The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-05-29
(From Thursdays Daily.)

Tong kai was found guilty OF az
tempting to bride Deputy Attorney
General Peters by jury yesterday
afternoon and was by Judge De Bolt
sentenced to serve term of eighteen
months in Oohu Jail and to pay the
costs OF the prosecution. There was
no defense. Tong Kai failed to go on
the stand, and with nothing but his
plea of not guilty before them and
without explanation the jury was not
long in reaching an agreement as to
his guilt. The evidence of John Baker
and of Chinese to whom the defen-
dant had told of his intentions to Elk"
the matter was practically all that
went to the jury. The statements made
to MIR Peters were allowed only so far
as Baker could testify. Peters was
not allowed to tell of the Interpretation
made by Baker but the jury found am
pie evidence without that that an at
tempt to bride the Attorney General
had actually been made. An exception
to the verdict and sentence was taken
by F. M. Brooks and an appeal to the
Supreme Court noted The appeal bond
was fixed at $1,000.
BAKERS TESTIMONY.
John Baker the Hawaiian who acted
as interpreter during the negotiations
had between Mr.. Peters and Tong Kai
was the first witness. He testified that
he was first approached by the Chinese
at his residence number of weeks
ago. Tong Kai had asked him whether
he was acquainted with the Attorney
General, and Baker replied that he
Thnp Tnnr OF cold hn wanted
him to act as interpreter in making an
offer to the Attorney General to permit
the pakapio games to be run. Baker
told also of the several conversations
he had had with Peters in which he
first offered to pay him for his efforts
in securing the lottery men freedom
from prosecution. The conversation
in the Attorney Generals Office be-
tween Peters and Baker, in which the
Chinese made the direct offer to pay
also testified to.
The crosse examination by Brooks
was interesting, though the testimony
of the native was not shaken, even
though he became a trifle confused in
relating the circumstances of the deal.
"You thought Mr.. Peters was going
W tdhc tlS lhohCy Oil eh'o siAiS' SAS
witness was asked after answering
some general questions relating to the
alleged bribery.
Eyes, thought he was going to ac-
cept the bribe," replied Baker.
"And you were willing to instigate
and assist in this matter?"
WAS ONLY INTERPRETER.
mo, was not, l was willing to in
terpret for the Choinaman.'
For money!"
yes, for money"
"How much money!"
"Well, was going to be paid for in
terpreting."
How much, five dollars day, l
SUPPOSE"
Il don't know, he said he was going
to give me a cup of tea, that is the
Chinese way of expressing it,
THE CUP OF TEA.
"An you expect the jury to believe
you were going to do this for a cup or
tear"
Eyes, because it's So"
"And you who know six languages,
and are notary public under the At
torney Generals Department were go
ing to assist this Chinaman to bride
the Attorney General?"
mo, was not going to assist him,
| was simply acting as interpreter"
Now, who paid the car fare to the
Capitol Building?"
~ did"
"Oho! you did?"
Eyes, the Chinaman said he didn't
have spare nickel in change and
asked me to nav his fare"
"And the Chinaman went along with
out any influence being used on your
part?"
"He said he was afraid to go at first,
because he had just been cinched $3.50
for running pakapia game"
well, If this was pau were you to
get your money!"
81 don't know"
"on't you know that no pakapio
games are running now?"
"He was going to start one If the
Attorney General took the $780,"
What was the Attorney General go
ing to do, pay Tong Kai's fine?"
"He was going to give the $1,000 for
his legal assistance, If the defendant
was arrested the Attorney General had
to pay the fines, bonds and every
thing"
BY the Court-"Was the arrange
ment made that the Attorney General
was to personally appear in court and
defend Tong Kai?"
Eyes, something like that"
WOULD QUASH INDICTMENT.
BY C. s. Desky, juror-"Was it un-
derstood that the Attorney General
was to quash the indictment when the
case was called?"
There was verbal understanding
something like that. In case Tong Kai
was arrested for running pakapio
game, the Attorney General was to
nolle pross. the Attorney General had
to get attorneys, pay lawyers fees,
and if arrested take care of him."
"*'This thing. this bribery business,
was all arranged before hand, wasn't
it?" asked Brooks, sort of opera
bouffe, wasn't it. this here cabinet Sc
ance?"