The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-27
THE CASE OF
". JOHNSON
Committee Gives Its
Evidence.
SOME STRONG TESTIMONY
All Of Which Shows That Marshal
Brown Bit OFF More Than
He Can Chew.

Editor Advertiser: In the Star
of January 25th there is a statement
concerning an employe of the custom
house who was discharged, which is
full of misstatements.
The first misstatement is, that he
was an Inspector under the Citizens
Sanitary Committee. The man in
Question was never an inspector un-
der this committee, but was a paid
inspector of the Board of Health be-
fore this committee organized.
Second. the article states that 1T
was alleged that he had robbed a Chi
nese store of hat after the fire." No
such charge was made, the charge be-
ing that he had extorted IL from a
Chinaman.
1t is stated that "He lost his hat
while at work during the fire and en-
tered a Chinese store with bis hat
smashed IL. and asked to be given a
hat. promising TO pay on Monday. and
giving his name and address"
There are three misstatements in
this paragraph: !. The hat was not
smashed in; it is now at Mr. Schweit-
zer's store, is a felt hat in good con-
dition, being only slightly soiled. 2.
The man did not promise to pay on
Monday and did not give his address.
). Later on in the article Il states that
the man gave the proprietor card
on which were his name and address.
II was this card that enabled his iden-
tity to be established at all, and his
friends point to IL as conclusive proof
that no dishonesty was intended" The
man gave his name when demanded
but did not leave any card; did not
give his address, and his identity was
not ascertaiDed in this way, but from
the Investigations Of Mr. Schweitzer,
who ascertained from DIR. Pratt that
the man was a custom house employe.
The article continues: ''The charge
was withdrawn by the Chinese mer-
chant and Mr.. Schweitzer. who was
acting In his behalf and Marshal
Brown. made an appeal to Mr.. Thurs
ton. The latter declined TO take any
new step In the matter. giving as a
reason the many reports that had been
made of swindling and robbery of
Chinese by men who were employed
tary Committee"
The misstatements In this paragraph
are: 1st, The Chinese merchant has
not withdrawn his charge; I'd, there
have not been many reports OF swind-
ling by men who were employed by
the Board of Health or the Citizens
Sanitary Committee; Sd, Mr.. ThuTston
did not give any such reason for de-
clining to intercede in the mans be-
half.
So far as this committee Is informed
no complaint whatsoever Of swindling
or robbery has been made against any
OF its inspectors or other employees OF
the Board OF Health, except the one
in question,
The article also contains the follow
ing paragraphs:
According TO Marshal Brown and
others who have been looking into the
matter, the action taken in the case,
without Investigation, was a great in
justice to the custom house clerk.
nave AhftnNAhaANh Nut uudANtIt
said Marshal Brown this morning, and
must state that there is nothing In the
charge against the young man." -
Many efforts have been made to
have the young man vindlcated as
the result OF the discovery OF the real
Of his act"
"'There is no other charge In the
case than that growing out OF the hat
said Marshal Brown"
This committee is informed by the
reporter Of the Star that the article
In question was published on the au-
thority Of Marshal Brown.
This committee has nothing TO do
with the Marshal or his investigations
Or disposition Of charges. nor has II any
desire TO give the matter undue pub
liCity, but In view OF the charges made.
that the committee had taken action
without proper investigation and had
done the man in question an injustice,
the committee decided to procure the
statements Of all connected with the
matter and give the man In question
the full benefit thereof.
All tho - a ata~,rnrFr ~ erthg..a oh