The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-25
PARDON AS
A PRESENT
Frank D. Haskell Is
Now a Free
Man.
DOLE'S
CHRISTMAS GIFT
Was Sentenced by Humphreys to
Two Years for Theft of
Two Cigars.

Frank d. Haskell a prisoner who
was serving a two years sentence in
/ Oahu prison for the larceny of two
cigars, received a welcome Christmas
present yesterday 1t was nothing
more than an official, though not i'm
posing appearing document, with the
name of Sanford b. Dole attached, but
il was amply sufficient to allow the
recipient to spend a merry Christmas
prison walls today.
The pardon was delivered over to
High Sheriff Brown at noon yesterday,
and it was only a few hours later when
Haskell was given his liberty
Haskell had served nearly ten months
of a two years sentence imposed by
Judge Humphreys on a conviction for
larceny in the second degree.
He states this fact in the petition
as follows:
Honolulu. T. H. Dec 10. 1901
To the Governor of the Territory of
Hawaii. Sanford b. Dole.
Sir-Your petitioner humbIy begs to
inform you that he is a prisoner CON
fined in Oahu Jail for the crime of
larceny in the second degree, by taking
away two cigars of the value of ten
cents. the property of one All Leong,
and sentenced by Judge Humphreys on
the 9th day of March, 1901, to a term of
two years servitude at hard labor.
Your petitioner begs to inform you
that he has now served nine months at
hard labor for a small crime, while
others committing crimes of much
fifteen days to one year.
Your petitioner certifies that he has
at all times obeyed the rules of the
prison.
Your petitioner begs for clemency
and asks that ne be pardoned from
mas day: that if pardoned he will leave
the Islands at once, and has means
sufficient for his passage and expenses
to California.
Throughout the term of servitude
now served by your petitioner he has
been hard and willing worker. Very
humbly, FRANK d. HASKELL.
HASKELL's RECORD.
The Circuit Court records show that
Haskell served a short Jail sentence
prior TO the last one, on the charge of
a deadly weapon. He had
also been arrested for gambling, but
these cases We're nolIe pressed.
The sentence imposed by Humphreys
seemed totally incommensurate with .
the trivial nature of the crime. He
was found guilty of the theft of two
scent cigars from All Leong. in Octo-
ber 1900. He claimed at the time To
have rendered a quarter in payment
for the cigars. but that the Chinese
had no change, and the money fell be
mind the counter All Leong said he
lad received no money in payment for
he cigars
Upon the reading of the verdict,
called the prisoner to the
BAR and imposed a fine of $1,000 and
,osts, to be served out at hard labor at
he rate Of 30 cents per day. This
would have made the term of impris-
more than five years for the
wo smokes. but the sentence was at
erwards annulled by the court. Court
vas reconvened after adjournment and
Judge Humphreys stated that he had
discovered a loophole by which the
might escape after serving a
ear by pleading the poor convicts
let He therefore substituted a two
ears sentence at hard labor for the
irSt one
Under the terms of the pardon given
yesterday by Governor Dole Haskell
grees to leave the Territory, and
,romised High Sheriff Brown that he
would go East on the first sailing yes
el.