The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-03

Nearly the whole Of yesterday
afternoons session of the Dis
trict Court was taken up with the
trial of Irwin, the steamer kahu-
lui sailor charged with the lar
ceny OF watch, the property of
the first officer and valued at $50.
Captain Tyson, Mate Warner,
the cabin boy and one Of the sail
ors appeared as witnesses for the
prosecution.
Irwin had no witnesses and de
Tended himself quite cleverly.
The witnesses. introduced test
mony placing the theft of the
watch at the hands Of Irwin, who
was sentenced to nine months
imprisonment at hard labor.
Following is his story as
brought out At the trial yester,
day:
"On May 18th the first officer
came forward and said that he
had lost his watch. He asked me
if | knew anything about ii and l
said No He searched all our
belongings and didn't find it. The
next dav he said. If you know
ANYTHING about the watch it is
about time to find out | said |
did not know the first thing about
II. Warner said he did not ac-
cuse me of taking the watch. lie
told me to try to find ont where
it was and | would get paid for
it. Never heard anything more
about it until May oath. Had just
taken my dinner The order was
given for the crew to come on
deck. with all belongings. | came
up with my clothing and passed
it to the other man above, for 1t
was too heavy for me alone. Then
[ brought my bedroom blanket
up. The mate was standing
there and sat down by my
clothes. The mate opened my
bed up and Il small razor-knife
was living right on. the bed. Then
he told us to take our clothes
down below. after which [ turned
in. Had been sleeping for about
an hour and half when they
sent forward for me. The cap
tain said to me, L have you IN Il
trap now. I've got you at last.
You're the man that took the
watch. I'll put you in irons now
I said. You can do as you please.
If YOU behave yourself and. go
back to work there'l be nothing
more about it. the captain said.
Had behaved myself except when
| fought my second mate In self
defense. Because | wouldn't be
subdued by his ugly ways and
stand his insulting talk the mate
put me in irons and showed me
down below. in between decks.
Asked the second officer to take
the chains off for a little while,
so | could relieve myself. No,
was the answer, they will never
come Off Asked the captain to
LET me out for Il little exercise.
That was in the morning. At noon
| was very sick and he let me out
for a half-hOur. Next day he let
me out on deck. Was fixed IN "
place where | could not walk and
had to lie on my back right along
side the boilers. [ was that blacE
when they took me aboard Friday
before we got into port that the
captain commanded me to wash
nv face. Did so. Then the cap
tain commanded me TO strip my
self naked. Told him | did not
think it advisable for me to do it
on account of the swollen cOndi
ton of my stomach. He caught
me by the throat and took my
hair in his teeth. Said Look out
Captain. you'll be sorry for wha-
YOU are doing. If | had two
hands l wouldn't let you tantaliz'
me the way you are doing. TOLD
me to wash my towel and hang i
up and to get a couple of. stops
The wind blew and the handker
chief went little crooked. III,
said, IF 1 get a club I'll make yol
do what 1 tell you Then he pu
me again in irons"
Cross-examined-I don't know
why the captain and Others
aboard the vessel have picked OF
me. Nv temper won't allow any