The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-02-11
LONG MAN
ON TRIAL
Alleged Burglar
Before the
Court.
Can Minors Be Sent
to the Reform
School.
De Bolt Asks Question OF Attor-
neys-- Fisherman Is Acquitted
of Using Powder.

Roger James, the negro alleged to be
the long man" OF the pair. who are
said to have committed a series of rob-
berries In Honolulu recently, was put on
trial before Judge De Bolt yesterday
afternoon for the robbery of the tea
garden at Pacific Heights. The jap
anese woman whom he is alleged to
have gagged and threatened with
death, was the principal witness for
the prosecution. She testified that a
colored man, whom she identified as
the defendant entered her house on Pa
cific Heights on the night of the 18th
of January, and demanded her money.
He was accompanied by another man
with a revolver She made no resist
ance but James put a stick in her
mouth and told her if she cried out she
would die She replied: ct have two
small children, and if die there will be
trouble. I will give you all my money"
With that she went to a room and
showed him the money under mat
tress. This did not satisfy the rob-
bers however, and they went through
the till in the store. The japanese wo-
man was positive in her Identification
of the defendant and said he wore no
mask, though he was painted black,
some of the paint having rubbed off on
her clothes. Her husband was on the
stand and corroborated the story.
Chester Doyle was also a witness
testifying as to the arrest of the de-
PENDANT.
James took the stand in his own be-
half. He denied any knowledge of the
crime saying that on the night of the
robbery he had been at the home of
friend on Young street, and afterwards
had come down town and remained at
the lunch wagon until one o'clock. He
claimed to have come here from Yoko-
hama about a year ago, and most of
the time since was spent in the employ
of the Hawaiian Tramways Co. He de-
stealing, but said he had been short in
his change on one occasion and had
made it up. He had left Mr.. Pains
employ because of the rain, which he
said was bad for his rheumatism.
The trial was not finished yesterday
and will go on again this morning.
FISHERMAN ACQUITTED.
Kuhia, Hawaiian fisherman, was
found not guilty by jury yesterday
afternoon on the charge of fishing with
explosives. The native was arrested
few weeks ago on complaint of the
fish inspectors who captured a lot of
fish which had been killed by the use
of giant powder. The Japs from whom
the fish w~re taken claimed that they
had bought them from a native fisher
man and Kuhia was arrested on the
he had been employed by the Japs but
that he had not used giant powder,
and the fish which were taken had been
given him by the japanese. The jury
was out but a few minutes in arriv-
ing at a verdict of acquittal. H. w.
Robinson appeared to defend.
BOYS TO REFORM SCHOOL.
Judge De Bolt yesterday asked the
attorneys present in the court room for
their views of the law relative to the
Imprisonment of minors. He stated
that he was adverse to sending chill
dren to Oahu Jail, and was in some
doubt as to whether he had the right |
to send them to the reform school |
Judge Gear held in a previous case |
that only district judges had that pow
er, and the question has been an open |
one ever since. There was no comment
from the attorneys other than a prom |
Use to assist the court in investigating |
the point of law involved.
MORE ARRANGEMENTS.
The remainder of the persons indict-
ed by the grand jury were brought be-
fore Judge De Bolt yesterday for ar
alignment Jane Chiffon. charged with
the concealment of Margaret Place,
her plea, and the bond was
fixed at 800. The other defendants
indicted were also arraigned and coun-
sci to defend appointed by the court
ANOTHER MIsTRIAL.
The jury in the case of Charles KAN
nan charged with assault upon loom
Paul. Kunst failed TO agree yesterday
morning and was ordered flischarped |