Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-12-22
An ELOQUENT ADDRESS.
C. W. ASHFORD SPEAKS.
The "COESPlRLfORS" DEFENDED.
TINKER A FREE MAN.

The District Court opened al
its usual honr this morning After
disposing of a few unimportani
cases the great conspiracy case
was called.
c. w. Ashford addressed the
court and spoke for an hour and
half. 1t is impossible to do
justice to the eloquence of this
leading lawyer and we have to
confne ourselves to publishing
the gist of his forcible address.
The charge against the defend
ants is that of conspiring together
and also with other persons not
mentioned to overthrow the gov
eminent by force. A conspiracy
is a fraudulent and malicious
combination between any two
persons to do something iniur-
ious to a third party. If any of
these defendants did conspire
they should be committed. Ii
not, they should be discharged.
A magistrate should only commit
for trial whenever he believes
that jury on the same evidence.
with the same witnesses, and
under the same circumstances
would convict. 1t is not enough
as the A-G. probably will con
tend that there is suspicion.
and that by other evidence adj
duced the defendants might be
found guilty. by a jury. No man
should be shut up except there is
good reason to believe that
jury will convicb him. / desire
to take the cas- separately
hardly need say much in regard
to Weed. The Attorney General
has admitted that the evidence
against him is very light. The
evidence against Weed has been
given by only one man. and the
man is Osmer. Surprising his
evidence against Weed had been
more damaging than it was. that
he had identified Weed with all
these schemes against the govern
ment. it should be remembered
that his evidence was only that
OF one man against one. And
doubt that the court will hold
that the evidence of Osmer
against the denial Of Weed would
hold good before a jury of -
men. The court is not to assume
that other evidence will be pro-
duced. The government cannot
be supposed to have any more
evidence against Weed. Fit had,
It would have produced it here.
Osmer has not brought any evid- |
ence that any jury would enter |
tain, even If Weed had not denied |
his statements. He admitted |
himself that whatever Weed did |
say it MAS only in general terms |
as what could be done in case an |
nsurrection should;happens: Mr.. |
attachments that he was |
Indifferent to any disaster hap
'eniug here may be brought up.
lie is not on trial here for his
opinions. Any man has right
o express his opinion. know
hat it is a very delicate point
With the government. Any criti-
ism of the government, is con-
idered sedition, l don't know
low long this government will be
bic to sustain itself in Office.
dany OF its member undoubtedly
Tish to get out of it. Because
hey are opposed or criticised. !,
he men doing so. do not
'ecome conspirators. Their pro-
lamation January 1893 was that ,
hey established a free govern
,ent, a liberal government, and 1
is perfectly legitimate for any
IAN to criticise it even to the ex- I
mt of advocating the re-estab- '
shment OF the monarchy. But .
Weed never even went so far. {
'smer is q spy. Possibly he s
ants to be called 9 detective. S
ut TO be that certain degree of I
Intelligence. and integrity is q
scessary, and as 0smer possess /
J mono We will call him simply I