The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-18

| the noon recess was taken and resumed
his testimony in the afternoon. Then
F, Captain Spencer's and Spilner's pistols
We're produced in court and put in evil
! dence. Spencer's gun was as it had
been when Spencer left the Island, his
son having supplied three new cart
ridges Immediately after the shooting,
TO take the place of those discharged.
Spilners gun was formerly the property
of High Sheriff Brown, bearing his
name upon the handle. Wahlers was
the last witness for the prosecution.
| WITNESSES FOR DEFENSE.
James Combe, Charles Rofe, Robert
Pinching, Martin Conley and George
Cooke, sailors of the bark Ceylon, were
then called, in the order named, by the
defense. Their stories bore CHIEFLY on
what they had heard. James Combe,
Charles Rofe and Robert Pinching were
wrecked on the bark McNear and lived
on Laysan Island six weeks before be-
| ing brought to Honolulu on the Ceylon
on the trip before last. They all testi-
| fed to the righteousness of fish, birds
and water on the Island, and also to
Spencer's good treatment of the Japan
csc. They had never seen any trouble
on the Island during that period. They
said that on the Ceylon coming to Ho-
nolulu the last trip the japanese told
| them that Spencer was mo good" and
that Spinner was good boss. They
swore that they had never seen Spencer
drunk on the island during their stay,
| and that everybody seemed to be on
friendly terms with one another. George
Cooke related how Spinner had told him
about having, one night after Spencer
had left the island for Honolulu, TO lie
out on the platform all night with the
afraid that they would be murdered if
they slept.
| Captain Spencer. take the stand.r
I The old man jumped from his chair
with an eagerness that plainly showed
that this was the time to which he had
been looking forward. He had evident
lIy tired of listening to what everybody
else had to say on the stand, and was
glad to have the chance of telling his
own story. His actions clearly showed
his satisfaction.
In the witness box, sworn to testify
truthfully in the case against himself,
Captain Joseph Spencer was perfectly
cool and collected, sitting in a natural
and easy position in his chair, with his
legs crossed part of the time, and an
swering all questions put TO him in an
honest, straightforward manner, and
with a comfortable elaboration and a
modest, matter-of-fact manner that
won him the admiration Of all present
in Judge WilcOx's courtroom. Even the
prosecution could not help but admire
the old whaler and king of Laysan Is
land"
What is your age, Captain Spencer?"
asked kinney, with the air of a man
who is about to give his fellows facts
that VIII hold their attention and inter
est.
Seventy years"
I How long have you followed the
sea?'
"Sixty-two years. off and on. Most of
the time. pretty steady I reckon"
How long have you borne the title
Of captain?"
"Forty-eight years"
When were you first an officer
aboard ship"
When was twelve of thirteen years
of age. was first mate Of a vessel"
You have had charge of plantations
and have had considerable experience
with rough and turbulent men?"
Yes"
Were you ever a commander of a
whaler?"
Il commanded a whaler in 1852, and
for many years afterwards"
Is this the first time you were ever
under arrest?''
Yes"
Did you ever take human life?"
Ever draw weapon on a MANI"
. oh. yes
but IOund that a show OF force was
generally sufficient to quell disturban
: ces?"
Yes"
] HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.
In brief. the following is Captain Spen-
. GERS account of the Laysan Island trou-
2 bic as told in answer to the questions OF
q the defence and prosecution, both.
= Spencer had never had any trouble with
= Spinner while on the island. Spencer was
J, never drunk. never intoxicated. There
? was generally very little liquor on the
7, island, any how. His habit is to take
i about three drinks a day. He had under
stood from DR.. Averdam, on returning tc
Honolulu the time before last, that Spill
ner had written dirty letter concern
i ing him. This didn't bother him, however
. When he went back to Laysan. he tool
= charge on August 9.
e He gave out enough rice Friday after
J. noon, the day before the fight, to last al
IN day Saturday. there was no need OF th'
= Jsps asking for any on Saturday. III
g gave out plenty of rice besides soy anC
n onions. He had no warning of cominE
= trouble before Saturday. Saturday morn
!, Ing the japanese struck for three DAYS
pay for one days labor. He refused. Tn
., japanese went home
Spencer told them to 20 home If the.
a, didn't want TO work. They went Thos
on the wharf went first. shouting Z
h, these in the guano house who rushed on
=, and away to their quarters. Tanaka sal
IA he wanted to work and Spencer promise
to protect him, that Is the reason he drov
= the japanese out of TsnalSa's house late
3 in the day. |Tanaka was afraid the jap
~ would kill him and worked where he coul
IL nor be seen.
I he ~ vzr1 If fba