The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-09-23
KIND AND
D|GN|F|ED
Humphreys
In Estimate Of
Himself.
SHIRT WAISTS ARE
NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Friction Caused by the Strict
Observance of What He
Thought the Proprieties.
III UMPHREYs. as the man of kindly
II disposition, Is shown In the reply

" UMPHRE4S, as the man or kindly
II disposition, Is shown In the reply
A>A the jurist makes to charge four
of the indictment of the Bar Associa-
tion and the text of the answer is con-
vincing. There is included in the para
graph dissertation upon the dignity
of the courts which will besof interest
to those attorneys who have been prac-
ticing in American, courts. north Of
Arizona. Not all the courts are includ-
ed in this presentation of the case for
the defense, and these will be given In
subsequent publication of the full docu-
ment. The answer continues:
CHARGE w.
THAT the said Abram s. Humphreys,
while holding said office of Judge. and
exercising the powers and performing
! the duties of said Office, has been harsh,
arbitrary, tyrannical and vindictiye to-
ward members of the bar and others ap-
pearing before his Court and has abused
his powers over them.'
Specification.-"That the said Abram s..
Humphreys, while holding said Office of
said Judge, and exercising the powers
and performing the duties of said office.
was harsh, arbitrary. tyrannical and vim
dictive and has abused his powers over
the following attorneys and parties ap-
pearing before him, to-wit:" persons
| named below.)
| This charge brings to your attention
| the real reason for the attack upon me.
1t appears that in seven instances Gn-
| asmuch as the cases of Schmidt and
Quinn constitute single instance) I
have imposed punishmentS for contempt
| of court which do not meet the approval
Of certain members of the Bar Associa-
| ton. That you may form your own
| Judgment as to the propriety of my
course in each case l beg to lay before
you the surrounding circumstances.
NO LOOSE METHODS.
| AS to these contempt matters. l have
to say generally that in the performance
| of my official duty 1 have endeavored
| to hold an American Court under Amer
lean rules, and to reform. SO far 1t
| lay in my power, the loose methods pre-
vailing in the Courts existing under the
former Government of the Islands. In
SO doing have met with much opposi-
ton and have incurred much disfavor
On the part of those who prefer the old
methods.
| Fom the moment of taking my seat
| on the bench I refused to permit the
practice, which had to an unfortunately
| large extent prevailed Heretofore, of al
lowing attorneys to talk with the Judge
about their cases outside of court, eX-
cept, of course, in such probate and other
ex parte matters as might properly be
| conferred about in chambers, there be-
| ing no opposing counsel / refused to
discuss cases on the street, at the club,
| or in the hotels. / refused to hear the
suggestions of counsel on one side in the
| absence of opposing counsel. Such re-
fusal on my part was regarded by sorSs
members of the bar as indicating an "a
bitrary, unnecessary and stilted attitude
| of mind.
| I also insisted that judicial acts should
| be performed in a proper way and at
proper times and places. Not long after
my appointment I incurred the displeaS-
| ure of one of the most prominent law
| firms In Honolulu Qwo members or
which, Messrs. Kinney and Ballou, were
subsequently punished by me for con-
tempt of court, and who now appear
| among those most active in the attack
upon mel. by refusing to settle a bill OF
exceptions the street, such bill OF ex-
ceptions being rendered to me by
Kanaka office boy sent to me from their
office.
SHIRT WAISTS TABU.
| I also insisted upon the observance of
due proprieties in the courtroom, includ
ing the wearing of proper apparel, and
refused to permit business to be done by
people not wearing a coat. I may say,
| in Difference to the shirt waist idea
| which has obtained some favor in this
country. that the climate of the Ha-
waian Islands Is not such as to infiict
personal discomfort upon people who
wear coat, even of heavy texture. 1t
| Is quite true that my attitude In this
respect aroused friction. but such fric-
ton did not deter me from insisting upon
such dignif1ed conduct on the part Of
those appearing in court as. In my judg-
ment, should pertain to the administra-
ton OF Justice
| In my efforts to put the procedure OF
the courts upon dignifed basis did
not stop with the outward Observance
Of due formality. When took my seat
no record of judgment was kept In my
Court and no minute book. / immediate
lily caused such records to be kept, In ac-
| cordance with the proper and modern
system of Courts In this country. The
petitioners themselves have laid before