The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-02
THOMPSON
FOUND NOT
GULL Y
Deputy Assessor
Acquitted Of
Crime.
JOS. WOODWARD
ADMITS HIS GUILT
Clerk Testilies Against Thompson
But Jury Does Not Be-
lieve His Story.

Alexander D. Thompson, former depu-
ty tax assessor for Oahu was acquitted
by a jury last evening of the charge of
embezzlement of government funds.
The jury was instructed shortly after
six O'clock and was out but an hour in
agreeing upon verdict of mot guilty"
There are four other indictments
against Thompson and woodward
Jointly, charging embezzlement It is
probable that these may be dismissed as
to Thompson as the evidence against
him is said to be weaker than in the
case in which he was acquitted.
What will be done with woodward
remains to be seen. 1t is stated by the
government that no promises were held
out to him for his testimony. Thomp-
son since his suspension as deputy tax
assessor has been employed by the
Bishop Estate.
THE THOMPSON CASE.
There was a long argument at the
opening of the trial yesterday over the
admissibility of the evidence of JOS
Woodward, an accomplice and indicted
with Thompson. The court refused to
allow the testimony and the. one case
against Woodward was then nolle pros
sed in order to put him on the stand,
though there are still four other indict-
ments hanging over him.
Woodward threw the burden of the
charge upon Thompson. He testified
that the latter had told him to sign
his CThompsoas) name to tax receipts,
and that he did so, initiating the sigma
ture. He was given two books by
Thompson he said, and generally met
him in a Chinese store at King and
was turned over. woodward said the
collections were generally made on
steamer days at the wharves and that
the money was turned over to the de-
PENDANT. He said that he had only got
about fifty-ffve dollars of the money SO
collected, and that between four and
five hundred dollars were turned over to
Thompson. Witness also said that
knew of the bogus receipts. Witness
had also signed the name of Jonathan
Shaw to a receipt, and said he did it
because told to do so by Thompson.
On cross-examination Woodward adj
mitted that he had been discharged by
the HOLSTER Drug Co. for taking
money, but this was nineteen years ago.
He had also ben discharged from the
r1yS htlt c
because he sold goods to a Chinese
cheaper than he should have done, and
the money had not been properly ac-
counted for. Witness denied having
been employed by Hall & Son or the
Wilder's Steamship Co., and admitted
that he had had trouble in the tax office
previously with Jonathan Shaw.
The defense had but two witnesses,
Jonathan Shaw who testified that
woodward had taken money while he
was assessor and that Thompson's
reputat ion was good.
Thompson went on the stand and de-
MED pointhlank woodward's testimony
He said he had never told Woodward
to sign his name, and had never re-
ceived a cent from him. He admitted
on cross-examination that he had found
two bogus receipts some time before
Pratt's discovery but had never told the
assessor about it. He did this because
he did not wish Woodward to get into
trouble. Pratt went on the stand in
rebuttal and denied some of Thomp-
sons statements. This closed the evil
dence and the arguments were pre-
scented.
COURT NOTES.
The service in the divorce case of
Emily C. Williams VS.. z. \. Williams
was set aside yesterday because the
petition was addressed to Judge Hum-s
phreys.
The case of D. G. Camarinos VS.. e.
C. Rhodes was dismissed.
A divorce was granted by Judge De
Bolt to Aiena from Evelina Aieha on
the ground of desertion.
An appeal to the Supreme Court has
been taken in the case of Cheong Kwai.
sent to prison for five years for assault.
An order is asked fixing bail, it being
alleged that the defendant is now serv-
ing his sentence at hard labor.
DEGREES for defendant have been filed
in the fishery cases of S. NJ. Damon VS..
Territory of Hawaii and Bishop Estate