The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-07
A BIG OPIUM CASE
A. L. Morris Comes Up
For Trial.
Deputy Inspector-Gene Nc
StoCker on the Stand-StOry
of Cracker Boxes.


ing opium into the country came up
in the police court Saturday morning,
and at noon was adjourned until Mon
day morning Attorney General Smith
and Marshal Brown appeared for the
prosecution and Messrs. Thurston,
Stanley and Davis for the defense.
Deputy Inspector General of Customs
McStocker was the first witness called
in the case.
Mr. McStocker-Am acquainted with
Mr. Morris. Has sworn to entries of
the Washington Feed Company him
self. Have come in contact, but not
as an agent of the Washington Feed
Company Came TO me after finding
of opium and said: This is rough, find
ing opium in our goods; [ don't know
how it came there" Instructed the
Port Surveyor to go carefully through
all goods of the Mount Lebanon, and
especially through those of the feed
company. This was on account of in
formation received that the Washing
ton Feed Company
Here Mr.. Thurston objected, and the
objection was sustained.
McStocker, continuing Manifest
called for ia cases. Mr.. Lowden en-
tered 1874 or 10 more than the manifest
called for.
Cross Examined-Have been causing
examination of goods of Washington
Feed Company for a long time past.
Ever since it's organization. Instruc-
tions have been to examine their goods
more thoroughly. Examination was
little better this time. Goods i'm
mostly crackers. Have had my atten-
ton directed on Norris for about a
year past.
e-Direct-Morris showed me GER
tain detailed invoices. Mr.. Thurston
came down about this time and said
the Washington Feed Company was
ready to assist the Custom House in
ferreting out the guilty parties.
Cross EXamined-This last state
ment calls for 1876 cases, and these fig
ures have been changed from 143, so
as to make a difference of 8 cases in
the total. That of course, is merely a
| theory on my part. Do not know
what is meant by quarter, half and
whole cases.
In response to question from the
Attorney General Mr.. McStOcker an
swered that 1874 was the number of
cases marked on the bill of lading and
that ia was the number on the other
bill of lading in the hands of the steam
ship company.
Port Surveyor Stratemeyer testified
to the orders given the inspectors and
guards to make a complete search Of
the goods of the Washington Feed
Company; to the cases, in which opium
was found, and the peculiar appearance
of the same.
Just here one of the tins of crackers
was opened, and the attorneys for the
prosecution and defense forgot their
differences in the pleasant occupation
of nibbling some of the contents of
the tin-not the opium.
Customs Storekeeper Kelly and
Inspector Manoha were called in as
witnesses to testify to various points
regarding the finding of the opium in
the cracker cases.
Perhaps the most damaging testi-
mony was that of Inspector Storey,
who told of conversations with the de-
PENDANT on the Pacific Mail wharf.
Inspector Storey-Was discharging
officer of the Mount Lebanon. Saw all
the goods landed on the Pacific Mail
wharf There were $50 cases Of sal
mon and TIA cases of crackers for the
Washington Feed Company in the car
go. There were put on the wharf on
Monday, November Goth. Saw defen-
dant upon that day and had cOnVerSa-
ton with him. This was before the
permit was brought down and bore
upon the subject of a certain lot of
eight cases of crackers consigned to
J. T. Waterhouse. Told defendant no
goods were to be taken from the wharf
until thoroughly searched. Met de-
PENDANT again on same wharf on day
of capture of opium. 1t was between
Z and 10 a. m. The conversation was
again in regard to the eight cases. De-
PENDANT said that WaterhOuse was
Kicking and that he wanted the
crackers right away. He didn't get
them and the opium was found.
After the adjournment there was
quite a lengthy and spirited discussion
between men known to be interested in
opium, and one or two whose skirts are
believed to be clear, relating to the
character of the testimony adduced by
the prosecution. The general opinion
was that nothing strong enough to
convict had been offered, but one man
in the party expressed himself as be-
ing posted on the affairs and gave it
out that the Customs authorities had
enough evidence in hand to convict a
half dozen young men with the impor-
tation of the drug, if not in this lot, in
others.
1.-The only thing is whether it will be
brought out. Comparatively speaking,
this raid does not amount to anything.
compared with what may happen when
the other lots arrive, and it is posi-
BILE the authorities don't want to show
their hand until they can get the whole
combination. The only semblance of
evidence against Norris is what was
given by Storey, and to be of value, will
have to be substantiated. McStocker
is on to himself, and I'm anxious to
know how far he is going in this. My
opinion is that when Schmieden gets
through, other testimony will be
brought out that will make cold chills
run up the back of some of the fellows
around town who have been saving
money rapidly, when their salaries or