The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-03-20
Charges Against Hoshina Heard
Yesterday.
WITNESSES TESTIFY AGAINST.
Confidence in Customers - Letters
bysPrisoner-Masui Tells His story.
Letters Identffied-Other Facts. Etc.

For an hour and half in the morn
ing and all afternoon yesterday. the
District Court was kept busy with the
case of Hoshina and Iwata, charged
with selling opium. or a preparation
thereof, in Honolulu. Oahu.
Messrs. Neumann, A. G. NJ Robert
son and George A. Davis appeared for
the defense and Marshal Brown for the
prosecution.
Defendants plead not guilty to the
charge. An objection to the charge as
being indefinite in failing to note the
time Of offense was overruled. Excep-
ton taken
| Masui, sworn, stated: Live in Ho-
nolulu; have known defendants for
about three years; was at Hoshina's
house about two weeks ago: simply went
there to visit Hoshina, and remained
about an hour. Do not remember what
was said. There were several people in
the house; some were in the kitchen
and others in another room. Iwata left
the room. He met Hoshina in the back
room. The opium was received then"
| An objection was made as to any evil
dence about opium being given under
the charge. Overruled and exception
taken.
Masui continuing: "Iwata went away
to another place while was talking to
Hoshina. When Hoshina and | went
out together Iwata passed by and went
into the house. 1t was then that opium
was received from Hoshina. Iwata gave
the opium to Hoshina. The stuff was
put in tin box. Received tin of opium
while Iwata was going into the house
Stayed about five minutes with Hoshi-
ma Do not know to whom opium be-
longed. They had it promised before.
The promise was that Hoshina would
bring the opium and give it to him. II
was not a present to me. Had no
money"
Continued in the afternoon:
Promised to pay Hoshina $4,000 on
Sunday morning following. Don't knaw
how much opium there was in the tin
box. Hoshina said twenty tins, and
named the price at the time when il
was received. Took the opium to Feu-
ruya; came back to Hoshina afterward
received 5000 in paper money from
Feuruya and went to the custom house
with 1t. Feuruya said the remaining
$40 would not be forthcoming until al
terward. Feuruya and |, after going to
Bishops bank, went to the custom
house to see Hoshina. was arrested by
Doyle while on the way. Had money in
my pocket. Have not seen the package
since 1t was taken to Feuruya. Always
went to Hoshina when had the chance.
There was only one transaction. There
was one other sale during the two
months prior to March 9. This was
from Hoshina; may have been a month
ago. Hoshina sent me some opium
while | was in Lihue, Kauai. | receiy-
ed letter from.the sender on the same
day as the arrival of the opium. Pack
age contained ten small packages. Paid
Hoshina $50 for the whole lot. Letter
identified by witness) Hoshina's sig
nature was not upon it, My family
name was on the letter The balance
OF $50 promised to pay Hoshina later.
Went to Kauai with Doyle. He took
charge of letters and other things"
Cross-examined-" opium when
see 1t. Was convicted once in Hilo for
selling 1t. Did not get that from Ho-
shlnd- Did not stay more than an hour
after receiving the opium. Did not 20
back into the house at all. Did not open
the box Talked with Hoshina on the
same night, just before going there.
The letter spoke of receiving was not
signed by anyone. but some other thing
was written there. Mean by this that
Hoshina's name was not signed. Ecu
'uya asked me to procure the opium for
him. Never had any other dealing with
him. Talked to no one about the trans
action prior to arrest. Feuruya spoke
about getting me out of Jail, and per
uaded me to confess everything. Feu-
'uya was arrested with opium on his
'erson, and confessed everything. My
ormer name was Oishi. but | was
idopted by the Masui family. Only
hanged my name once. Got a box OF
'pium in Lihue. | received II from
'akanaka, and gave him receipt for IL
rakanaka got 1t from the steamship
ompany while / was present He was
o sell it again. Went with him to the
Tharf and saw the delivery of the boz
o him. The receipt was delivered to
he purser Of the steamer Takanaka
anded it over to the purser"
Sasima, sworn, stated: Remember
ioshina's style of writing. Letters
7ritten to NE were al in japanese.
lave had letters from Hoshina written
18th regular japanese brush. This one
TO letter. is with pen, but
same characteristics appear
n sh."
The case will be continued today.