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

Third DAY.
On Monday morning the Committee upon the
case of Pclna resumed their investigation.
Claude Jones: Stated that he had been present
mt the trial. Was well acquainted with the facts
of the case as the man had desired him To net in
his defence, but that when he found he could pny
no retainer, he Ind declined to undertake 30 grave
responsibility without being remunerated for his
trouble. He considered the fcCbly
defended. No plea of insanity was raised. He
looked MT 1T from n professional point Of view
merely To see what grounds could he raised and
he considered that the plea of insanity the
only line To take lie had stated this to Mr..
Frank Spencer. He reasoned that man deficient
IN reasoning power of strong passions, became
abnormally excited ut the desertion of his
paramour and her intimacy with others his
wounded self-love produced insane jealousy, act
ing under which he prepared deliberately to com
init the deed. Some questions asked and
answered ~ to what witness considered normal
and abnormal excitement. He then continued
that he did no consider this case of Juror bJeris
or sudden provocation. These points he would have
urged had he conducted the defence. He con
sidered the man of weak intellect ON account of
answers which he made about his family and
friends. lhe evidence which made him think the
man was insane came ont in trial but If he had
been in the position of Judge, it would not have
made him alter his sentence. Had the man been
married he would have viewed the case from II
different standpoint When asked if any Courts
of pardon had exercised their pardoning power
upon the grounds which he advanced. he said that
during course of 40 years experience he never
had known them to do so, but ut the time
pardons We're frequently granted, without any
reasons being polished. Mr. Gibson inquired
what effect suicide would have upon his idea of
the mans sanity and asked if in insurance cases
it had not been ruled that men were insane who
committed suicide. 1t was stated that there had
been such ruling. After some further remarks
upon suicide the witness retired.
Marshal Parke stated he had been present ut
the trial, and that Mr. Knua, who defended Poua.
was perfectly sober statement which he repeat
ed several times. kalua had been intoxicated
week before. He worked hard to obtain verdict
of manslaughter. He considered Hawaiian
counsel would be better with Hawaiian Jury
than II foreigner.
A. Carter: Had been employed at Kapapala;
the murder took place on the night he left. Knew
the man well WAS acquainted with his domestic
troubles. There WAS nothing out of the way about
the man. he was not over intelligent, but he was
not io'o; he was very willing, but lacked judgment
when intrusted with work by himself. He came
to the plantation with reputation for bad
temper but during months experience with him
he had never shown it. When the woman left
him, Polua came to witness to complain that she
had an improper intimacy with teamster,
and asked him if he could not get her buck. Wit
ness hunted the woman up; she complained that
Rolua ill used her; he had knocked out two of her
INT teeth; Poua himself had driven her away
witness had himself heard The planta-
hands were very crowded at the time, and
was n difficulty i'll keeping the California
rs from visiting the native quarters In reply
gibson, there 200 men and women
iantation. The woman stated she was
Aprry the teainster; she declined to
On the day he left the plantation
\et work OH the trash grounds; he
Rl but asked witness why he did
\rity to get the woman back for
had been absent week, and he
e the same request. he worked
pan usual under the idea that
>omething for him. On the
V had asked to be excused
the rdhiHe, but was
TX as usual. When in
request, tried to visit
10 to keep his appoint
who told him the man
was little different after
WAS not insane. He not
shbors or the gang workmen.
Never saw him under the in
b carpenter on the plantation.
Thought him insane. Saw him
bre the deed; asked him about the
)dvised him to leave and 20 to Puma.
he was done with her; he not right
Fad; he had not eaten or slept for three
DPolua had done no work for three days.
been loafng about in his best clothes; had
done no work at all that day; the general impress,
sion about the plantation was that the man had
done no work. He was witness helper He had
heard that Polua spent much money on the
woman. He was the first man down at tho scene
of the murder; did not see how he cut his throat,
but Polua told him after that he had sawed it by
taking the knife in both hands. Polua was able
to talk in native nationally. There was cross of
black stuff ON the Window the mans eyes were
bandaged with a veil. Had heard OF no fresh cir
cumstances.
d. X: Fyfe stated that he had only jokingly re-
marked to Carter that the man WAS crazy; he had
spoken Saturday last. He had reason to
think the man insane
The Chief Justice then remarked that there WAS
no obligation for any one to come, the Committee
had been appointed by the Sovereign to enquire
into the cass, and all that was wanted was that
people should come forward and state what facts
they knew. The expression cited" which was
used in the circular issued by the Committee
meant "calied."
As the Committee were ON the point of retiring
Dr. Webb came and stated M follows He con-
sidered that Polua was insane at the time Of the
murder. When he visited him in prison this
morning. he found he had heart disease, from
which he had been suffering before he committed
the murder. His pulse was high and auctuating.
When he commenced talking 1t was los, in 80
minutes II was 10, and ia 70 minutes more Il was
l22. Al proof Of his insanity at the time he
argued that tbs man had been three days without
food and two nights without sleep; that during
That before killing the woman he had tried the
knife on his own hands, and that the wounds gave
him no pain this was just the condition Of many
insane patients Of whom the doctor had had
charge; cited the case OF q woman who bit piece
out Of her arm and felt no pain, abe had had pins
stuck In her back without feeling them. This led
him 10 think the man Was insane. but that tbs
moment be had out his throat, the blood letting
brought him 70 his senses, and he understood hiG
responsibilities. He considered the state Of the
man's heart very strong point. A man with
heart dissass would be more liable 10 10 affected
by liquor than we'll mAn.
The COMMITTEES then adjourned.