The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1897-04-07
OPIUM CAPTURED
John Raddin the Hack Man
HaulGd in.
BOX OF DOPE FOR STMR. ClJMMINS
Mate Bennett Arrested
for Completely.
BOX OF DOPE FOR STMR. CUMMINS
Raddin's Coachman Arrested Later.
Quantity of the Stuff Found
in Stable.

| OHOTLly dIJer LOU y. m. yesterday
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 long while the Customs au-
thorities have been watching certain
combination or ring of handlers of
the slippery stuff" here in Honolulu.
One of these men was John Riordan
supposed to have been a 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 & Robinsons lum-
Der wharf, where the j. A Cummins
was discharging 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 fight shy of
the Oceanic wharf and vicinity, it was
deemed best 20 coax the man on just
little. Accordingly, the guard at the
big gate was changed, and before
many minutes, Riordan drove past and
over TO where the ]. 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-
versation with him, and then handed
out gunny sack that appeared to con-
tain something heavy.
Custom House inspectors seemed |
suddenly to spring from every place. |
Bennet had started to go aboard with |
his gunny sack, but he was stopped |
short by a Customs officer, who gently |
took the sack, allowing him to proceed |
aboard. Cutting it open he found 46 |
half-pound tins of opium. Just then |
it was noticed that Riordan had turned !
his horses head, as if TO drive on up |
town. This move was noticed, and a
Customs officer was soon at his horses |
head. Everything came to a standstill |
at once.
Port Surveyor Stratemeyer was sent
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-