The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-02-16
CAPTAIN MARTIN FINED
He Gives a Remarkable Excuse
for Smuggling Opium.
Again the Mysterious
Schooner.
The Captain Would Impli-
cate the Honolulu Eus-
toms authorities.
Statement of the Facts as
Known in Honolulu.

Seizure of Opium" the Hongkong
Daily Press of December %, 1891,
contains the following report:
At the Police Court yesterday
Roger Martin, captain of the Nova
Scotia bark Velocity, was charged on
remand with having in his possession
about II 900 taels of prepared opium
without valid certificate from the
Opium Farmer. Mr.. Dennys APP
peared to prosecute and the defend
ant was represented by Mr.. Wotton.
Previous to the hearing of the evil
dence Mr.. Wotton said that with a
view to save the time of the Court
they were prepared to admit having
possession of the opium and not
having certificate. He had some
reasons to urge against any fine be-
ing imposed, but he proposed to
postpone making any statement till
he heard what Mr.. Dennys had to
say.
Mr.. Dennys said if this was adj
mitted he did not think he could
press for heavy fine.
Mr.. Spooner was then called. He
said-I am the chief Excise Officer.
On December 18th at p. m. l
boarded the Velocity. She was lying
near Stonecutter' Island. saw the
defendant on board and told him L
had come to seize opium. He said
it was not his opium and was put on
board by the Superintendent of Gus
toms at Honolulu to be taken to a
certain latitude and longitude and be
handed over to another vessel. AS
the vessel did not turn up he brought
it on to Hongkong. There were
eighteen packages containing about
900 taels.
Cross examined-I think the opium
might sell for export at about $4,000.
That would be less than the price at
which opium is sold for consumption
in Hongkong. ! have known Captain
Martin for about five years. | knew
where to find the opium. 1t was
given up at once by the captain.
Martin said that when he left Homo
lulu he had no intention to bring the
opium to Hongkong. The reason he
gave for not having transhipped the
opium was that he had missed the
other vessel. l believe the Velocity
arrived on Saturday about noon. l
boarded her about clock the same
evening. The Captain said nothing
to me about its being his intention to
report to the Harbor Master that he
had opium on board. l was ON board
for about half an hour or little
more. The captain stood by all the
time during the counting and produc-
tion of the packages.
Mr.. Dennys said he left it in his
Worship's hands about the amount
of fine. $500 was the penalty, and
nothing had been done to show cause
why it should be reduced. If his
Worship considered extenuating cir.
cumstances had been proved he would
not press for the full penalty being
inflicted.
Joshua Henry Guild, passenger
on board the Velocity, was called as
a witness for the defense. He sale
that about 100 miles from Honolulu
the ship hove to for day and 8
night. The captain told him he was
looking for schooner. The Chinese
passengers felt ann, yed at the vesse
being detained, and came aft to com
plain. The vessel was then put OF
hei course for Hongkong, which wa:
reached at three o'clock on Saturday
afternoon, 18th inst. An officer
whom witness took to be harboI
officer, came on board with pape
for report. The captainA wen
ashore some time afterward.
Cross-examined-He knew the i'm
port of prepared opium into Homo
lulu was prohibited. He did no
know where the opium was to b
taken after it had been put on boar'
the schooner. He did not know if
was treated as cargo, and put upol
the manifest. 1t was in the lazaretto
Mr.. Wotton for the defense urge
that the defendant had not intended
to bring the opium to Hongkong an
that his reasons given were sullicien
excuse for his Worship not inflictin!
severe fine. Captain Martin al
rived at 3 O'Clock In the afternoo
and it was his intention TO call upo
the Harbor Master. After missin
the other vessel he did not know wha
to do with the opium. He had nj
body here to deliver it to, and b
went to consult the Harbor Mastel
but the office was closed, and it ws
Captain Martins intention TO sc
him the first opportunity that OF
CURED and ask about it. Capital
Martin did not care about speakin
to everyone on the subject, KNOWN
the value Of the opium. He hs
been trading backward and foi wal
to the colony for upwards of thirt.
five years, and he did not think AN