Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-12-04
THOMPSON QUITE FREE
ALL FIVE INDICTMENTS
FALL To THE GROUND
is ACQUITTED ON THE SECOND
TRIAL AND OTHER CASES
ARE NOW ADAM.
DoNED.

Deputy Assessor Alexander d.
Thompson Is again free man. The
five indictments against him are dead
letters and his bonds are cancelled.
There was virtually no case against
him from the start, other than the in
formation given by woodward who
was also indicted.
! Yesterday verdict OF acquittal was
rendered under the second indictment
This morning Deputy Attorney Cen
eral Cathcart entered nolle prosequi
on the part of the Territory. to the
remaining three indictments.
SIR. Cathcart stated that II was i'm
possible to prove the case of the prose-
cution, two impartial juries having
found the defendant innocent.
Mr. Thompson gives reasonable ex-
PLANTATION of the only suspicious facts
brought out against him. His caution
to Woodward was based on his under.
standing that Assessor Pratt would
have accepted the return OF the miss.
ing books and the making good OF the
collections discovered short without
having him prosecuted.
Regarding the bribery story. Mr.
Thompson says that Woodward had
charge OF the district in which the Chi
nese taxpayer was domiciled. In this
capacity he had the summons to serve
on this man for delinquent taxes.
Every summons from 1898 onward was
returned by Woodward unserved. with
the information that the taxpayer
could not be found.
Again, Mr.. Thompson appeals to the
fact that woodwards friends neglected
an essential part Of the scheme to i'm
plicate Woodward's superior. when
they left Thompson out of their pro-
posal OF compromise by paying $1,000
and odd. Mr.. Pratt said Thompson's
name was not mentioned In that mat
ter.
The trial OF Alexander d. Thompson
under the second indictment ended In
verdict of not guilty, as that under
| the first one did. When the jury were
out nearly an hour from s o'clock In
the evening. they returned seeking In
structions. The sticking point with
them was whether. on the assumption
that Woodward had collected the sl5
embezzled. by instruction of Thomp-
son, the latter would be guilty II he
had not received the money. Judge De
Bolt replied that he would not The
Jury then returned in a few minutes
with verdict OF acquittal.
Joseph woodward, in his evidence.
stated that he and Thompson had ac-
cepted bride of $50 from Chinese for
reducing their assessments. This evil
dence was stricken out on motion Of
the defense. upon the showing that It
was not embezzlement.
Later in the trial ing Ling. Manoa
valley taro planter, testified that he
had paid to Thompson s35 for which
he was to be relieved Of his taxes. This
money had not been paid in. Cross
examination brought out the fact that
the witness had not paid taxes since
1898 and suit had been brought against
him.
Assessor Pratt told of an offer of set
Element made by Woodward relatives
which he understood the defendant
was a party to. They were to return
the two missing poll tax books anf
pay s.. for each receipt missing there
from. In case the books were no
forthcoming there was to be pay
ment of si055, ,the total amount repre-
scented by the stolen books.
Thompson went on the stand In hi
own behalf. He denied in toto Wood
wards statement and said he had new
er given him the tax book nor accepte'
any money from him. The story of thu
Chinese bribery was also denied
Former Assessor Jonathan Shaw ties
titled as in the first trial, favorably Il
defendants character.
Shortly before 4 o'clock yesterda!
, afternoon the trial of the trespass suit
) with $1,000 damages claimed. OF Emmi
NJ. Nakuina VS.. j, II, Schnack ende'
In Judge Robinson's court with yer
dict for defendant,