The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-04-09
OPIUM CAPTURED
John Raddin The Hacknan
HaalGd in.
BOX OFDOpE FOR STMR. CUMMINS
Mate Bennett Arrested
for Completely.
Raddin's Coachman Arrested Later.
Quantity of the Stuff Found
in Stable.

John Riordan, the hack driver, known
to everybody as John Raddin, was
arrested on the charge of having opium
unlawfully in his possession. Mate
Bennett, of the J. A Cummins, was ar
rested on the same charge and in con-
nection with the same case that Rior-
dan was interested in.
For a long while the Customs au-
thorities have been watching a certain
combination or ring" of handlers of
the slippery stuff here in Honolulu
One of these men was John Riordan
supposed to have been storekeeper
for the gang. A close watch was kept on
his movements, and yesterday he was
under the eye of some member of the
Custom House force from the time he
started out from his stables in the
morning until he was arrested at the
time mentioned above.
Shortly after l p. m. Riordan was
seen to drive up and down Fort street
| two or three times and hover about in
the vicinity of Allen & Robinson's lum-
Der wharf, where the J. A. Cummins
was dischargfng her cargo of sugar.
From the general appearance of things,
| there was reason to believe that opium
was slowed away in Riordans hack,
and, since he seemed to eight shy of
| the Oceanic wharf and vicinity, it was
deemed best to coax the man on just
a little. Accordingly, the guard at the
big gate was changed and before
many minutes, Riordan drove past and
| over to where the J. A. Cummins was,
evidently feeling very sure that there
was nothing to fear.
Queer things were noticed just about
this time. The hackman halted his
horse, called to the mate, who walked
up to the carriage, held a brief con-
yersation with him, and then handed
out a gunny sack that appeared to con-
tain something heavy.
Custom House inspectors seemed
suddenly to spring from every place
Bennett had started to go aboard witt
his gunny sack, but he was stopped
short by Customs officer, who gently
took the sack, allowing him. to proceed
aboard. Cutting it open he found Al
half-pound tins of opium. Just ther
it was noticed that Riordan had turned
his horses head, as if to drive on III
town. This move was noticed, and {
Customs officer was soon at his horse:
head. Everything came to a .standstil
at once.
Port Surveyor Stratemeyer was SEM
for, and arrived on the scene very
shortly after the exciting time near the
]. A. Cummins. He at once gave orders
for one of the officers to jump into the
hack with Riordan, and then, calling
for Bennett, saw him into the hack
with another officer. Arriving at the
police station, the party awaited the
arrival of the Port Surveyor, when
the charge of unlawful possession Of
opium was entered against the names
of Riordan and Bennett. The former
went his own bail of $500, and the
same amount for Bennett was furnished
by Engineer Kant, of the J. A Cum
Minis
AS soon as possible, the Port Survey
or had a warrant made out to search
the premises of Riordan on South
street Riordan was found and taken
out. He said that there was no opium
whatever on the premises, but it was
thought best to search the place, any
way
After looking about the place and
finding nothing, the cottage of one OF
the Chinese employees at Riordan's sta
bles was reached. On a shelf outside
was found an empty gasoline tin that
gave every appearance of having con-
! tanned opium at one time. The door of
the Chinaman's room was found lock-
ed, but it did not remain so long. A
search of the place disclosed a sack
under the bed, containing 80 tins of
opium. The Chinaman was questioned
later, but could give no satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION as to the opium. He was ac-
cordingly arrested on the charge of
unlawful possession of opium, as was
also John Riordan, this making his
second arrest inside of two hours.
In bin, under covering of hay, on
John Riordan's premises, were found
several empty tins that looked as if
they might at one time have contained
opium.
Mate Bennett went out on the j. A.
Cummins, after he had been released
on BAIL so that the case will probably
not come off until Friday or Saturday
The greatest credit is due the Custom
House boys, who have for many days
been working in concert with their SUI
periors, and who have had the satisfac-
ton of seeing their efforts crowned
with success.
~,