Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-04-14
THE XIII TEI IIBOR CASE.

Before the Police Court, on the morning of
April 9th, were tried the cases of the German
laborers who had deserted the service of the
kilauea Sugar Company on Kauai Twenty
four in all had deserted the service but the
cases Of three alone were tried. The com.
plants in all, being similar, and the testimony
relied upon being Of the same nature in each
case, it was agreed that they should form the
basis of judgment in all. The testimony was,
in substance, as folows:-
Carl Gothert, being sworn, stated that he
arrived at the Kilauea plantation about the
18th Of October, 1882. On arriving there he
had no lodgings assigned him. He slept in
sugar house, together with thirty or more
others; slept there a little more than two
months. They were not supplied with beds OF
bedding They slept on the trash one night.
Their pay began from the day they com.
menced work The contract called for one half
acre Of land for the use of each man, but this
was never allotted to him. In lieu of the land
promised by the contract, the manager had
agreed to furnish a cook. lie had been struck
upon one occasion, by the manager, with a
whip, and had been ordered not to hold any
communication with anyone while at work, as
had also his co-laborers. lie also said that he
had been set to work with Cinnamon as pun.
ishment for not obeying the order. Upon this
he had refused to work; was tried before the
court and sentenced to pay fine Of S., and
So costs. After this he and the others went to
Lihue to see Mr.. lsenberg, under the suppose
ton that he was part owner of the plantation.
They were advised by him to go to Honolulu
and see their Consul. They had applied to
the manager to be allowed to 90 to Honolulu
and had been refused. The manager told
them to write to their Consul, but they had not
done so, because they had written once before
upon another matter and had received no
answer. When before the court the manager
| had forbidden their Consul TO speak. The
| first time they were before court a countryman
| had interpreted for them, and upon their last
trial they had asked for the same man as inter
| prefer, but were refused and some one else put
in his stead in this man they had no conf
dence, and would have nothing to do with him.
They had asked that three of their number
should be allowed to 60 TO Honolulu for the
purpose of interviewing the Consul The
manager said that he would allow this If the
remaining men would 60 to work in the interim;
| but none would consent.
! Wilhelm Koenchern, sworn, said: He was
one Of the number housed in the sugar house.
His pay had commenced when he began to
work. He had been sick half month while
there, but no medical attendance had been
provided for him. He was given some salve,
but ii did not help him. After being sin
weeks in the sugar house he went to China
house, each room Of which was furnished with
six hunks. Three OF them had taken in some
grass to put into the hunks to sleep on. There
was house called the Sydney House, into
| which witness was taken, out of compassion
by one of the inmates. Before going into the
house the Manager was applied to for bed
steads, but none were provided. Thelandprom
ised by contract had not been given. Witness
contract called for deduction Of 4 marks pei
month, whereas s marks had been taken dur
ing the months of February and March. They
went to Lihue on account OF meat having beer
refused to them; supposing Mr.. lsenberg was
part owner, and wishing to consult him in re
gard to their troubles. They were not allowed
to 90 to Honolulu to see their Consul. Purvis
Mckenzie, and Macfe merely opened the law
book and showed it to the Judge, who there
upon Immediately pronounced sentence. Thei
l.attorney protested that their contracts were no
valid as no stamps were affixed The manage
said the attorney was fool. Court was hel'
in the plantation restaurant. They had de
manded all that was due them under the con
tract but the native Judge told them they ha'
) all they could demand and that was why the,
wished to see the Consul. They were told tt
pay fine and go to work but refused
Much more was stated by this witness, bu
so similar in character to wha, had been state'
by previous witness, that to avoid REPETITION
/, ii is omitted.
The Police Magistrate after hearing the cas-
adjudged the contracts void for condition
broken and accordingly the men were release
from service.