The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-23
A PENDING CASE
Commitment Proceedings
Against ]. Titcomb.
Death Of a Woman Under SuspI-
cious Circumstances A
Brothers Quest.

commitment proceedings in a most
interesting case. of which mention has
been made before in this paper. are
now going on in the Circuit Court be-
fore Judge Stanley. This IS the case
OF Jules Titcomb. charged with the
murder Of his mistress. Kohele. on
Kauai, last November
The Titcomb family is well known
throughout Kauai, its members being
old residents. fairly well OFF. Jules
Titcomb was at one time married 10
the sister OF Kohele. referred to. and
after the death OF his wife he began to
live with Kohele. his sister-in-law. But
vague rumors were heard that the two
didn't get along well together and
quarreled a great deal. On the 9th OF
November Kohele suddenly died.
An inquest was held and parties who
were supposed to know something
about the case either testified that they
knew nothing about it or didn't testify
at all. 1t is alleged that some OF the
jurors were under the influence OF
liquor during the inquest. However
that may be, they returned verdict I'm
which asthma was given as the cause
OF death. This supposedly ended the
case. \ japanese physician attended.
\ brother OF the dead woman. an in
dustrious fellow living on Hawaii. went
TO Kauai upon hearing of his sisters
death. He at once was struck by the
thought that all had not been strictly
right. He caused the body TO be ex-
humed, but decomposition had set in
and nothing new developed from that
source.
The police department became inter
ested and some good men were started
TO inquire into the affair. As result
enough evidence was secured TO war
rant them in placing a charge OF muir
der in the second degree against Julius
Titcomb. The commitment proceed
ings have been going on since Monday.
The prosecution. contending with
many battling circumstances. places
great reliance in the testimony OF a
little boy, Jules Liilii. a nephew of the
dead woman. This boy says that he
saw Titcomb assault Kohele. knocking
her down and kicking her. This oc-
Cured. it is stated, on the 9Th of No
vember. and the boy was not allowed to
see her until the eth, when the woman
spoke to him as il she thought she was
going TO die. Death occurred on the |
9th. Numerous witnesses have testi- |
fed that they noticed bruises and cuts |
upon the deceased after death, although |
the Japanese doctor who was called in /
testified that he had examined her
with a glass" after death and was I'M
able TO notice any marks or discolor-
alton.
most singular case OF untTuthful-I
ness was developed during the proceed
ings. One witness deliberately testi- |
fed that he had made an agreement |
with Titcomb before the inquest that |
he would testify as Titcomb directed |
in payment for a certain piece OF land. |
that Titcomb had not kept his agree
ment, therefore he wouldn't keep his. |
He then calmly testified that ne would |
give evidence in return for money.
There is a quite strong case for the |
defense in general denial, in the show |
ing OF the period between the time of !
the alleged assault and the death and |
in the claim of death from asthma.