Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-01-22
THE PRESS LIBEL CASE.
MR.. TOMBSTONE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL
AT THE SUPREME COURT.

[By an arrangement with the Bulletin we
are enabled to present our readers with the
only complete shorthand report Of this trial
We have added the portions of the cross ex-
animation crowded out Of the Bulletins re-
port. ED. PREss.]
Mr.. Arthur Johnstone, editor of
the "Daily Honolulu Press was
arraigned in the Police Court before
Justice Bickerton, this morning,
charged on the sworn information
of His Excellency Paul Neumann,
Attorney-Gene of the Kingdom,
with the offense of libel, for having
published wilfully and maliciously
and with intent to injure" Mr..
Neumann sin fame, reputation and
good name, and to bring him into
disgrace, adherence, odium, hatred,
contempt and rldicule," an article
in the paper above named, on Jan.
10th, under the heading, IA Dead
Mans Word" The article said
that the Attorney General,F in his
letter in the BULLETIN of the 18th
inst, virtually admits that there
was an open account between the
Government and Mr.. Oakley" who
lately committed suicide, land that
the Attorney-General proposed to
strike off about $118 and pay the
bill" Further ON it charged the
Attorney-General with attempting
to force discount on Mr.. Oakley
on note for $1,700 made by the
King, which it was the duty of the
Attorney-General to pay. 1t also
gave an alleged statement of Mr..
Oakley to the effect that Mr.. Neu-
mann had demanded $500 of him
for himself before he would pay the
note, and added that "there is lie
out somewhere, and Mr.. Oakley s
version of the affair can be proven.
Messrs. w. A. Whiting and F.
M. Hatch appeared for the King
and Mr.. S. B. Dole for the defense.
The first witness for the prosecution
was
FRED. JONES, who recognized a
paper produced as a copy of the
"Press' of the 10th inst, delivered
at the Hawaiian Hotel by the regu-
lar carrier. Cross-examined-I am
bar-keeper at the Hawaiian Hotel.
Dawn DAYToN-I am the Deputy
Marshal of the kingdom: had read
the article i'll Press of the issue pro-
duced; knew Mr.. Johnstone was
editor of that paper because he
(witness) called at his house will
Mr.. Neumann on Sunday last. Mr.
Neumann informed witness of the
article published in the "Press'' the
day previous that concerned him
self. Mr.. Neumann asked Mr.
Johnstone if he was responsible fol
that publication, and he said he
was. Mr.. Neumann asked John
stone if he would be willing to re-
tract it if it was shown that the
article was inaccurate, or he useC
these words, If it was shown tC
him that it was untruthful. Mr.
Johnstone said that these matters
were given to him and that he was
working for party, and he coult
not do anything until he consulted
those parties, and he would be able
to let him know the following day
between IL and IL O'Clock, as ht
would have to see his attorney be-
fore doing anything. He knew Mr.
Neumann as Attorney-General o.
this Kingdom.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Dole
Mr.. Neumann said that he knew th'
editors business, and asked him i
he would be willing to give thu
names of the parties. Johnston'
either admitted or said that the arti
Gle was written at the instance O.
other parties. @. Was not tina
the main point, the names of hi
informantsY A. No; l think i
was altogether that he wanted t.
consult with them.
PAUL NEUMANN--I am Attorney