The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-30
.YUEN CHONG burglary
BEING UNRAvELED IN COURT
TODAY.
Biggott and Hausler on Trial in the
the Burglary Committed.

The mystery of the Yuen Chong
Company burglary in Chinatown the
night of the great fire is being unravel-
ed in court today. George Piggott and
Fred. Hausler are before Judge Wilcox
on preliminary hearing to determine
whether they shall be held for trial to
the Circuit Court or not.
The cases are being prosecuted by
Deputy Marshal Chillingworth who
with David Kaapa, worked them up.
1t was a particularly hard case to
work up, from the fact that the build
ing in which the burglary was commit
ted was right in the line of the big fire,
and during the excitement of the fire
and the exodus of the 4,500 people from
The burned district, hundreds of peo-
pie were around or near the premises,
and there was little that was definite
to be learned that could give clue to
| the crime. Even the time when It was
committed was uncertain. 1t was not
| discovered until the next morning, and
| in the meanwhile the whole town had
been turned topsy turvy with the eX-
citing events of the day before and the
emergencies that were thrust upon it
| to meet.
Chillngworth and KAPPA first ascer-
tanned as accurately as possible what
individuals had been placed on guard
around and near the place by the Board
of Health or the owners of property
in the neighborhood. Then they found
out which of them had had gin to drink
| while on guard, for a quantity of gin
was among the things stolen. From
this they began to find individuals who
had small or trihing articles of the
same kind as some of the things stolen
In this way they began to get nearer
the ones they believed the real cul-
prits. Upwards of fifty individuals
were subjected to close questioning
I and rigid examination. Finally they
found witnesses claimed to have actu.
ally seen Piggott and Hausler actu-
ally break and enter the place.
This morning, Lee Chong the manag
ing partner of the burglarized firm
was the first witness called. He testi.
fled to the ownership Of the place and
to the fact that he had locked it III
Saturday night and when he returned
Sunday morning it had been broken in
to and much merchandise stolen. H.
himself personally had lost $50,
watch and some other things.
Amoka, a native employed at tn,
Honolulu Iron Works testified that h
had been placed at the mauka Eva cor
ner of the Iron Works premises t,
guard that point about $3.50 o'clccl
Saturday night. A few minutes bafo1,
10, Piggott said to him do you wan
some not StuIIF In response he ant
two others, Noah and Puha folIowe,
Piggott and Hausler to a rear windov
of Yuen Chong's place. Hausler open
ed the shutter and entered followe,
by Piggott who carried a lantern, Amo
| l1a, Noah and Puha. Inside Piggot
led the way to room where there wa
gin in bottles in box. Amoka handc
Noah bottle and Puha a bottle an
taking one himself, these three wen
back to their posts of duty, leavin
Piggott and Hausler in the building
some hours later they saw Piggott an
Hausler outside of the building.
Puha and Noah will also be calle
as witnesses and 1t is said they wi
testify to the same facts.
The police believe that Piggott an
Hausler had been in the building be
9 fore this time, as they seemed to kno,
exactly where everything was.
The trial is going on this Afternoon