The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-04-17

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sworn out against police officers con-
cerned by certain Portuguese. Such ac-
ton makes confusion in the case before
the Court. The whole matter will be
thoroughly investigated and if any Of
ficer is found to have overstepped his
authority he will be attended to.
Rep. Kaeo-Was Tricks Nelson let
out without bail on the evening, of the
row?
Minister Smith, cannot answer that
question. The offense of Nelson was of
very much less magnitude. He was ar
rested before the Portuguese were
brought in, also.
Rep. Robertson said the difficulty was
in the Attorney-Generafs department
The statements of officers were taken as
| Gospel truth and they were allowed to
| go free, while innocent people were
punished. In cases of ruffianism on the
part of the police officers, these men
were seldom even reprimanded Rep.
Robertson referred to recent case OF
the kind at the corner Of Fort and Bere-
tania streets, where the circus tent
used to stand. Two people got into u
row. Two policemen Oh duty at the
place jumped in and struck about wild
ly, hitting people right and left. In this
confusion the principals il the fight es-
capped and two reputable young men,
entirely innocent, were arrested, rough
ly handled, taken 20 the receiving sta
ton and after some time allowed to go
on their own recogniZance. The case
/ was brought up in the District Court,
and after two or three postponements.
finally nolle pross'd because il had
probably been learned that the young
men had nothing at all u do with the
affair. The policemen concerned are
still on the force. They should have
been tried for assault and battery and
dismissed from the force.
Rep. Robertson cited another case of
one of the officers against whom COM
plants have been made, ana poor old
drunken man. The latter was marched
down TO the police station and just be-
fore entrance at the door he was struck
in the back OF the neck by the police
officer. 1t is fact that police officers
can do almost anything they like, and
yet go free. They can treat people in
all sorts of outrageous ways and still
go unpublished while innocent people
are prosecuted.
Minister Smith ID Rep. .,obertson-
! Did you report the case to the Mar
shals department
Rep. Robertson--I did not consider it
my duty to report the case. There we're
other police officers who saw the whole
thing.
| Minister Smith said that the police
men on whole were a pattern and
faithful SCI o: men. Perhaps there
were cases of ruffianism, but there were
such in eve-y country. Rep. Robertson
should have reported the case. The
word of po Ice officers was not always
taken. In regar1 to the row on the
corner CO Emma and Pun :hbDwl streets.
there were responsible parties present
who saw the whole affair. Among
these was President Dole, who gave the
order to the police to clear the streets.
Rep. Kaeo propounded the following
questions to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs:
''First-Has there been any CORE
spondence between the American Min
lister Resident, A S. Willis, and the De-
partment of Foreign Affairs Republic
of Hawaii on matters pertaining to
any claim for damages by Mr. Frank
Godfrey against the Republic of Ha-
wall?
"Second-Has there been any corre-
spondence between the department and
the Secretary of State of the United
States of America regarding any such
claim?"
Minister Smith made answer to the
question recently propounded by Rep
Winston, as follows:
In reply to the questions propounded
by Rep. Winston in relation to the act
ton taken by the Government to as
certain who were guilty of committing
the assault upon Mr.. Frank Godfrey, in
Honolulu, on the 18th of September,
1895, l would state:
That upon learning of the outrage
committed upon Mr.. Godfrey, the Mar
shall Immediately began to make inves-
LEGATIONS to obtain evidence as to who
were the guilty parties. He conferred
with me upon the subject and in view
of the manner in which the offense had
been committed, and the circumstances |
surrounding the case, we both deemed |
it best to work quietly and seek to
solve the mystery.
Both the Marshal and endeavored |
to ascertain from Mr.. Godfrey if he
could give any information upon the
subject.
Il first heard of the matter on the |
morning after the night upon which |
he was assaulted, and although my time |
and attention were very much engaged |
with matters connected with the chol-
era epidemic which then prevailed,
l went to Mr.. Godfrey's residence in
in the afternoon of that day,
and sought to obtain information upon
the subject.
Il expressed my regret at the occur
renee, and desire to apprehend the Of
fender, and asked if he knew who the
parties were, or could give any informa-
ton which would assist in ascertaining
who they were.
He seemed very unwilling to make
any statement about the matter but