The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-07-27
THE QUEER POLICE
A White officer in tia Opium
Business.

The ADVERTISER has made fur
ther investigation Of the bogus
opium report, and finds the other
side of the story about as follows
For some time past the Custom
House, through its secret service,
has been investigating the selling
of opium in Honolulu, and gather
ing a large fund of information
which some day will prove inter
esting reading to the people of
these islands.
From information received, it
appears that the proprietor of a
wash house on King street, near
Richards, was a large dealer in
opium, and on the right informa-
ton being given to him, he ap-
preached one of the secret service
force, and asked if he was buying
it. The officer informed him that
he was in the business, when the
Chinaman said he had some to
sell. On being asked where he got
his stuff from, he said from one of
the foreign police officers, who had
it slowed away on a ranch in Koo-
lau. Preliminaries were entered
into, and matters arranged for a
sale of thirty tins of California
opium, when suddenly the China
man did not want to sell, but to
exchange. This at once raised the
suspicious of the officer, and in
consultation it was decided to lead
him on and accept his offer of ex-
change Of thirty tins of Gala. for
fifteen tins of Hongkong opium.
Last Sunday when the false tins
of opium had been prepared, the
Custom House officer took one to
the Chinaman, who examined the
labels, ETC., also sample of good
opium, and said it appeared salts
factory, and 9 o'clock next morn
ing was set as the time for the
exchange. Early that morning a
watch was set on the wash house,
when, who should enter the build
ing and go into the back and re-
main there, but Officer Larsen.
This fact was at once reported to
the Custom House officer. At 8
o'clock, the hour appointed,
Larsen not yet having been
seen to leave the building, the
officer entered with a friend
Having the fifteen tins of bogus
opium in a bag. The Chinaman
was met at the front door and led
the officer into a back room, where
Officer Larsen was seen sitting on
a box in the back of the room.
He appeared thunder-struck at the
sight of the Custom House officer
whom he knew to be such, and for
moment appeared to forget him
self, but suddenly recalling him
self he bounced upon the officer
and informed him he was under
arrest for possession of opium.
The Custom House officer then
made request to Larsen to be
allowed to search the building, as
he was positive from his informa-
ton that the thirty tins were
there. This, Larsen positively re-
fused to allow and on further pro-
testations of his action in opposing
an officer of the customs, he, Lar
sen, called in a policeman and
marched his victim triumphantly
to the Station House. Here the
officer and his friend were form
erly charged with opium in posses
sion, and the fact was telephoned
to the Custom House that one of
their officers had been arrested for
having opium in possession. As
the two were being removed to
their dungeon cell, Larsen was
making test of the tins, when to
his evident amusement or chagrin,
they were all found to contain q
mixture not opium, SO he sorrow
fully had to let his prisoners go
The Custom House officer is conf
dent, had he been allowed tt
search the building, that the
opium would have been found bu
was frustrated by the police officer
whose name possesses anything
but of savory nature, and who
yet seems to have sufficient pull
with King Bolabola to defy al
law and order.