The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-04-04

Silver, SuDuTy moneys
overdue to Govern
ment, about......- ........ $1,000 90
The report was adopted.
Minister Porter read report of the
Finance Committee recommending
that the words provisional Govern
ment" be printed on the postage
stamps and that foreign governments
be notified.
The committee also recommended
that c. p. Iaukea, Secretary of the
Crown Land Commission, should
make full statement of all crown
lands, and that the amount to the
credit of the crown lands in Bishop
& Co.'s bank be taken up and de-
posted in the treasury, and that the
same be done at the end of every
mouth.
The report was adopted.
AT 1:45 the Council proceeded to the
consideration of the Sheldon contempt
case.
The Attorney General read the reso-
luton OF the Council upon which the
warrant was issued, also the charge,
and motion OF defendants attorney
asking for specifications of the charge,
so that they might be met.
The AttOrney-General cOntended
that no further specifications were
necessary.
Mr.. Ashford, council for Sheldon,
said that his client was not ready to
plead until he had been notified more
specifically as to what he was charged
with. He claimed that he was en-
titled to the same treatment as in n
Court of Law. Every lawyer knew
that this charge was not sufficiently
detailed. He had no knowledge that
any particular paragraphs had been
specified. How could anyone know
side of those paragraphs? 1t was poll
tic as well as just to adhere strictly TO
the forms of law.
The Acknowledgement quoted from
the rules of parliamentary procedure
showing that nothing more was Ie-
quired than the production OF the
newspaper and reading of the para
graphs complained OF, which had been
done.
The General read the
paragraphs and drew attention 10 the
fact that these paragraphs were read
TO the defendant six weeks ago.
Mr.. Ashford said that gave no guar
antee that the prosecution would not
travel outside of those paragraphs.
Mr.. Brown said ne thought it only
fair that the matters relied on should
be specifically alleged.
The Attorney General said he relied
upon the fact that the whole five col
umns of the English version were full
of contemptuous matter, and particu-
larry the paragraphs referred to.
President Dole said he supposed that
his position was analogous to that of
n judge sitting before jury, the
Council being in the position of n
jury. He thought when man was
on trial for his liberty he should be
given every opportunity to defend
himself, and a reasonable demand for
specifications should be granted. \
merely verbal specification would not
be sufficient.
paragraphs as those upon which he
would rely.
Mr.. Ashford declared himself salts
fed, and entered plea of mot
guilty."
The Attorney General offered the
Holomua with Mr.. Sheidon's name as
editor, as proof that lie was ed tor.
Mr.. Ashford objected to this method
of proof.
Mr.. Smith, wishing to be sworn,
President Dole questioned his own
power to administer an oath, and Mr..
Ashford, as notary public, admiuis-
tered it,
Mr.. Smith testified that Mr.. Shell
don had twice admitted to himself that
he was editor of the Holomua. He
was partially intoxicated at that time,
but subsequently, when sober he adj
mitted it.
Cross-eXamined He was not so
drunk as not to understand the pur-
port of the conversation. He said he
was editor of the paper including the
time when these articles were pub
lished. Don't know whether he was
in town on the l4th or not. Thinks
Mr.. Sheldon writes very good Eng
fish.
The Attorney claimed that
the Council could take judicial notice
of the fact that Mr.. Sheldon admitted
z to them that he was the editor of the
paper, and that he promised to apollo
gize and do better.
Mr.. Ashford objected to that. He
had supposed that there was evidence
enough to hang Sheldon, but now the
Acknowledgement was compelled to
resort to the doctrine of judicial no
tice. Moreover, this appearance be-
fore the Council was before the 14th.
The period between the 14th and 18th
must be accounted for, and the rules
of criminal evidence must be strictly
followed.
President Dole so ruled.
Mr.. Brown Sworn testified thai he
was present when Mr.. Sheldon was