The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-05-12
CHINESE GAMBLERS TRY
To BRIbE THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL s DEPART MENT
Their Offer Overheard by Concealed Witnesses
Including an Advertiser Reporter...Ar-
rests Promptly Made.

the agent to meet him at 80 o'clocl
Saturday afternoon in his office in tn,
Capitol. Mr.. Peters Immediately in
formed Attorneys General Andrews o.
the proposition to ak" the depart
ment, and a plan was agreed upon
whereby the Attorney General with
other witnesses could be present with.
out being seen.
There were two small offices adjoin-
Ing the large offices of Mr.. Andrews
and toilet room. At first It was pro-
posed to conceal the Attorney General
in one of these rooms, but this was
abandoned as the visitor might take
1t into his head to look there before
talking. Then the wardrobe was hit
upon. The small side portion is about
two feet across the front, eighteen
inches deep, and about seven feet in
height. The back was removed, a
piece Of carpet placed on the bottom
and Mr. Andrews and the reporter
tested it. They were cramped and it
was hot, but it would do IL they did
not move.
ENTER THE AGENT.
At 1870 Mr.. Peters was at work in
the big office. The agent appeared ten
minutes later in the outer Office and
asked Mr.. Fleming IL Mr.. Peters was
in. He was ushered into the apart
ment, Mr.. Andrews and the reporter
quickly concealing themselves. The
two men seated themselves at table
and the first proposition of $4,000 a
week was withdrawn, and $1,000 sub
stituted as there were to be but three
huis, and they were willing to give
$500 each. The agent stated positively
that they would guarantee Mr.. Peters
$4,000 per month. He stated that he
would report Mr.. Peters's willingness
to accept the offer, to the members of
the hui, and would return the next
day, Sunday, at o'clock with at least
three of his principals. Every word
of their conversation was taken stem
geographically by Reporter Taylor in the
cabinet.
Yesterday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock
Acknowledgement Andrews and the re-
porter entered the building and going
inside the office, were locked in. Mr..
Fleming stationed himself in the Cap
itOl grounds to watch the approach OF
the bribers and give warning. This
precaution was taken to forestall any
effort being made by the bribers to
keep tab on the attaches of the At
torney-GeneraIs office. Mr. Peters
came into the office at 4 80 and went
to work with some typewriting. AT
81 the agent and Chinaman were
seen walking from Hotel street to the
Capitol, and the Attorney-Ge and
the reporter. concealed themselves as
before in the wardrobe. Mr. Peters
locked the door after his visitors
entered and sat down behind his desk.
The agent wanted to go into a smaller
room but was told to stay where he
was. The Chinaman was introduced
as Tung Kai, and he spoke entirely In
Chinese the agent interpreting for Mr..
Peters and his associate. These pro-
ceedings were taken in full in short
hand notes by the reporter in the
cabinet.
The Chinaman did not bring any
money, as he had been selected the
night before by members of the huis
to meet Mr.. Peters and ascertain just
what they were to obtain as "protec-
ton" in exchange for the $1,000 cash
per week which they were willing to
pay him for his assistance. He was
authorized to make a definite offer of
$500 per week, and the first payment
WIS 10 Ue DclOTc uuIbudy, u
meeting to arrange for which was to
be held this evening. The gambling
houses were to be opened next Satur-
day evening. nest Of them near Maui
nakea and Hotel streets. There were
about 100 members in the four huis,
and these were to employ between
$50 and 300 Chinese as distributors Of
the paka pic tickets. They demanded
$500 cash from Mr.. Peters to be depos-
tied with some reputable merchant, as
an evidence OF good faith toward the
gambling huis.
The negotiations conducted by the
gamblers agent on Saturday after
noon were as follows.
APPROACH OF THE BRIBERS.
The name of the man designated be-
low as agent is withheld from the pub
lie at present to further the interests
of justice:
Agent: How do you do. Mr.. Peters?
Mr.. Peters: Hello. Well, what's the
news?
Agent. / just came TO the office to
tell you that they cant raise $4,000.
Mr.. Peters: What's the trouble?
Observation-Disclosures
,~ ~- A-ruprA,r 81