The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-05-30
A CONDENSED STATEMENT OF
HIS DOINGS HERE.
He Makes Three Public Retractions-
His Letters to the Herald Con-
tain Many FaIsehoods.

For the benefit OF our readers
abroad, it may be well to re-state
concisely the events which have
occurred here regarding Mr.. Chas.
| Nordhoff, the well-known CORES
pondent Of the New York Herald,
as this will be the most important
item of news by the outward mail.
Mr.. Nordhoff arrived here April
eth, in the steamer Alameda, from
San Francisco, and his first letter
to the Herald bore date April 9Th.
This letter attracted much atten-
ton here on account of its gross
misstatement of well-known fact,
and reckless falsehoods. Charity
for the writer has led many to the
belief that it was prepared on board
the steamer on his passage hither,
from statements made by unreliable
persons, whose only object was to
cast discredit on the annexation
movement and on those concerned
in it.
Some of our prominent citizens
were named as promoters of the
lottery scheme and as having signed
I a petition asking the ex-queen to
promulgate it. Three of the gen
tlemen SO named Immediately took
legal steps to obtain redress for the
statements made, as having been
libelous, and which under Hawai-
ian laws are indictable as a crimi-
nal ofense. Mr.. Nordhoff imme-
diately addressed communications
to the press, retracting the state
ments published by him in this
matter. The following is one of
several retractions published by
him:
EDITOR STAR :" Will you kindly
say for me that regret very sincerely
having published the names of Mr.. +.
w. McChesney and Mr.. Lansing in
letter of mine to the New York Her
aid, as one of those who signed lot
terry petition. Mr.. McChesney and
Mr.. Lansing write me that they did
not sign any such petition, and l very
willingly express my sincere regrets
at having, by misleading report,
been led to print their names among
such signers. 1 would not willingly
give currency to false report, and
am mortified that, in spite of what
thought special care, this has hap
pened to me in the case of Mr.. Hoogs
and, as it now appears, of Mr.. Nc
Chesney and Mr.. Lansing.
Yours truly,
CHARLES NoRDHoFF.
Honolulu, May %, $685."
The three parties who had felt
injured by him were W. H. Hogs
(of the firm of F. Hustace g. Coz, |
Theo. F. Lansing (of the firm of
M. Phillips & Coz, and F. w.
McChesney (of the firm of NJ. W.
McChesney & Sons).
1t is understood that his apollo |
gies will also appear in the New
York Herald.
1t cannot be denied that there is
a very strong feeling against Mr..
Nordhoff on account of the false |
statements which he has purposely |
or innocently published against
citizens, the government and ex-
American Minister Stevens. Yet
there has not been the least evil
dence of any purpose to retaliate
or injure Mr.. Nordhoff personally.
Certainly nothing has occurred that
would necessitate the protection
asked for by Minister Blount.
However, the request was acceded
to, and a police guard is sta
toned at his cottage at night. Mr..
Nordhoff is as safe in his cottage
in Honolulu as he would be in |
Washington.
On Monday Mr.. Nordhof was
cited to appear, on Tuesday, before
the Provisional government to an
swer to the charge of having pub
lished statements of a libelous
character. He failed to appear,
the American minister taking the
ground that the Provisional govern
ment had no authority to act in
the matter, offering as a precedent
the case of Mr.. o. K. Cutting, who
was arrested in Mexico on the
charge of libel published by him
in Texas in 1885 or Z.
1t is stated that an action will |
be commenced in the supreme
court, to bring Mr.. Nordhof before
it, to answer complaint made
against him. Here the matter
rests at the time of going to press.
That Mr.. Nordhoff has been
grossly deceived by persons who
have furnished him information
there can be no doubt. The result
cannot be otherwise than injurious
to his reputation for impartiality,
and his letters, SO far, are very un-
truthful.