The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-08
Murderous Attack of a
Smuggler.
JOSEPH CASSIRES AGAIN.
He Nearly Kills a Honolulu
Police Officer.
HIS VERY BAD LOCAL RECORD.
News by the Transit Concerning a
Well-Known Opium TraffiCker.
Marine Notes.

Joseph Cassires, we'll known to the
Custom-house officials of this port, has at
last got himself into a peck of trouble
with the Honolulu police. Mr.. Cassires is
neld at Honolulu on two serious charges
that of smuggling opium and that of as
sault to murder
Several months ago Cassires kept the
local Federal officers guessing, for suave
of manner was he, glib of tongue and
slippery of body.
He was employed as steward of the
barkentine S. c. Allen, but his chosen
vocation as caterer to the crew Of that
vessel has not at any time been so success
full as to offset his ability as bafller of
Govern ment vigilance and trader with
the heather Chinese.
The smuggling of opium into Hawaii
has not decreased one iota within the past
decade, and Notwithstanding the fact that
the phantom yacht" Halcyon has ceased
to be an illegal traficker and Whalley-
WELL what has become of Whalley. any
how?
Success had apparently made Cassires
bold and he had won considerable recognl-
tion as "a clever man" in his peculiar line
of business.
But. alas! Mr.. Cassires has now no doubt
concluded that "ihe path of glory leads
but to the grave" in many cases via the
scaffold.
Cassires' victim was expected to die when
the schooner Transit, which arrived yes
terday morning. left Honolulu.
or all the "small fry" smugglers who
operate on the Pacific Coast, Cassires is
said to be the most bold. He is certainly
one of the best known. Therefore MS
story is interesting.
When the t. c. Allen reached Honolulu
the steward was closely watched. One
morning he left the vessel and started up
town. lie ambled along like man with
rheumatism and was pulled out about the
waisi like the fat man at Barnum's.
Officer James Kauhaue and Officer
KaOuli, OF the Honolulu police, stood him
up aud requested an explanation of the
sudden change which had come over his
anatomy.
Cassires' person. When the officers seized
these he drew from his hip pocket knife
with a l2-inch blade, keen as razor.
Quick as lightning kaunnae received a
thrust I'D the left side and stab in the
arm. Kaoull grasped the cooks arm and
tried to throw him.
Cassires raised his knife and repeatedly
stabbed the officer. Every time the blade
was buried deep In the body of his victim.
KaOuli raised lis hands to protect his
breast and was horribly cut about the
arms, fingers and shoulders. He fell
bleeding snd unconscious to the street
In the meanwhile kauhaue beat the
murderoCs cook over the head with a club.
striking him senseless.
By this time large crowd had gathered.
The three men were rushed off 10 the
hospital.
Kaouli was expected to die at any
time when the Transit left the islands.
The crew of thu Transit at 10
had been suspected of smuggling and of
being one of a large gang of criminals
who have been defrauding the Govern
ment. He had been detected Offering to
sell large quantity of opium to Chinese.
Whether the stuff offered was taken
ashore from the Allen is not known.
Several years ago Joseph Cassres was
arrested for smuggling opium into Homo
lulu on the ship (. s. Thompson. Later
he was apprehended in San Francisco for
trying to dispose OF opium to Chinese
merchants on Clay street In both H.
stances he was discharged for lack of
evidence.
Cassires moved his wife and family to
the islands about two months age, where
they are now living. He is Spaniard by
descent, but claims to be a native born
American.
The Corwin. after following the steamer
Empire as far as Point Reyes, returned to
pun uOcOdy nISbls NO DOdlo were
observed in the vicinity OF the suspect.
The raise of rates TO Central American
way ports does not affect the North Ameri-
can Navigation Company. The points
named in the Pacific Mail Company's tariff
are seldom touched by the North Amer-
can Company's boats.
1t is not unlikely that the rates of both
steamship companies will go up before the
LIST OF next month, as the present schedule
Of prices allows no margin for profit, in
fact only means great loss to both con-
Germs.
Five dollars ton is low enough for any
shipper. 1t ENSURES competition with the
Hamburg tramp steamers upon an equal
footing. and to be longer lived the North
American Navigation Company must
necessarily pay expenses at least. A
slight advance in rates TO Central America
would by DO means be blow to the oppo-
sltioD. 1t is the only chance it has of con-
tinulng in existence indefinitely.
The ship America will be brought over
from Oakland Creek to load coal for Sitka
under charter to the Government. The
fuel is to be for the use of American war;
ships in northern waters.