The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-02-19
LUMBER TRUST
CASE DECISIONS
lack Lucas BaIks Against the
Demand for Business
Documents.

| United States of America versus
Wilder & Co., Allen & Robinson and
Levers &. Cooke-porularly known s
the lumber trust case-was called in
| the United States District Court yes
| terday and referred by Judge S. b.
Dole, for the taking of evidence, to
Commissioner Frank L. Hatch
District Attorney r. w. Breckons and
Assistant District Attorney ]. J. Dunno
represent the Government. For the re-
spondents there appeared in court yes
terday D. L. wilmington, w. L. STAN
ley, c. r. Hemenway, C. H. Olson and
A. f. Judd.
Among the witnesses called SO far
have been President Pinkham and Sec
rotary Charlock of the Board of Health
and John Lucas of Lucas Bros, one of
the largest lumber consuming firms of
Honolulu The Federal attorneys are
not yet done with Jack" Lucas. who is
one of the best witnesses, from the
viewpoint of diversion, that ever oc-
cupied the stand in Honolulu court.
Every now and then he retorts IKE a
firecracker upon the inquisitor. Had
any like him come before Jeffreys he
would surely have been pardoned for
his wit or turned into cinder in the
marked place for his temerity.
Mr.. Lucas was questioned about his
firms contract for erecting the Oahu
a written one. The request for bids
was oral. He asked only Levers &
Cooke for estimates on the lumber for
that contract. Why? Because he had
been doing business with Mr.. Lowrey
and Mr.. Harris for some time.
He believed he had receipts for Ium
Der purchased from the three defend
ants since June, 1900 and Mr.. Breckons
asked him if he would produce them in
court. the question being in the accents
of a demand. Jack fired up at this.
II don't think it is right for you to
ask me such thing" was in part
the reply. why should I have to tell
you everything about my business for
years past?"
do you refuse to produce the re-
ceipts?'' was asked in measured syI- |
iabication. 81 |
Another torrent of protest came from
the witness and at each pause for two |
or three times the question was re-
peated in level tones
Mr.. Stanley came to the relief of the
with perfunctory objection to
the demand and Mr. Wilmington as
sisted with a suggestion that the mat
ter was important enough to be re-
eerred to Judge Dole for a ruling
Mr. Breckons, to give witness and
counsel chance, modified the ques-
ton to make the reply due this morn
ing.
Witness understood that the white
pine lumber he bought came from
Puget Sound, but could not say wheth-
er the dealers brought it here or had
It sent to them.
President Pinkham was questioned
particularly about the rejection of a
Did of the City Mill Co. to supply the
Board of Health with lumber The in.
ormation he gave in reply was to the
effect that, when the board was about
% give the contract to that concern. s
he citizen clause of the appropriation ,
iii was encountered, which prohibited
for labor or material to be
made with other than citizens. TheI
lrm in question is composed of Chinese
hough its president, c. K. Al, some
ears ago defended claim to citizen
hip
Secretary Char1ock's evidence cover
q Board of Health lumber contracts
ince June, 1900. Objections to his eyi,
ence as being immaterial We're en-
cred by defendants.