The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-04

said United States at the District of
Hawaii aforesaid unlawfully and felon-
ously did secrete and embezzle GER
tain letter then and there entrusted to
him, and intended to be carried and
delivered by the letter carrier, contrary
to the form of the statute in such case
made and provided, to wit, Section 3S9,
r. S. u. S., and against the peace and
dignity of the said United States.
To this Sabate entered a plea of
not guilty, but objected to going to
trial. He demanded that he first be
allowed to see an attorney and finally
upon the request of United States At
torney Breckons continuance was
taken until nine o'clock this morning.
Bail was fixed at $1,vv0, and Mr.. Breck-
ons requested that he be informed in
case the bond was given as he wished
to file further complaints before Sabate
was allowed to go. Later in the after
noon when it was learned that Editor
Tesla was trying to secure the release
of his employee, a new complaint was
filed before the commissioner charging
violation of Section 5467, of the Re-
vised Statutes, in secreting a letter on
November 22nd. Mr.. Breckons stated
yesterday that the evidence against
Sabate was strong, and that if he Sc
cured release upon the two charges
already preferred additional complaints
were ready to be filed. AS fifty-seven
letters were found in his possession
and as a new case could be made out
of each one, it would seem as if the
young man had a rather rough road
to travel. Marshal Hendry already has
another warrant in the second case
ready to serve if Sabate gets out on
bail in the first case.
The penalty for each offense charged
the secreting OF letter, is punishable
by a fine not to exceed $500 or impris-
Onment of not more than one year or
both in the discretion of the court. On
the second charge of concealing letters
containing anything of value, the pun
ishment may be anything up to five
years.
Sabate has been in Honolulu for
about two years, working for a time
at the postoffice, later at the Republi-
can, and up to the time of his arrest
he was connected with the Independ-
ent. When he first arrived here, Sa-
bate told a story of his having been
forced to leave France because of his
connection with the Dreyfus affair. He
French army and fought dues with
his commanding officer because of
Dreyfus and was wounded in the neck.
He managed to escape, according to his
story. and came to America, but later
returned to France upon the represen-
tations of the authorities and of his
father the mayor of Bordeaux. Upon his
return he was put in irons, and again
escaped. coming to America, enlisting
in the army, and going to Cuba with
the 2Sth regiment. He was dishonor-
ably discharged at San Francisco, at
the instance of the French Ambassa-
dor. as he says, and then came to Ho-
nolulu.
He claimed, further, that his father
committed suicide on his account, and
that his mother was drowned in the
La Burgoyne upon her return voyage
to France after she had pleaded with
him to return.
Within the last few months, how
ever letters have been received in the
city. from his supposed deceased moth
er. and it is now asserted that Sabate
is a deserter from the French army,
and was never more than a conscript
and could not have fought a duel with
his colonel.