The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-12-31
ATTEMPTED HoLD-UP AT THOMAS
SQUARE
Assailants Were Unmasked White Men
and Worked on Cancelled Plan
Citizens Growing Cautious.

An attempted hold up, which while
frustrated, throws clearer light upon
the methods of these gentry, occurred
last night at the favorite haunt of
| these strong arm men, Thomas
Square, at about half past eleven.
Frederick j. Scott was walk
ing homewards yesterday evening
about that time. Strolling slowly
along he had somewhat abstratedly
taken out his jack knife and with the
smaller blade was pairing the inside of
his nails for want of something to
smoke or anything else to do. The ac-
ton proved a fortunate one for him
and the ready exhibition of a weapon
/ frustrated any active aggression on the
| part of his assailants.
Mr.. Scott was walking on the makai
side or the street towards Waikiki and
had passed Kapiolani street and enter
ed into the shadow of the trees over
! hanging the sidewalk which borders
the square a distance of about thirty
yards when he became conscious of
| footstep behind him and heard his fol-
lower clearing his throat
| The man had apparently been stand
ing behind the trees at the makai-E Eva
corner of the square as Scott had not
noticed him behind walking down Bere-
! tania nor on crossing Kapiolani street
| He paid no attention to the man who
was overtaking him and attributed the
noise TO a simple clearance of the
throat, not thinking of a concerted
| signal which after events proved it to
| be.
A short distance farther along
| Scott's attention was arrested by a
groan proceeding from among the
trees. Suspecting nothing, he turned
into the park and approached the di-
rection of the noise, asking what was
the matter. Help! help" was the re-
Iply and at the same moment the man
who had followed him up into the
| square cleared his throat once more.
A quick suspicion flashed into Scott's
mind with the recollection of recent
I hold-ups and instead of proceeding he
| told the groaning men to get up. In
| stantly the man at the back cleared
his throat again and the man who had
! shammeh a hurt sprang, up like a
| flash"
Scott's suspicious now became GER
tainty and fourishing his knife, which
| he still held In his hand, he stepped
backwards, telling the men that he
would stab them if they came any
closer. For a moment his assaiants
stood as If non-plussed, then advanced
as he retreated, still holding his knife
ready Scott soon fetched up back
| wards against a tree trunk which
swung ais body sideways and, having
obtained little start, decided wisely
| that the odds were too many and made
for the street followed by the men.
Reaching the sidewalk he espied the
light of a bicycle rider coming towards
him and ran for it at full speed The
| would-be knights of the road saw the
light at the same time and stopped
| abruptly while Scott made the best of
| his way homeward
The clouded light of the moon COM
bined with the electric lamp on the
corner made objects fairly distinguish
ed and Scott is certain that he would
know one of his assailants again If he
saw him.
This man he describes as a man of
medium height, sturdy build and full
face, of dark complexion but to all ap-
pearances a white man, as was his
companion, who was taller and slighter
and, to the best of Scott's recollection
wore a mustache, Neither of the men
were masked or otherwise palpably
disguised, probably trusting to the
gloom to conceal their identity.
Scotts story, which is clearly told
takes some of the burden of suspicion
from the negroes, who are popularly
supposed to have been the prime NOV
ers in similar adventures. Thomas
Square is evidently a favorite ground
with these gentry and the ruse to draw
the victim into the shadow of the trees
by a false cry for help together with
the cough to show that the coast was
clear, shows that concerted action haC
been planned.
A mounted patrolman passes along
the King street and Beretania street
sides of the square at intervals during
the night but their comings and goings
could be easily timed while the sounC
of a horses hoofs would signal the
riders approach in plenty of time fol
the possessors of alert ears to get cleai
away.
Thomas Square is rapidly getting II
bad odor in it's neighborhoOd and those
who are detained down town nights
after car time and do not care to afforc
the luxury of a hack, are, number OF
them, going armed and the rest walk
ing in the extreme middle of the road
This is the second hold-up reported
from the square while other attempts
have been frustrated on the bend OF
the Waikiki road where it joins King
street.
Not having suffered any loss Mr.. Scott
has not notified the police authorities
although his story is being freely dis
cussed and exploited by those to whom
he has told it this morning