The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-25
NFORMERS
ALL RIGHT
No Bias Against
Them On Part
of Estee.
EVIDENCE GOOD
IN LIQUOR CASES
Federal Jurist Says That II Is a
Mans Duty to Inform
Upon Crime.

Judges do not agree upon the COM
for liquor violation. Both Humphreys
and Gear at every prosecution for vio-
lation of the Territorial liquor laws in
struct the juries to pay little heed to
the testimony of informers in such
| cases, and generally deliver themselves
of long rhetorical denunciations of the
| witnesses. and the terrible wrong COM
mitted by the Territorial officials in
| fathering such prosecution.
The revenue authorities in every other
State in the Union generally secure
conviction of moonshiners and offenders
| against the internal revenue laws by
just such witnesses, and the same pol
| icy is being pursued by the Federal
| authorities in the Territory at the pres
emit time. At the trial of the two Cas-
were placed on the stand who admitted
that they were "informers.'' Judge
Estee not only upheld this kind OF evil
dence. but stated that it was the duty
OF every citizen to inform the authori-
ties whenever they were witnesses to
crime. or knew of one being COM
mitted.
Anton Lassa was on the stand in the |
afternoon. when Attorney Vivas for the |
defense attempted to impeach his evil |
dence by showing that he was a police |
informer. The witness admitted that
- - Il.
istence of the okolehao still OF the Cas-
tahanas. when Judge Estee interrupted:
1T doesn't make any difference If he is
an inforner. The testimony of a man
isn't TO be disbelieved or impeached be-
cause he sees a crime and comes to the
police and reports the facts. 1t is the
duty of every citizen when he sees a
crime being committed to notify the
authorities"
That ended the "informer' defense in
the United States Court. though there
were several police witnesses. the at
torneys evidently realizing the differ
ence between the United States and the
Territorial tribunals.
David KAPPA, McCauley and several
other witnesses were on the stand and
testified to the capture of the STILL
The defendants are attempting to show
that they were manufacturing vinegar
from the ii leaves and not okolehao.
Kamaka testified that he had pur-
chased the still being used by Casthana
from a Chinese named Wing Sing Sam.
Evidence introduced during the trial
oil ha .Nfn OIL criI &c
in the lantana at Kalihi, and the {
United States authorities may start a I,
wholesale investigation of these al {
legged violations of the internal revenue /
laws.
SUPREME COURT.
The Supreme Court heard arguments
in the case of T. b. Mossman VS.. S. b.
Dole as Governor yesterday. This is a
over a street opening and :
The Government is not really a party.
In the afternoon arguments were be-
gun in the matter of the guardianship
II Kalua Kapukini. This is the spend
thrift case in which ]. a. Magoon was
guardian. and Judge Little dissolved
he trust.
The Supreme Court rendered decis-
on yesterday quashing the writ of err
or in the case of II. Hackfeld & Co.
-. Hilo Railroad Co. Chief Justice
rear was disqualified and the two Jus
ices passed upon the motion. A new
ppeal will be taken.
CIRCUIT COURT.
Henry Smith filed his report yester- Y
ay as master in the matter of the es-
ate of James Woods. The question
f determining the trust because the
oungest child is now of age. was re-
erred TO the court. The estate is ap- O.
raised at $4,000 with liabilities of i
- 1882 The master reports also the
urchase of $50 acres of land for $4,000.
'hich was authorized by the terms of
ne win. II il suggested also that the
ne-half share in the Beecroft planta- n,
on in Kohala, Hawaii, may have TO be -
old TO release the estate from debt and
reserve its ranching interests The
for the term ending Septem-
er ;. 1901, are found to be correct.
PPEAL TO UNITED STATES SU-
PREME COURT.
The report OF Cecil Brown as admin
TRAITOR OF the estate OF d. b. Smith
bows the receipts for the year to have
cen sil.lSi.33, with expenditures OF
S97.Sa. leaving a balance Of $3.50. 40.
r Brown reports that he has collected On
Il sums due the estate. excepting s25.- -
70 due upon n policy in the Equitable
ife Assurance Co, in which the in
france company has appealed 10 the
nited States Supreme Court from the no
awaiian Supreme Court. BE
COURT NOTES.
]. a MaFoon has filed an inventory ~ -.
the estate OF Harriet i. Kawainui.