The San Francisco call., 1895-12-24
1t Is Expected That Political
Prisoners Will Be Set
at Liberty.
CASES OF THE FILIBUsTERs.
Smugglers Elude the Authorities,
but the Price of Opium
Comes Down.


been whispered to THE CALL correspondent
by one who has the entree into the inner
most Government circles that President
Dole and his Cabinet are so we'll pleased
| with the way in which ex-Queen Liliuoka-
lani has conducted herself since herrelease
on parole that the granting of full and
complete pardon to that lady is actually
! under consideration, if determination to
grant it has not already been arrived at
The exact time for the issuing of the
pardon has not been determined, but it is
likely to be very soon, even within few
| weeks.
| 1t is also understood that those m embers
of the Council of State who stood out
against the granting of pardons on Thanks
giving day have experienced change of
heart, resulting from interviews with
prominent members of the Government
| who signed the petition for the pardon of
political prisoners on Thanksgiving day.
1t is said that another batch of pardons
may be looked for on Christmas day, and
that when the Legislature meets in Feb
ruary it will adopt resolution advocating
a general pardon of those political prison
ers still in jail.
Underwood and w. J. Sheridan. alias j. X.
Sheridan, were called in the District Court
this morning, but went over until to-mor-
row. The Government was represented by
Deputy District Attorney A. W. Carter,
brother of Charles L. Carter, who was
killed last January, and the prisoners were
defended by Attorney A. G.. NJ Robertson,
who prosecuted some of the cases before
the late Military Commission.
The defendants, on the advice of their
counsel, refused to plead until they had
been served with copies of the specifica-
tions under which they are accused of con-
spring to overthrow the Hawaiian Gov
ernment. The court held that the defense
was entitled to the documents demanded
and postponed the examination until to-
morrow.
The Government will endeavor to show
that these men made overtures to persons
here to engage in conspiracy to over
throw the Government and that there was
plan to get an armed force from Califor-
MIA to assist them. The strength of the
California contingent was to be 400, fully
armed and equipped, experienced with the
sword and rife Among the witnesses for
chant and some Government officials, who
will testify to being approached by the de-
PENDANTS. The Governments witnesses
are said to be more than usually reliable.
There is little or no excitement over the
affair, the general impression being that
the Government has acted too quickly in
the matter, and that the evidence, when
boiled down, will not amount to proof
enough for a jury to convict. Marshal
Brown, on the other hand, is confident
that he will convict both men, and claims
to have an abundance of testimony. In
the meantime, under instructions from
their counsel, the two men remain dumb,
but do not appear to be losing any sleep
over the fix they are in.
E. A. Schaefer, the Italian Consul here
and wealthy merchant and sugar
planter, is making great preparations to
welcome the Italian cruiser Crstoforo
Colombo, which is due here from the
colonies any day. She has on board as
one of her cadets an Italian Prince, one of
the nephews of King Humbert. Consul
Schaefer occupies the former residence of
Queen Emma in Nuuanu Valley. about
two miles from the city. He is having
residence enlarged, and has a number of
men beautifying his large grounds in
preparation for the young Princes recep-
ton.
All the expected men-of-war will put in
their appearance for Christmas and the
harbor and city will be lively. There will
be the United States ship Baltimore, the
French cruiser Beauxtemps Beaupres and
the Italian cruiser Christoforo Colombo,
besides the United States ship Bennington
and her Majesty's ship Wild Swan, already
here. The latter is awaiting orders ex-
pected on the next Australia and will coal
in the meantime
At concert given for the benefit of the
lepers' Christmas at Kaumakapili Church
on Saturday evening last, Miss Kate Field
sang the Spanish Muleteer's Song" and
received an encore from President Dole
and other notables who were present.
The tug Ellen, whic was off on cruise
after the opium-smuggling schooner Hen
rietta when the last mail left, returned on
Saturday morning without having seen a
strange SAIL The schooner made land
ing on the island of Kauai for water and
was seen by number of natives, who said
she was very small and had six men on
board. She was also seen off the island
of Maui, but not by the tug. The latter
left again on Saturday night for another
search and has not vet returned.
A week ago Hongkong opium was worth
$40 pound here and California opium
$27 90. 1t can now be bought for half the
amount and is very plentiful in the local
market, from which it may be imagined
that If the Henrietta has not successfully
landed her opium some other vessel has.
The excitement over the chase after the
Henrietta has renewed the agitation in
favor of licensing the sale of opium and a
strong effort will be made to have the next
Legislature pass law to that effect. Most
of the papers favor such lew.