The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-10
GREW CANE:
AND RICE
Chinese Testimony
Not Believed
by Estee.

was diiu
the Honolulu Plantation Company prac-
tically completed Its defense, excepting
a few witnesses who will be called this
morning. Judge Estee emphasized yes
terday the need of haste in finishing up
the case. and informed Mr.. Silliman that
no would not be allowed to repeat the
testimony upon points which had already
been proved.
At the opening of court yesterday
morning. G. Bolte was placed on the
stand and placed an estimate of from
&225, 900 to 100000 on the leasehold inter-
est of the defendant. On cross-eXamina-
ton he admitted that the estimate was
based upon certain supposition as to the
yield OF cane upon the land in question,
and also upon what the sugar would
bring. In response TO a question he said
that IL these conditions were not true,
then his deductions would not be cor
rect
1t was during the examination Of this
witness that the Court stated that he
would allow no more evidence as to val
uation. He said that the same facts had
been testified to half a dozen times, ana
the estimates of these experts had not
been disputed, consequently no more Wit
nesses wese necessary to prove that part
Of the case.
Judge lliman replied that had he
known that he was to be limited IA to
the number of witnesses, he would not
have called SO many plantation manag-
ers but relied more upon the evidence OF
these other experts. The Court replied
that the evidence of all these witnesses
was practically the same. and had not
been contradcted.
The attorneys then resumed the read
ing OF the proceedings of the early days
of the trial. This was concluded at about
8 o'clock and the defendants resumed
their presentation by placing w. r. Cas-
tie on the stand. He estimated the value
of the lease at s2jO.OO0, and on cross-ex-
animation showed his reasoning to have
been practically that of the other wit
nesses. Mr.. Crawley was then called up
on to testify as to an examination he
had made of the soils on the condemned
land and also of other plantations in the
vicinity. He testified that they were
practically the same, adobe soil and red
coral. The Court sustained the objection
of the United States Attorney to ques-
ton put to this witness for an estimate
of the land value based upon the eXamin-
alton of soils.
Wong Koon Chan, the Chinese, who, up
to this time had been n very mysterious
figure In the case, was next put on the
stand He Is the man. said to have rails
ed sugar cane upon an acre OF land IN
the condemned tract. Witness testified
through an interpreter that he had grown
cane, rice and melons on a tract of land,
about thirty acres in extent. upon the
condemned site. This had been in the
vicinity of the well.
Mr.. Silliman then offered In evidence
check for $500 which had been paid
by w. G. Irwin to the Chinese firm Tor
their leasehold interest in the land. Mr..
Dunno objected to the offer of anything
which had to do with lands other than
the condemned site. Mr.. Sill!man replied
that he had a right to make the offer
and have the check identified by the wit
ness. The witness, in response to fur-
ther question, replied that rice had been
raised on the land for number OF
years.
Judge Estce stopped further examina-
ton of the Chinese witness, interruptinS
counsel with the remark:
so far as this witness Is concerned.
the Court and the jury have been down
there, ard know that no rice has been
raised on that land or can be raised
there"
1--WE have a right to prove that" re-
piled Judge Silliman.
Then bring white witnesses here. The
Court Will not listen to Chinese Witness
es in this case, when the Court knows
what Is the truth, and that no rice could
be raised on this land"
With that remark the witness was ex-
CISeu, ana AldIldBeE LOW was S"heu ~
the stand.
IT want to ask what has been raised
upon this land, to your knowledge?" ask
ed Mr.. Silliman.
For the past five or six years rice
melons and sugar cane have been grow
ing there. on about thirty acres. near this
well: the water being carried by means
of a fume to the crops"
Questioned about the check, Mr.. Low
ot, faI hn had hppn piVpn to the
father of the last witness In payment fol-
the lease of thirty acres In the condemn
ed property. The check was for $780,
signed by w. G. Irwin & Co., and was
paid to the Wong Now Wal Company
December &c, 1900
On cross-examination, witness stated
that the thirty acres so purchased were
In the heart of the land wanted by the
Honolulu Plantation Company. and was
needed by them for the further develop
ment of the plantation.
Twill you explain" interrupted Judge
Estee. what you meant in your testi
mony several days ago. when You said
that cane had been raised upon but one
acre OF this land?'
IT answtred only the question, relative
10 sugar cane, as I understood It, Thai
acre of cane / watched, and studied Its
growth; but there was rice growing or
other land all this time. 1t was still
there In July and November-up to De
cember l think. We did not take pos
session OF the land until May; one OF
the provisions of the purchase being thai
the Chinese should be allowed to harves
the crop of rice and melons then stand
ing" ~
Isn't 1t n fact" asked Mr.. Dunno
that the attempt to cultivate rice or
this land was a failure?"
mo. SIR" replied the witness, emphat
ically; rice was growing there beauti
fully"
Mr.. Silliman stated that he had no fur
Their witnesses ready for examination
and court then adjourned to 9 o'clock thi:
morning. The defendants have but
few witnesses left. and the rebuttal viii
probably begin at the morning session
Arguments may be reached some tim,
this afternoon. The case will hardly &
to the jury before Monday OF next week