The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-12-24
Sheridan and Dr.. Underwood on
Trial for Conspiracy,
NEUMANN q HAYSELDEN TESTIFY
Testimony Adduced at the TriaI-Court
Room Crowded With Eager Specta-
tors-PIea of Not GuiIty-Motion to
Dismiss on Insuf1iciency of Evidence.

After many pOstpOnements the con-
spiracy cases against DR.. Underwood
and J. K. Sheridan came up for trial
in the District Court yesterday morn
ing. The defendants appeared
calm and serene, but slowed signs of
Incarceration. A large number of
people were present TO hear the trial
and they listened with rapt attention
to the various witnesses who took the
stand to tell what they knew of the
supposed conspiratOrs. Among the
number were noticed Miss Kate Field,
Minister Cooper, AttOrney-General
Smith and Consul Mills. Both defen-
dants pleaded not guilty to the charge
as read.
Paul Neumann was the first witness
to take the stand. He told of DIR. I'm
derwood calling at his office on Dec. 1
and of how he had talked of the colo
nizatiOn of the island of Lanai as a
scheme worthy of consideration. He
did not take much stock in the
vagaries of the gentleman, but listen
l.
wood expressed a desire to see Mr..
Hayselden of Lanai. For his part
Underwood could not see why a colo
niZatiOn scheme with Lanai as the
center could not be carried out success
fully. He had been the head of a
successful movement of the kind in
Guatemala.
DR.. Underwood called at Mr. Neu-
mann's residence few days later and
inquired for Mr.. Hayselden. An ap-
pOIntment was made with him and
MS friend Sheridan for the next morn
ing./{Dr. Underwood stated that there
was a sporting syndicate in the States
that wanted very much to get hold OF
the island of Lanai for the purpose OF
turning it into Monte Carlo, where
races, prize fights, lotteries and the
like could be carried on. DR.. Under
wOod said a concession would be ask
ed for at the hands of 1.-The queen,
should she be restoredL ( Arms could
be landed on Oahu and q march made
upon the city of Honolulu. There
were 1900 men at HilO who stood
ready to subjugate the other islands.
The sporting men would advance the
money if the queen would grant the
concession. Lanai was to be used as
the base of operations. The cOnversa-
tion of the men was rather vague and
expressed nothing definite. No ques
tions were asked. What they said
was done voluntarily.
On Oss-eXaminatiOn Mr.. Neu-
mann said he knew nothing of the
movements or the intentions of the
men. They might have been sheep
herders for all be knew. Thought
also they might have been a couple of
illustrlOus Government spies. DR..
Underwood said it would be of great
advantage to the sports on the Coast
if they could have the islands, as of
late they had had great deal of trOu
bic 6uckiDg against the laws. When
he was told there were 1900 men in
HilO ready to take up arms knew just
about how much stock to put in it.
After making profound DOW to the
Court, Mr.. Hay yseldeu, of Lanai, took
the stand and testified as follows
While playing billiards at the Hawai-
ian Hotel some time in the latter part
of October, the bell-OOy of the hotel
came in and said there was a man on
the outside who wanted to see me.
He gave his name as Underwood
Found both the doctor and Sheridan.
They talked for about five minutes.
The men asked questions about the
Island of Lanai, and then said trey
were luiSTeSJeu III Il cOiOuIZdIlou
scheme. As | was about to leave for
Molokai on business, the men were
referred to Paul Neumann. my attOr- !
ney. Went 10 see Underwood in the |
middle of November at his boarding |
house on Alakea street He referred |
to men of capital who Were ready to !
Invest their money if there was any |
thing defininite in the project. Told |
the men / could not see how the |
thing could De brought about without
legislative enactment; also, that did
not think they could get a franchise.
Underwood said be did not see why
the queen had not been restored with
all the following she has. He did not