which nctuated them in signing the
petition to lI.RH the Princess Regent has
occupied the Committee of the Privy Council
for three DAYS sittings, and is now only adj
iourned foI further testimony. We have
already given an account of the first days
proceedings, and now publish the second and
third days. On Saturday, April ID, the Com
mittce met at the Chambers of the Chief jus
tice at 10 A. NJ.
Tie answers to the questions put by the
Committee were far more important than those
at tile previous sitting, as clergymon, physi-
clans, and lawyers were called upon. The
testimony Of these gentlemen only confirms
our former opinion, that there is no ground
whatever for pleading the insanity of the
prisoner either now or at the time of the MUIR
der. unless indeed it be admitted as an axiom
that every man who commits uniustifablc
homicide is at the time insane. Dr. Hoffman,,
the physician to the Jail, Drs. McKibbin,
McGrew, aud Brodie agree in the opinion that
the prisoner is perfectly sane nor; the Rev.
Father Raymond, Rev. DR.. Hyde, Rev II. II.
Parker, and Rev. A. o. Forbes are each of the
same opinion, and none saw any proofs of in
sanity in the action of the prisoner, as related,
at the time of the murder. Mr. G. Brown,
who was present at the trial, states that he
considered the prisoner perfectly sane at that
time and that he was efficiently defended
Mr.. Claude Jones stated that he was present
- I 4 4
but considered the man feebly defended, and
did not consider this a case of furor brecis.
Taken altogether, the professional evidence
excepted, the answers were very much the
same as before, viz: | know nothing Of
Poua know nothing of the circumstances of
the case; know of no new circumstances of
an extenuating character; | signed because |
ucns tDd lie was insane, or from motives of
humanity, mercy or charity. Several natives
gave the pathetic answer that they pleaded
for the poor mans life "becausc many ila-
waiians are now dying, and no more deaths
should he added" This is very kind hearted
and humane, but scarcely relevant to the mat
ter in hand, or strictly logical, seeing that the
crime was no less than that of destroying u
Hawaiian life. The evidence as to the date
when the prisoner left his work is conflicting,
as Mr.. A. Carter, under whom he worked,
states that though he asked to be excused ON
the morning of the murder, on being refused
Trnt 10 hiS pOrk as usuui" He was I" lit
tie different" after the woman left him, but
not insane," nor under the influence of liquor
Mr.. Jameson, a carpenter on the same planta-
tion, thought he was insane, and said that he
| (Polua) had done no ,oorh for three days, bnt
had been loating about in his best clothes
DR.. Webb stated that he had had great ex-
perience with insane people and considered
the behavior of the prisoner, before the crime
was committed distinctly. indicated insanity
and his return to responsible state of mind
the natural consequence of the copious blood
letting occasioned by the cut in the throat.
DR.. Webb's diagnosis of tho state of the
prisoners heart and pulse differs widely from
that of the other physicians.
Here. then, we have the case of the peti
TONERS, and we must say it seems to us yer,
lame case indeed.
sented their position. They say they pleat
for mercy: in reality they impngn the justice
of the trial, verdict and sentence. Had they
confined themselves to the plea of mercu, th'
case would be simple and Ineligible: bu
when they come forward with a petition
stating that they feel assured that there arr
new and extenmating circumstances discovered
since the trial, and fail most completely il
establishing anything OF the kind, ii seems tha
they have only weakened their plea. Ii
reality they are unwittingly pleading fo
Justice, which they state had failed at the trial
though they cannot substanliate their state
neDt. .a..
or course it is the prerogative Of the Crow
to temper justice with mercy, but the exercis
Of this power is rendered doubIy difficult b.
the action of the petitioners, who under cove
of pleading for mercy allege failure of justice
but are totally unable to support their allega
tions.
Another way of hindering the possible ex
tension of mercy to II convicted criminal is th
+ extraordinary course adopted by the pro
moters of the petition in keeping back IN
knowledge OF the extenuating facts, 50 callec
for five mouths, and then at the last momer
asserting this knowledge, but failing to prov
the facts.
Again, temporary insanity in some degre
may be safely predicated of almost amy Grim
nal while in the commission of y crime
probably even II pickpocket cannot take
purse or handkerchief without AN accelerate
, pulse and q consciousness of abnormal nerve
tension, and overpowering desire of excr
) cising his function of acquisitiveness. Ho'
much more 30, then, when man contemplate
homicide? Altogether, we regret the cours
this affair has taken. The semi-formal, sem
Informal nature of the inquiry has put til
: bench Of judges in false position and le
4 them exposed to behavior which would |
contempt Of Court il exhibited by duly sui
penaed and sworn witness. Wanton and M
supported charges of yelling political purpos,
under the guise of Judicial investigation
. broadcast accusations of threatening or el
8 deavoring to coerce witnesses, do not, how
r ever nnfounded, tend to add 10 the dignity
the Bench, and might have been avoided ha
the petition aud it's allegations been taken Il
: what they are now proved to be WORTH
Special Meeting OF the Library and Reading Roo