The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-08-06
OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
THIS MORNING.
Sweeping Address of Judge Humphreys
To Grand Jurors-J. P. Cooke Fined
$25-Recess to 2 P. NJ

The First Circuit Court this morning
had the most remarkable opening in it's
history. 1t was remarkable chiefly for
the appearance of a grand jury and the
long, sweeping charge of Judge Humph-
reys to 1t. Little else was done outside
of charging the jury and a few side
, incidents of the hour in court.
The courtroom was jammed at the
opening. So dense was the crowd that
the Judge issued an order requiring all
persons not attorneys -at-law or officers
| of the court to remain outside of the
court railing. Every seat in the room
was occupied, and mass of humanity
filled every vacant space back of the
railing Judge Silliman occupied a seat
at the right hand of the presiding
/ Judge.
Upon taking his seat Judge Humph-
reys motioned the bailiff to open the
court. When this was done, he instruct
ed High Sheriff Brown to call the grand
jury. The following eighteen men were
seated George r. Carter, H. T.. Waity,
w. H. Hoogs, E. A. McInerny, John Eff
finger, j. l.. Mclean, r. l. Spalding,
f. S. Lowden w. q. Atwater, NJ p.
Robinson, c. H. Atherton f. Benner,
| W. G.. Ashley, T. W. Hebron, G. A. Gra-
ham, Fred Lewis, l.. c. Ables, ]. S.
Walker and Charles Hustace.
r. l. Spalding asked to be excused for
the reason that Mr.. Irwin was away,
volved upon him. The court refused to
consider any such excuse.
George r. Carter stated that he was
a member of the Tax Appeal Court,
which would meet Wednesday. The
Icourt remarked that as the Tax Appeal
Court was an important public body,
with important public functions, Mr..
Carter would be excused. A. f. Cooke
was drawn in his place.
j. p. Cooke failed to answer to his
name. The court ordered a bench war
rant issued for Mr.. Cooke, and the juror
soon arrived. accompanied by a police
officer. Upon being asked his reasons
for being twelve minutes late, Mr.
Cooke stated that he was not aware of
the hour. Judge Humphreys imposed a
fine of $25.
No objection to any member of the
jury was made by any of the defen-
dants.
Judge Humphreys then read his
charge to the jury 1t was very long,
taking nearly an hour. He started out
|, bv reminding the jury that it was the
first body of its kind ever empaneled i'll
Honolulu, and suggested that it's work
, WOu.ld-ase very comprehensive and i'm
portant. From then on for ten min
| utes he dwelt upon the history of the
} grand jury and it's duties. In Honolulu,
besides investigating any and all mat
= ters submitted by the attorney general,
II WOulu inquire INTO any matter OF
' thing detrimental to the community. In
J this connection the court referred at
length to the likelihood of undesirable
2 immigration and the arrival on these
r shores of dangerous persons, all of
5 whom would have to be looked after by
: the grand jury.
This led to the subject of drunkenness
and it's attendant evils. The court
S thought intemperance was the most
l notable agency or cause of crime and
{ urged the court to take up every phase
} of the saloon question. A long expert
, opinion on the kinship between drunk
. enness and insanity was read.
1T has come to the attention of the
b court" continued Judge Humphreys
= that liquor is being sold in hotels anC
n resorts at Waikiki contrary to law. You
are instructed to investigate this mat
4 ter thoroughly. Summon the guests and
= patrons of such places to testify in this
= regard, and if they do not tell the truth
@ have them indicted for perjury anC
\ brought before this court"
He went on to charge the jury to in
n vestigate the subject of minors being
h employed in saloons and liquor being
+ sold to minors.
o Next was taken up the business O
v Japanese women in Iwilei. The cour
+ had understood that there were con
stant violations of law out there. More
|, over, he wanted to know from the jur.
how this business had best be HANDLED
, in the moral interest of the community
u Government officials could be criti
cized by the jury. If such laid them
; selves open to condemnation, the fact
> should be presented.
u 1t had come to the court that the po
y lice were making arrests of Chinese 70
e the purpose of eXtortion or securing
- bribes. This was species of larceny
i and should be investigated, and tn
- guilty parties brought to justice. Tn
y court would not say that these report
- were true, but would insist that the.
: be investigated.
e In these matters there was no re
{ Election on anyone, The Attorney Gen
II eral had the complete confidence of tn
II the court and the community
po The court instructed that there be
'o complete investigation into the affair
} of the Insane Asylum. He could no
= see how a physician could carry on a
% immense private practice and devot
~ the requisite amount of time to an IN
II stitution so important as the asylum. ]
- was required that the jury ascertai
- how many visits per day the attendn
~ physician made to the asylum and jus
~ what he did while there. Does he er
e. ter one door and pass out at the othe
= merely questioning an emplOye of tn
- place as to how things are getting OF
- or does he attend to each patient as h
= should" added the Judge, in eXplana
" ton of what he required.
- Continuing, the court again gave til
jury to understand that it should inve'
III tigate everything affecting the publ
lie interest.
a. John Mitchell was called up an
= sworn as bailif of the grand jury. !
u, +. Waity was appointed foreman.
al George A. Davis asked If the cOu
= would reconsider the case of ].
III Cooke, who had just been fined $25 +,
ce not being present when called. I
az stated that an affidavit would be file
he showing good reasons why the Jurt
re was not on hand promptly, The cou
- declined TO reopen the matter, statiI
Ut that failure to be present was inc
hs cusable.
r. The jury then retired to consid
er matters to be brought before it by Il
Attorney General.
n
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