The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-17


escape to the cane fields, can easily be
imagined.
That there are many Belgian hares
and other destructive species of rabbit |
being kept in Honolulu as pets is an
indisputable fact. The pair of Belgian
hares spoken of in yesterdays Adver-
tiser as having been seen in a street
car Gagged and in possession of a pas
senger, have not yet been located, but
the identity of the man who carried
them has been discovered and he will
be sought out this morning by the au-
thorities.
In tracing down the rumor of the in
cident referred to it was learned yes
! terday that Inspector Albert Clark had
stated that he had seen the man carry
| ing the animals on the car. He was in
| teryiewed in regard to the matter and
admitted that he had made the state
lment
Sat first i thought it was a Belgian
hare said he, and 1 am not certain
that it was not. I asked the man if 1t
was, and he said it was only a pet
rabbit that he was taking to friend.
let him go. as he said 1t was not a
Belgian hare, and / thought l would
report the matter to the board of in
| spectors later"
| Mr.. Clark said that no investigation
had as yet been made by the Board
and that he had not even reported it.
He was asked the name of the passen
ger who carried the animal, but refus
| ed to give it, saying that it would spoil
the investigation of the inspectors to
divulge the name at this time
| why should you wish to suppress
any information you may possess, he
was asked, "since if there is 10 truth
in the rumor it can result in no injury,
and if it is true the matter should be
certainly ferreted out?''
Il am a public official" Mr.. Clark re-
piled, "and / have the right to withhold
any information I choose, pending in
vestigation. without giving any reasons
for SO doing
| Deputy Sheriff Chilhngworth was in
formed of the inspectors refusal, and
| Mr.. Clark was summoned to the High
Sheriff's Office. Mr.. Chillngworth main
| tanned that it was the duty of the in
spectors to prevent the Importation in
| to the city of the prohibited animals,
but that their jurisdiction in the mat
! ter ceased once the animals were land
ed, and that complaints of the keep
|
city should receive the consideration
of the local authorities in the enforce
ment of the law prescribing the pow
ers of the police in destroying the pests
and Furnishing offenders.
| Mr.. Clark was given until 5 o'clock
to divulge the name of the man he had
seen on the car, and just before the
hour he appeared at Mr.. Chilling
cta
senger who had carried the rabbits
was a man by the name of Aldrich,
who was formerly in the employ of LIE
Munyon's photograph gallery. An eff
| fort was made to find Mr.. Aldrich last
night, but he could not be located He
will be summoned this morning.
| Rather an amusing incident, and one
Which indicated more developments in
the Belgian hare line, happened while
the matter was being discussed in the
Deputy Sheriffs office. ''Torna Abe"
Familiarity known as Tommy" being
| d Japanese member of the police force,
had been listening to the converse ton
and had gathered that rabbits was the
| subject under discussion. There was
moments silence. 1t was broken by the
| amazing words of Tommy who
| leaned back in his chair in the glory
of his blue uniform and a shining star.
| II got two rabbit home" said he.
| The Deputy Sheriff's face wore
look of blank amazement and incredu-
| lily. He collapsed and fell into a chair.
Tommy went on to describe his pets.
They had long ears, he said. and ate
everything green in sight; were of
dark brown color and got along
amiably with his monkey and his par
| rot; they had thrived remarkably and
in the few months that he had had
| them he had been able to give away
thirty or forty little ones to his neigh
bors, who raised them either for pets
or to eat. II live Portuguese town" he
said. Portuguese very fond of pet
rabbit, and goat All time raise EN-.
Lots of rabbit in Portuguese town.
/ Apparently "Tommys'' pets are not
Belgian hares. but they undoubtedly
belong to the destructive class of rab-
bits, and as such are prohibited by law.
Tommy" grew facetious and when
questioned about the animals volun-
teered to procure pets for all present
! who desired them. You come with
me, said he, land / show you lots of
/ ra bbit."
/ When made acquainted with the ma
| ture of the rabbit investigation the
Japanese got badly scared and said
/ that he had had the rabbits only
/ few days; also that he would go right
home and kill them and wouldn't ever
keep rabbit again. The monkey and
the parrot were enough to lavish his
! affection upon. He was very nervous
the rest of the afternoon and FASTENED
home when relieved from duty. The
animals are probably in process of
preparation for stew this morning The
Portuguese section will be thoroughly
/ gone over by the police Immediately.
| Mr.. Chillingworth stated last night
/ that no time will be lost in prosecuting
I all cases and that the matter will be
| followed up vigorously. All animals
| will be destroyed as soon as found and
| those in possession of them will be held
| to strict account and punished without
discrimination. The Chamber of Com
merce will probably take prompt ac-
ton also, as the matter at stake is
very important one and one which in