The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-17
TO DETHRONE THE KING caught A SWORD FISH
sPILLNERS SCHEME AT LAYsAN
ISLAND.
Interesting Correspondence I'm Evidence
in the Spencer Case-An Exceedingly
Cold "Throw-Down" for Spilner.

An interesting correspondence be-
tween EX-Police Captain Spillner at
Laysan Island, and Dr. Averdam. man
ager of the fertilizer company, has been
made public through the testimony i'm
the Spencer murder case 1t appears
that Spillner went to Laysan with an
idea that he might GUST the king" and
rule the roO5t himself, and he wrote a
shrewd letter to Averdam. telling how
much better the place would run If he
Spillner, ana not Spencer were in
charge. The answer he got was very
cold throw-down.
On June ~ Spillner wrote as follows
addressing us letter dear Doctor"
Bnt now, doctor, excuse me
If l write you something which per
haps is wong. You are losing here
very much money if it goes on like this
much longer. Whenever this manager
is drunk, which happens very often. he
gives the laborers for half an hour
day extra. In such condition he does
not know what he is doing
He has two Japanese in his house.
two men for fishing and whenever his
wife goes out to look for shells they
have to go with her. The Japanese
woman does nothing. l do not know
what he has done i'm winter. Every
thing here is in very bad conditions =
Il have learned everything from him
SO FAR and can get along very we'll and
it shall be my effort to satisfy you in
every respect. Now, doctor, l should
like to ask you for favor In case
that Captain Spencer should not come
back, l should like to ask you to send
my wife and daughter over here "
l like it very well here and should like
very well To remain here always. 1 do
not need cook in case my wife should
come over"
Spillner wrote that the carpenter was
"a little too old" for his job, and the
luna kept too much together with his
countrymen. II should like to say that
1 will have no luna here"
The letter closed with a statement
that I'VE Germans are treated worse by
the present manager than the Japs."
Another interesting letter was sent
to DR.. Averdam on June 90. After tell
ing of what he had done on the island
Spillner SAID Mr.. Spencer has spoiled
the Japs but it shall not happen again."
He would keep the old carpenter, SAID
Spillner this time, though Spencer
wanted 20 send another. I'VE don't
need an expensive one" said the man
who was willing to get along as boss
without a luna and without a cook.
There was a chill in the courtroom
when Attorney Kinney read the icy re-
Spouse that came, not from the doc
lOI, Dul NIOIIl TIE tOlIlDttHy, ana spill
ner looked uncomfortable on the stand
The dear doctor" who had been ad-
dressed from Laysan wrote his reply as
the Pacific Guano and Fertilizer COM
pany and all his letter said was the
| following:
In reply to your letters of the 14th
and 10Th of June addressed to our man.
ager Dr. Averdam, we beg to inform
you that your employment with us de-
| ponds entirely upon your conduct
which has apparently been contrary to
the agreement made in March, accord
! ing to which you were engaged as a
luna.
Therefore if you wish to remain al
Laysan Island and work for us, we adj
wise you to gain the confidence of YOU
superior, Captain Spencer, who has the
power either to keep you or to send
| you away"
All the letters are in evidence. They
will form par of the defense's evidence
that Spillner was not, as he claims,
Captain Spencer's friend.