The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-08-18
THE LIBEL SUIT.
The Writer of the Article on the
Stand.

The Writer of the Article on the
Stand.
The motion to discharge in the
libel suit against Arthur Johnstone,
editor of the Advertiser, was over
ruled by Judge Robertson in the
District Court this morning. John
stone was then placed on the witness
stand. He deposed that he had no
control or authority over the publ
cation of the Advertiser, but had
power to prevent any correspondent
from publication. Witness insisted
on Antoine Clogs signing the article
before he would publish it, because
he thought it might be untrue. The
officers of the Gazette Co. control
the paper, but didn't know who con-
trolled the publication of articles.
Told Captain Ferguson, the COM
plainant, that Clogs was a reliable
man.
Antoine Clogs, the writer of the
alleged libellous article. took the
stand. He stated Guatemala was a
swampy country, having seen swamps
about thirty or forty miles inland.
The dollars we're called POGO tempo
dollars, and were valued at fifty-fve
cents, when he was there. With re-
gard to lunas on the Guatemala
plantations, he had seen them carry
ing pistols. One or two laborers had
told him that the lunas would use
the pistols if they had sufficient
provocation. Saw none of them shot
however. Witness did not see any
contract laborers in Guatemala, but
was told so. Saw no Japanese but
on one plantation saw four China
men. Gould not tell the name of
the plantation. He stayed in Guate-
mala from 1887 to 1890. Been there
since but only for a short time, hav-
ing landed from the steamer Colima
from San Diego. Clogs was at Guate-
mala when the steamer Montserrat
arrived with a load of South Sea
Islanders, and witnessed the landing
of half of the living cargo. Had
heard some of the men say that they
would make it hot for the boss,
probably meaning Captain Fergu-
son. He did not see the South Sea
Islanders work, or know to what
plantations they had been consigned.
The houses were long buildings,
covered with corrugated iron, and
the food consisted of corn, flour and
jerked beef dried in the sun. The
rations were not given. out by plan,
tatioR managers, but laborers had to
supply their own food. The climate
there was great deal warmer than
in Honolulu.
The witness being questioned as
to where he was at certain dates got
muddled up, and had to make a cor.
rection. In one instance he stated
he was in San Francisco when pre-
viously he said he was at Guatemala
at the time.
Clogs continuing stated he was a,
present engaged as doorkeeper al
the Chinese Theatre. He was ar.
rested at the Kahului race track OF
last Fourth of July for running {
roulette table. Had not made any
application to the authorities here tc
be allowed the privilege of run
ming a roulette table at the Park OF
September I'd.
A. j. Anderson, sworn, stated thai
he was in Guatemala first in 1877!
and stayed there three months
Next went there in 1887, and tn,
last time in March last. He hac
travelled mule back about thirty
leagues inland, and all the way i
was water and swamps. Heard peo
pie complain of fever there, but die
not have it himself. He described
the way people slept there. 1t wa
on a mat on the floor. The roofing
was of corrugated iron on som
houses, and Others we're thatehet
and adobe houses. On one planta
ton he had seen one hundred an,
fifty men sleeping in one house.
. The Court adjourned until 3
: o'clock.
The Court assembled shortly ate
: l 30 o'clock this afternoon, an
heard the conclusion of Anderson
: evidence, which was in effect that
was customary with lunas in GU;
temala to carry not only pistols, bu
, knives. Witness stated that he sa
some of the laborers shot in tn
legs, when they started in to max
disturbance. 1t was a univers;
!, custom in that country to carry pi
j. tolls.
Owing to the absence of sever
witnesses for the defense the ca.
$ was continued.
q U