The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-26
HE SAVED TEN MEN
ALEX DOUGLAS MIGHT HAVE
KILLED MANY.
Only Cut One, Just to Scare the Rest.
Verdict in Criminal Cases Before
Judge Gear.

Il could have killed ten men easy"
said Alex Douglas, a negro defendant,
yesterday in Judge Gears court, giving
a vicious swish through the air with
a heavy pocket knife by way of illus
tration. 81 could have killed that man
l cut and ten more, but didn't do no
thin but just cut him a bit to scare
the crowd"
Douglas was on trial for assault and
battery with a weapon obviously and
imminently dangerous to life. He was
alleged to have attacked one huihui
in Kakaako last September, on the
night of a big row there, when two
water front gangs met in battle. Hui
hui was considerably cut, and several
witnesses were produced to show that
Douglas had done the cutting. Then
the defendant told his story for the
benefit of the court and jury.
Douglas said that he and two COM
panions were on their way to pay a
call, when he suddenly observed about
fifteen or twenty natives coming tow
ards them in the middle of the street.
They were talking good deal. A White
man passed and he heard someone say
Don't hit the haole." Then one of
the crowd hit Douglas on the face, ana
he brought out the knife that might
have been so deadly.
"Is this the knife?" asked Deputy
Attorney General Cathcart at thls
stage, handing the defendant a large
pocket knife The defendant said that
it was and he proceeded to show now
he had used it. .,
II lust swung this way and cut him,
said the sable defendant, while Cath-
cart quickly stepped beyond the circle
of the knife's swing. 81 didn't do ike
this. to kill him" Douglas here gave
a few examples of the jab direct, indi-
eating that if he had chosen TO oIler
such a jab to the complaining Witness
the coroner would have been sent TOT
at once. II could have cut up the
crowd and killed ten men," said Doug
las again, "but l only cut this one, ana
If was lust to scare the crowd. They
all ran, when they saw me cut Hulhul'
and ! was safe" ,eo
you're quite an expert with knlte
aren't you?" asked Cathcart taxing
the knife back and giving an imtatloh
of the slash sideways ana the stap u
rect, Douglas mode5tly dlsclalmeu Ine
honor. -. ,., :,
The Jury first came into court with a
disarreement, standing IL to l. Judge
Gear sent the jurors back and they soor
won over the lonely juror, returning
verdict of guilty of simple assault ant
battery. The jurors were: Charles II
Lake. James Kahalepua, John A. Nople
Benjamin r. Campbell EuWln n Dian
James K. Merseberg, Jonah K. Naklla
A K Aona. George W. Harrison, H. e
Bickerton, William Hermit, John M
Davis.
A. Ahrens who, while riding bicycle
on Emma street, ran over and Killed
Japanese who was also on wheel, was
acquitted of manslaughter. Both All
rens and the Jap met at corner, and
the jury decided that the occurrence
was purely an accident. The jurors II
this case were: Herman Levy JOSEPH
Richards, John WSmithies, Isaiaf
Bray, David Motley, Guy Livingston
Harry S. Swinton. Edward Woodward
James M. Sims, A G.. Nichols, George
w. Macy and George K. Kaia.
Francisco Borges has been appointed
guardian of the person and estate Of
Maria Borges under $500 bond.
The property of the late j. A. da Silva
has been turned over to Thomas Fitch
attorney.