The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-31
GRAND JURY
On GAMBLING
They Put Suppression
of 1t Up to the
Authorities.

of the January term of the First Cir
cult Court filed into Judge Robinson's
courtroom and, after presenting the
following report-with eight indict-
ments for the secret file-were dis
Icharged with remarks by the court
cordially appreciative of their SER
vices:
FINAL REPORT OF GRAND
JURY.
Now comes the above-named grand
Jury and desires to report to your
Honor, the presiding Judge at term, as
/ follows:
| Having been duly sworn and
| charged by His Honor W. j. Robin
| son, Third Judge of this court. they
| duly retired for the purpose of con-
sidering cases duly coming before it.
| That a report of bills and no bills of
Indictment found accompanies this re-
port, hereto attached and made a part
hereof Consideration of criminal
cases barely took one day each week.
as is evident by the number of Grim
inal cases considered.
Relative to gambling in Honolulu,
within this circuit, we have the fol-
lowing TO report:
Gambling.
1--WE have made an investigation in
tn alleged gambling being conducted
in this city, and find that the most
serious OF the games being run is the
lottery known as .che-fa.' At the be-
ginning of our inquiry there were Tour
banks running full blast, each hav-
ing two drawings daily. and the Win
ming word for each of these banks for
each drawing was being almost pub
licly announced. Tickets for this lot
terry We're being purchased by both
sexes of practically all nationallties,
and the amount of money staked each
day must have reached thousands OF
dollars. This is shown by the fact
that the agents tickets deposited at
ONLY one OF several designated places
for one drawing, represented an
amount exceeding $500. Agents of
these banks We're located in all parts
Of the city, and in many instances
openly solicited residents to PURCHASE
chances.
.'These banks are no longer doing
business as far we can ascertain,
and it is to be hoped they will re-
main closed, for they are serious
menace to the moral and financial
welfare of the community. AS the eff
forts OF the grand jury in getting a.
the root of the gambling evil have re-
suited in the cessation of these games
and the closing of the che-fa banks, it
is now up to the proper authorities to
be alert in their duties as by SO doing
the gambling games and che-fa banks
can be kept forever closed.
Operating as a grand jury it was
extremely difficult to obtain sufficient
evidence to indict in che-fa cases. due
to the cessation of the games upon our
institution of the investigation. but we
firmly believe that constant vigilance
and vigorous prosecution on the part
OF the proper authorities will result
in the desired end being attained. The
amounts placed in these banks reach
such vast proportions that the grand
jury feels that this community should
be informed and become aware of the
menace which this evil presents, in
order that it in future insist upon the
stamping out of these nefarious insti-
buttons. We believe this can be ac-
ccmplished by the means above sug-
gested, and by the infliction of the
maximum penalty provided by law in
cases where conviction may be Co
tanned.
I'm this connection we also desire to
report that valuable assistance would
have been rendered this grand jury
had the Supreme Court, after its de-
cfsion in the case of Y. All Min,
amended its rule governing the pro-
| ceedings of grand juries. so that an
| oath of secrecy might lawfully be
administered by the grand jury to
witnesses appearing before it, With
| out such an oath it is often impossi-
BILE to accomplish the object intended
| by the inquiry or investigation and the
work of the grand jury is unnecessar-
| lily hampered and impeded.
I'm conclusion. we desire to express
our appreciation of the able assistance
and cooperation by the Attorney Gen
eral and his efficient staff during the
course of our Investigations.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed) wv. A. Bowen. foreman:
Quintus H. Berrey, r. L. Gilliland,
w. H Heine, F. E. Blake, Elmer E.
Paxton. J. j. Byrne. j. S. Low. Aug.
Ahrens, F. NJ Lewis, j. T. Hollo-
day, James w Robertson, Chas. s.
Weight, VIM. Mulch. S. c. Dwight,