The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-12-30

An investigation of the suspected
treachery Of one of its own members
by the Territorial grand jury yester-
day struck a snag, and Leon Renaut
the man who planted the obstacle in
the current of justice, spent last night
in Oahu Jail as a consequence.
Though the name of the grand jury
N an under a cloud is to the outside
world unknown. the court document in
the case puts his offense in the cate
CORY of a criminal leak of grand jury
secrets. The lawyer talk in court, in
deed. gave the affair the ugly name of
conspiracy with outsiders
A clause of the grand jury's petition
to have Leon Renaut cited for con-
tempt of court in refusing. as wit
ness before the grand jury, to answer
questions reads as follows:
THAT said proceeding aforesaid was
the investigation by this grand jury
of violation, by member of said
grand jury, of the secrecy of the pro-
ceedings held by said grand jury, to
wit, the proceedings held by said grand
Jury in the matter of the case
of the Territory of Hawaii versus
Jchr Doe Leon, whose true name is
Leon Renaut, the witness above
named.''
Among the specifications of Renauts
alleged contempt it is said that Deputy
Attorney General Peters. in the grand
| Jury room, cautioned him that he was
not called for the purpose of testifyirs
| ia any regard whatsoever relative to
the facts circumstances, time or place
OF the offense alleged against Renaut
| himself in an indictment some time
| pre- viously filed. Further it is stated
| in the usual amplitude of legal phrase
ology. that Renaut was asked ques-
| ton which did not touch upon his own
case and that he refused to answer
| it on the ground that he would in
criminate himself After repeated re-
quests to answer he refused and the
question was still unanswered.
Seventeen grand jurors, presumably
all then serving on the panel, signed
the information, namely:
Joshua d. Tucker, foreman, j. A. Lyle,
E. r. Biven, ]. ]. Egan, A. S. Robert
son, F. Turrill, H. Cook, A. A. Dunn,
F. l. Dortch John Coffin, D. H. Davis,
Fl. r. Macfarlane Jr.. A. Trask, E. o.
K East Kahulualii, John Andrews, r.
Fl. worran VIM. Dunbar.
Accompanied by E. C. Peters, Depu-
ty Attorney General, the grand jurors
surprised Judge Robinson in the
morning while he was hearing the
hedging mandamus case, by march
ing into court. Mr.. Peters presented
their report on the matter. John w.
Cathcart, acting as Government coun-
sci in the mandamus case, happened
to be Renaut's counsel when he was
arraigned on Indictment, therefore now
stood for him in the contempt proceed
irge. After some talk the citation was
issued and made returnabIe al A p. m.
the same day. Renaut had been
brought into court, in the first
instance. under custody of an officer.
THE HEARING.
Mr.. Cathcart, when Mr. Peters had
read the information at the appoints
ed hour-tha grand jurors being. pres,
EN- in a body and Renaut under arrest
there also-gaid he had not had time
to prepare an answer II was a Sc
rfcus matter for the respondent, while.
according to the petition, it was only
a minor matter-sone kind of a leak
in the grand jury-wherein the wit
ress had refused TO answer.
Judge Robinson. in the course of re-
marks, reminded counsel that contempt
proceedings We're always summary. He
denied the motion for continuance and
Mr.. Cathcart noted exceptions.