The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-04-08

OdlSdL \. A-DG4 oCpL- ~, 1901
TO the Honorable District Attorney
of the City and County of New
York:
Honorable Sir:-Will you kindly
send me by express, the revolver with
which I shot Anthony F. O'Nein in
1872? Having been pardOned, 1 believe
I am entitled 10 il. The Hawaiian
Government returned the one I shot
Capt VIM. StOLt with. and in both
these affairs time has justified my ac-
lion. ! am living alone on my ranch
and am bothered with petty thieves
and burglars. ] want something TO
protect my life and property with,
therefore make this request, assuring
you that only a proper use will be
made of the weapon. Yours respect
FULLY,
JAMES c. KING, -
Mr.. Olcott directed his stenogra-
pher to notify Mr.. King that revolvers
used in shooting cases in New York
we're very seldom returned 10 the per-
sons who used them, and that the
shooting referred 10 in Mr.. Kings let
Ter had occurred so long ago that the
revolver had probably been sold.
The shooting 10 which King refers
occurred on the afternoon of Novem-
Der is, 1872. at y Pine street, in the
office Of Judge Josiah Sutherland.
King was at that time a lawyer
living at 40 East Seventh street. The
man he killed was Anthony F. O'Neill
Of so West Thirty-fourth street
"A month previous TO the tragedy,
Kings wife began a suit for divorce.
Nudge Sutherland was appointed re-
5erea N the case, and the hearing was
held in his Office in Pine street.
'-O'Neill, who was a detective en-
ployed by the Erie Railroad Company,
testified before the referee acts of
grueIty on Kings part toward his wife.
When the hearing adjourned on the
day t4sy O'Neill gave his testimony
Kiag followed O'Neill out of the re-
feree'S Office and shot him as he was
passing down the stairs.
~O'Neill died Immediately. King
walked back into the referees Office
and handed the pistol 10 Judge Suther-
land.
a crowd Of 5000 collected in the
street and threatened TO lynch King,
and the police had difficulty in keeping
him out of their hands"
The shooting in this country 10
which Jas. c. King refers made big
sensation for Honolulu nearly 50 years
ago Only the oldest kamaainas have
a clear recollection OF the affair. Cap
tain Stott was the father-in-law of
King. The wound inflicted was not a
serious one.
The affray took place on Queen
street in front of the butcher shop of
Jas. l. Dowsett. about opposite one of
the Waterhouse stores. A wordy al
lercation preceded the actual conflict.
It was not the first time the two men
mad quarrelled. After the sharp talk
ing had continued for a time Captain
Stott was seen to raise his heavy cane
20 strike the husband of his daughter.
King drew his revolver, which at that
period was considered a fine frearm
and shot at once. Captain Stott was
a heavy, feshy man and the bullet
buried itself in some OF his fat He
thought he was hurt hard and for some
time was in a condition OF high fright.
King was then a cold blooded chap.
He was cool all the time and readily
submitted to arrest. This was on the
I'D day of December, 1863. All that
was ever known of the details of the
difference between the men can be Civ
en- in the accepted statement that it
vas family matter.
On the 23d of December, 1863, James
c. King was arraigned in the Police
Court and charged with an assault
with weapon obviously, etc, dan
gerOus TO life" His counsel was Law
yer Montgomery and the Attorney
General of the day was c. c. Harris
A strong fight was made by Mont
gOmery for bail of his client and it
was granted in the sum of $4,000. This
amount was at that time considered
very heavy. King found surety at
once
The case was brought before the
Supreme Court at the term of January,
1864. All the papers are in Cabinet
now at the Judiciary building. Two
Of the jurors were Z. o. Hall and Sam
uel Savidge. w. C. Parke was then
Marshal of the Islands. In the docu-
ment directing the Marshal to cite wit
nesses is the order TO summon, amongst
others to testify were P. c. Jones and
Henry NJ. Whitney. A number of ma
tives gave testimony. In the subpoena
there follows the name of the Hawai-
ran in each instance the name of his
employer
King was acquitted. 1t is said to
this day that 4" he got off by the skin
Of his teeth" He was an aggressive,
self-assertive man regarded as too
quick and bold, and even dangerous.
He was engaged here in the pull bust
ness. This was an industry that is
now almost forgotten. Pulu is a ma
tive fern. The trunk is fibrous for
nation of quality that served well as
a substitute for the articles then used
TO stuff mattresses. Pulu now is used
on Hawaii TO make walks from the
Volcano road TO the cottages of the
coffee planters. One species is used to
feed stock. A man named Shipman
steams this pulu around the Volcano
and fattens beeves with it.
Captain Stott was sailor man. He
lived here a good deal of the time,
once in awhile making a trip to the
south or to the Coast as master of a
schooner. He had the reputation Of
being rather crotchety. AT his age in
1868 he was bulky and not at all ac-
1--WE
A few words are put in by King for
himself when he declares that 'in both
these affairs time has justified his ac-