Evening star., 1902-04-25
CITED FOR CONTEMPT.
Judge Gear of Hawaii Angered by
Newspaper Cartoons.

honolulu Letter In the New York Sun
Judge Gear OF the supreme court this
morning tMarch 12) issued a citation for
contempt for Walter G. Smith. editor and
all the employees of the Advertiser. which
paper has been bitterly attacking the
courts for months This morning a cartoon
was published showing Judge Gear I'm the
attitude of blessing big rufian for biting
womans ear. Judge Gear has released
nearly one hundred prisoners on various
technlcahtles, and has come to be called
the friend OF the criminals" Cartoons
nave been published showing him in this
attitude nearl every day, as hardly a day
passes in which he does not release \
prisoner on technicality. Judge Humph-
reys has also been the subject of numerous
cartoons. and he Joined I'm issuing the cita-
ton, severely scoring the attorney general
for not bringing proceedings before this
The matter was brought up by c. G Bit
ting, an attorney in the case which was
then pending. the men who were released
by Judge Gear having been reindicted by
the grand jury. The punishment for the
oHense is two years Imprisonment or $500
nne and neither judge will lose the op-
portunlty to punish the newspaper pub-
fishers. who have been criticising the courts
since the appointment Of these men Judge
Gear has been charged with sleeping On
the bench while hearing cases -
The Star and the Independent are In th1'
same boat as regards the attacks upon the
judges. but have published no cartoons,
and are not concerned in this case Only
one paper upholds the courts. the Bulletin,
which is publishedby A. V. Gear. a brother
of the judge The hearing Oh contempt
has not been held as yet
Another case in which the opposition TO
the present judges showed itself is that
of the kona Sugar Company. The creditors
had agreed among themselves to the ap-
pointment Of a receiver, designating Samuel
NJ. Damon as their choice. Mr.. Damon
was former minister of finance but is not
an adherent of the new party. Judge Hum
phreys refused to appoint Damon, who
had agreed to furnish the money to finance
the plantation, on condition that he be
allowed TO protect his own interests as
receiver. Instead of complying with the
wishes of the creditors Judge Humphreys
said that an attempt was being made to
dictate TO him, and he accordingly appoint.
ed f. w. Wundeberg. who happened to be
partner of Judge Humphreys brotheT-in-.
law. Damon refused TO finance the planta-
ton, and his refusal was followed by like
action on the part OF every banker and
mercantile corporation in the islands. and
the receiver then asked for an order 10 sell
out the plantation though so doing would
have meant a large loss. I'm the entire de-
struction of the cane, which was ready TO
be harvested. Finally an agreement was
reached resulting in the dismissal of the
suit. In making the order, Judge Hum
phreys made an attack upon the bankers
of the community, who. his friends allege.
were taking this means to show their hos
tility to the court.
Damon will now probably take charge Of
the plantation as assignee. The plantation
laborers are said TO be in sore straits. There
are altogether about 1000 laborers and
their families upon the plantation. ana
many of them have received no pay for
six months. Some of them are said TO be
suffering from lack of food and threaten
damage to the plantation property. The
greater number of laborers are japanese
and, desperate from lack Of food. are likely.
to start a riot and take possession of what
ever property they find. The court ordered
$4,000 spent for the relief Of the laborers
but ii is said that this money went TO a few
who reuired no relief. The cane lis ready
to cut and will be a total loss, unless IL fs
taken off soon, which cannot be done until
all arrangements for fnanciering the plan
tation are complete.