The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-30
HUMPHREYS AND
CAP TAIN JAMES
THE LITTLE GIANT" BECOMES
SUSPICIOUS OF THE HERO OF
THE SAN DIEGO EXPEDITION.

Captain James, mariner, Journalist
and hero of a famous San Diego expe-
dition for the conquest of Lower Cali
fornia, is about to start newspaper in
Honolulu and write up the John X
Sumner case. The announcement was
made in Judge De Bolts court this
morning, when A S. Humphreys call
ed the courts attention to the captains
careful taking of notes of the testi-
mony, and intimated that James was
giving tips to witnesses who had been
excluded from the court room.
Humphreys suddenly interrupted the
proceedings while Sumner was telling
how he had burned his Will after he
! got 1t home with a cancellation written
on it in red ink. The attorney asked
to have a word in private with the
! judge, as certain matters which the
court should know had attracted his
| attention. With George A. Davis as
representing the other side, Humphreys
proceeded to whisper into the judicial
ear
1T has been called to the attention
of the court" said De Bolt, that
a certain person is here taking notes of
this testimony and is supposed to be
supplying information to the other wit
nesses in the case. The court does not
say that this is being done, but as the
matter has been brought up, L will say
that if any one is found doing so, he
will be summarily dealt with"
! Magoon said he wanted to know who
the person was, and asked that he be
excluded from the court room. Humph-
reys and Davis thought it wouldn't be
fair to accuse the man by name, while
Magoop contended that a reflection
was cast upon Summers case by the
accusation.
Your Honor, 1 suppose L am the
party referred to-" said Captain James,
coming forward from the rear of the
court room, where he had been seated
with a little red note book. Il have
nothing to do with Mr.. Sumner or this
case, and am here only as a newspaper
man. l am going to start a paper in
| Honolulu soon and shall write up this
case whichever way it is decided. L
have been newspaper man for twenty
years and went through a case like this
I once. l am taking notes purely as a
matter of news"
Humphreys wanted to examine the
captain, as long as he had made a
statement, and intimated that his
newspaper experience had been limited
to a week or so of metropolitan jour-
nalism in Petaluma. Don't take any
more notes." said George A. Davis.
James backed away to his seat and said
he wouldn't. I'll keep it all in my
head" he remarked, as he slowed away
the red note book, after offering to al
low the court to see it.
The court will settle this matter"
said the judge. De Bolt then said that
James had a right to take notes if he
wanted, but mustn't help the absent
witnesses.
IF he's going to start a paper 1 don't
, want to deprieve contemporary litera-
ture of his scintillating thoughts"
said Humphreys.
The gentleman may take notes just
the same as other representatives of
the press who are here said Judge De
Bolt.
But he says he won't" replied Da-
|; Wis.
well, the court is not going to order
him to take notes if he doesn't want
to-" said De Bolt. Proceed with the
r case" The trial went on, and James
took no more notes. James is a well
. known sea captain, and was editor of
the City Front News, of San Francisco,
! for twenty years or So internationally.
| John X. Sumner was on the stand all
the morning. He appeared to be in
/ forgetful mood. The lawyers were
, quieter, but none the less aggressive,
and the entente cordiale was in no bet
: ter condition than before.
Thompson made many inquiries into
what happened when Sumner got his
will and money from Bishop Gulstan.
II took the WILL" Sumner finally said
land carried it away in my pocket. and
D MagoOn carried the money" Sumner
had forgotten how the check was made
or endorsed, and had forsct-en whether
i he went to the First National Bank
and saw Cecil Brown. He remembered
: that Magoon wrote in red ink across
the will. to cancel it, but didn't know
what was in the will. He had wanted
Magoon to cancel it, however. Memory
. failed as to just what was written or
it by Magoon.
when we went to the Bishop | sait
1 wanted my money, deed and will,
said Sumner, land the Bishop said tina
was proper. Magoon told the BishoI
= he had better send for an attorney o
his own, and the Bishop said he didn'
want any, and he and l could settl
r everything" Sumner then told abou
: the check. "Magoon took the none!
and gave him the WILL" INTERCEPTED
+ Humphreys.
e When it came to telling about tn,
details of his transactions Sumner wa
forgetful and II have forgotten" wa
a frequent answer Humphreys sale
he had kept track of % questions ant
J. in IS of them the answer was 81 have
[. forgotten" while last Saturday sum
ner took the stand with good memory.
The old man said he had never secur
= ed his deed from the Bishop, becaus
. the latter, after asking Magoon t
make out a document" which he wa
> to sign when the deed was turned
over, had refused to sign the said do
= cument when it was presented. Sum
f ner thought some one had gone to tn
Bishop and "interfered."
# After he got the will whose content
e he didn't know, Sumner took it to hi
= home on Sumner Island, and there n
t made a little fire. The smoke it sen
d to heaven carried with it the will tina
d left his money to the Ellis and DaVi
heirs and others, as well as the red inl
cancellation in the handwriting of Ma
COON.
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