The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-17
FINED FOR
CONTEMPT
Judge Gear Makes
Sam Parker
Victim.
foreman of Grand Jury
Pleads Slow Watch
All in Vain.
Parker Says the Court Was AIso
an Offender-Friend in Need
is Facetious.

Samuel Parker, foreman of the Ter
ritorial grand jury for the First Cir
cult Court, was fined S. for contempt
of court by Judge Gear yesterday aft
ernoon.
The episode provoked a lot of mirth
among the few members of the bar
present, one of whom appearing as the
friend in need of the distinguished Gull
prit openly bantered him on his pecu-
liar situation.
Members of the grand jury seen
lounging in the corridors after 1870, on
being asked, like the agricultural Ia
borers in the parable, why they were
loafing, answered that their foreman
had not arrived.
Gentlemen, the Court" Baiiiff Ellis
heralded a few moments after O'Clock,
and all present obeyed the signal to
rise as Judge Gear, accompanied by
Judge Mott of Australia, entered and
sat upon the bench.
Il understand the grand jury has
been kept waiting Judge Gear re-
marked amidst efforts of attorneys to
present matters to which attention was
desired. The trial jury in the Camara
following the first remark of Judge
Gear, and again interrupting the law
yers he said:
II am informed that the grand jury
has been kept waiting for half an hour.
Call the foreman of the grand jury.
Mr.. Parker was summoned by the
bailiff and, when he had reached the
middle of the courtroom floor, Judge
Gear said he understood that the grand
jury had been kept waiting for their
foreman half an hour.
II do not hear very WE'LL Mr.. Par
ker said, advancing with hand to ear.
When he had reached the dais and
leaned against the desk, to the right
of Judge Gear, this is what he heard:
Colonel Parker, I am informed that
you have kept the grand jury waiting
for half an hour. Have you anything
to say why you should not be punished
for contempt of court?"
MY watch just wants a few seconds
of half-past one Mr.. Parker an
swered as he produced his timepiece.
You are fined five dollars for con-
tempt of court, Col. Parker" was the
sentence, land hope you will see that
Court would remind you, Col. Parker,
that the hours of the grand jury are
set. 1t is not proper to keep thirteen
or fourteen men waiting for one man to
get lunch
Mr.. Parker fumbled in his pockets
and then, looking toward the bar, ask
ed if anyone had five" to lend.
Attorney Biting proffered the money,
which Mr.. Parker rendered to Judge
Gear, who ordered him to pay it to the
clerk and the clerk to give a receipt
therefor-"for contempt of court" the
Judge was careful to emphasize.
Mr.. Biting jokingly asked Mr.. Par
ker to turn the receipt over to him with
his I. o. U. on the back of it.
There is no appeal from this, sup
pose," Mr.. Parker observed while the
transaction was being completed.
Yes, there is an appeal" the Court
reioined.
1.-The Court was late ITSELF the
grand jury foreman modify observed
as he turned away. You and the At
torney General kept me late"
You must remember you are adj
dressing the Court was sternly utter
GU ny JuuSe GedT, Dut ny tIlS liiile
the stalwart form of the foreman was
moving toward the door.
There was prelude outside to the
drama in court. Judge Gear and Mr..
Parker had been of party celebrating
the late King Kalakaua's birthday at
the Kapiolani Estate offices, which
gave the Judge a sort of original juris-
diction of the fact that the foreman of
the grand jury was late.