The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-04-06
Way TIE CROWNS WERE
TRANSFERRED TO The
PALACE.
An Interview with Colonel Geo.
W. Macfarlane Who Tells
All About Them.
THE ADVERTISER DROPS ON TO
a CLUE.

The ADVERTISER 5 account OF the
robbery at the Palace caused a
sensation yesterday. Marshal
Hitchcock and others were busy
during the day making a search
ing investigation, and while they
would not admit that they had any
clue to the thief, it is understood
that evidence has been unearthed
that will bring result of some
kind before the week is out.
In speaking of the robbery last
night the organ of the royalists
said: "The Palace was taken out
of Chamberlain Robertson's care a
week ago." Mr.. R. J. Greene, the
new custodian of the Palace, stated
to an ADVERTISER reporter last
evening that Robertson has had
possession of the keys to every
door in the building right along
and the same were not turned over
to him until Monday morning at
10 o'clock.
Col. George Macfarlane was
seen yesterday and he gave the
following information regarding
the transfer of the crowns from the
bank to the Palace:
"While / was in England" COM
menced Mr.. Macfarlane, Il learn
ed that the crowns had been de-
posted in vault at Spreckels 81
Co. l was not the Kings cham
berlain at the time.
"The next time my attention
was called to the crowns was in
1890 while [ was chamberlain.
One day the King sent note
to Spreckels q Co. to deliver them
to one of the household guards.
Mr.. Spaulding, the cashier of the
bank came over to me and asked il
| would give a personal receipt fol
the crowns, as he did not want tC
take receipt from a native soldier
~ refused to do so until / saw
the king and ascertained if he gave
the order to the soldier. | after
wards rang up the telephone and
learned that he had issued the
order.
His object in sending for thu
crowns was for Mrs. Corwin, thu
wife of paymaster Corwin, U. S. N.
who was going to make painting
of.the royal feather cloaks for thu
queen. She wanted the crowns an'
sceptre to copy, as they would form
a part of the painting
"When [ found that the king re
quired the crowns and that he ha'
personally sent for them gave tn
receipt.
"The next time | saw the crown
they were in the studio which ha
been fitted up upstairs in the Pal
ace, where Mrs. Corwin was q
work on the painting. Shortl
after this time the king left for Sa
Francisco and they were left in th
custody Of James Robertson, VIII
was then vice-chamberlain. Befor
my return from San Francisco afte
the death of the king he had as
} sumed charge as chamberlain fc
the queen"
The crowns were ordered in Lor
don, through Mr.. Hoffnung, th
Hawaiian consul at that city
They were brought to this city b
Col. G. Il. Judd, in January, 1SS;
who was then the kings chamber
lain.
It was learned last night tina
+ a visitor now in this city saw tn
despoiled crown on the Goth of las
month. At the time the visito
saw it, the large diamond in tn
! center of the Maltese cross wa
t missing. An explanation wa
+ made by the man in charge to tn
effect that the brilliant had bee
taken from the crown during tn
reign of Kalakaua. 1t now look
as though the person who took tn
diamond returned for the othe
gems.