The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-11-11
AS THEIR
OWN LAWYERS
NC MON WAR WITHDRAWS HIS
APPEARANCE FOR FORTY-sIX
OF HIS COUNTRYMEN.

What is said to be the first case on
record of a crowd of Chinese gamblers,
pleading not guilty and going to trial
without an attorney other than them
selves, yesterday morning in the
District Court before Judge Wilcox.
The forty-six Chinese arrested last
Friday evening on Maunakea street,
near Hotel, by David KAPPA, Chun
Poon and others, were lined up in court
this morning. They formed a hollow
square completely surrounding the ia
bles assigned to lawyers. and almost
surrounded the bench.
When they were all in position, Ng
Mon War, late candidate for the House
of Representatives on the Home Rule
ticket, got up and said some thing
which the interpreter said was to the
effect that he wished to withdraw his
appearance for the defendants. This
left the forty-six Chinese without an
attorney of any kind, except them
selves.
Judge Wilcox told the interpreter to
explain the situation to them and ask
them if any of them wanted to change
their plea of not guilty entered last
Saturday, to guilty. Seven of them
did.
Tell them, Mr.. Interpreter" said
Judge Wilcox, that they are charged
with being present where gambling
was going on. In consideration of their
having pleaded guilty, 1 will fine them
50 and costs. 1 don't look on a man
who goes into a gambling place and
looks on, and maybe once in while
risks piece of money on the game, as
being as bad as the banker or those
who are helping the game along in
some way
Tell them it costs six dollars" said
the Deputy High Sheriff, and All Kim,
Akana, All You, Ice Lum and Hec he,
promptly paid and were told to 60
which they promptly did.
Mr.. Sheriff, you will have to find
seats for these other defendants While
we try them" said Judge Wilcox, and
four long benches were drawn up with
in hearing distance of the witness
stand, the defendants were seated IN
1t and the trial proceeded. All Chcy,
the first witness told of going to the
place, finding gambling going on, TIE
game being Pal Kou, a game played
with dominoes, himself losing two dol
lars, and seeing all the defendants
there, Tai Lung had similar expert
ence except that he won $11O. Chun
Poon, police officer, saw the def Id
ants present.
The defendants crOss-examined the
witnesses at some length, the point Of
the questioning being as a rule, to
shake the certainty of the witness as tn
the fact that the individual questioner
was playing or merely looking on.
Then a number of the defendants
took the stand. Ching Ting just hap
pened in there about the time of the
arrest looking for his uncle Ching
Ling, who was there and also among
the defendants. Yong Sang was on his
way TO an English school and just looK-
ed in to see If friend of his was there.
Not one of the defendants was gam
bling according to his own story, and
all were there by the merest, but most
unfortunate accident.
The prosecuting witnesses all agreed
that Lee Kin was the banker, and that
three of those who had pleaded guilty.
and whom Judge Wilcox had let off
with a five dollar fine because he
thought they were not as bad as the
banker, We're assistant bankers.