The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-05
CRAFT Of
H. c. B|RBE
Works His Police Pull
to Get the Drunks
From Cell.

|
it is necessary to see one H. c. Birbe
! He has pull with the high officials
| of the department and has the power
to get out of custody those arrested
for little affairs like drunkenness and
others concerning which the public al
| large takes little notice. Naturally
Mr.. Birbe does not work his pull unless
there is something in it for Mr.. Birbe
A police pull which could not be made
to yield the necessary gold would be
of no use to Birbe. He is not philan-
| thropist.
In one case, at least, which has
happened within the past week, Birbe
has extorted money from prisoner
of the police, securing his release from
custody and arranging matters SO that
he was not entered upon the trial
calendar. This affairs occurred on
Thanksgiving day, the particulars of
which show the glaring misuse of power
exercised at the police station and the
graft worked by this man Birbe. How
many others there may be in the same
game or who else Eesides the one who
makes the extortion shares in the money
thus illegally obtained is not known.
On the afternoon of November 30
Alfred Tregaras, driver employed by
Levers & Cooke, was arrested at the
fishmarket and lodged in the police sta
ton. \ charge of drunkenness was
registered against him. Regarding the
merits of the arrest it is not necessary
to say, but at the station a companion
OF Tregaras was told that no bail
would be accepted. This companion,
George Domingo, offered to put up $25
to secure the release of Tregaras, but
his offer was turned down.
Domingo stood outside the police sta
tation for some time, talking over the
case with Special officer Leal, in the
course of his conversation again offer
ing to put up $25 bail. At this point
of the game Birbe appeared, accompa-
MED by an older companion, whose
name is known.
At the mention of money Birbe prick
ed up his ears and edged near, finally
taking Domingo to one side, telling
him he had something to say to him.
What he had to say was that if
there was any money in it, he, Birbe,
knew way to get Tregaras out of Jail
and shut off any further trouble IN
his case Domingo asked him what his
price was.
''Wen,'' said Birbe, ''to get him
out and keep him from coming up for
trial in the morning ought to be worth
$15 to him.
Now, while Domingo was quite will
he was not prepared to put up $15
knowing that there was no possibility
of getting any of it back. He want
ed to consult Tregaras before he did
so, but he was denied admittance to
the station house by j. Kanae, the
police officer VINO had made the arrest |
at the fshmarket.
Under the circumstances Birbe came !
down in his price, offering to take $40 !
and finally So. On this basis the deal |
was made, Birbe was to be paid his !
graft and the prisoner was to be re-
leased and his charge cancelled. Birbe S
then took charge of Do
Eingo, keeping him away from the sta
lion while Birbe went inside ''to tele-
phone to Henry Vida and fix it up
rs he explained.
Within short time Birbe returned,
b hai Ia hol do |
good regarding what he had told about
ais power to fix things with the police.
Turning his charge over to Domingo,
8irbe and his companion made bee
me for Seotty's saloon.
From there he drifted up to Me-
righe s saloon. He had been celebrat-
ng the holiday and by this time had
become drunk enough to be talkative.
An Advertiser reporter overheard
enough of his talk to learn that there
vas something doing.
Blrbe s remarks were interesting.
They dealt with the glorious graft he
lad and from this wandered on to the
'ecent election and the recount His
graft and the political affairs of the
police department were evidently con-
lected, as the drift of his conversation
The majority shall prevail, said
3irbe, striking an attitude, then with
IN air of drunken archness adding,
but not always. When you can work
he machine after the election some
lines the minority will prevail. -
'Iaukea might be the next sheriff,
le continued. "but he II have to wait
ior two years before he is. Brown has
gained some on him already in the re
count, but before they get through all
Continued on Page Three)