The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-13
IRWIN PRESENTS
HISTORIC CHAIRS
Three That We're Used Back in
the Sixties Come Back
for Service.

a very pleasing satisfaction yesterday
as three high backed chairs of hand
some design and upholstery were placed
in position for the members of the
Supreme Court of the Territory by
Clerk James A. Thompson. The three
chairs have both a personal and
historic interest to him. They are the
chairs that were secured for the Su-
preme Court away back in the sixties,
and they were in use when the Chief
Justice became a member of the Su-
preme Court for the first time in 1868.
He sat in one of these three chairs
during the period he was on the bench
from 1868 to 1874
In the late years of the monarchy
the number of members of the Supreme
Court was increased from three to five,
and instead of adding two additional
chairs of the same kind, which would
probably have been a little difficult
to do, chairs of an altogether differ
ent design were secured and these three
went to the auction room. William
G. Irwin bought them at auction, and
has had them at his home ever since.
Not long ago the Chief Justice saw
them there and spoke about their his
torie character. Whereupon Mr.. r.
win offered to present them to the
Supreme Court of Mrs. Irwin would
give her permission. This Mrs. Irwin
has graciously done, and the chairs
were sent to the Supreme Court room
and placed in position yesterday.
1t is not known whether they are
of French or English design, though
the Chief Justice thinks they are of
French design. They are very ornate
and quite striking. In sending them
Mr. Irwin wrote letter to the Chief
Justice to which the latter responded.
The correspondence regarding the |
chairs is as follows:
Honolulu. T. H, October 10, 1907.
Hon. A. S. Hartwell Chief Justice, |
Supreme Court of the Territory of
Hawaii.
My Dear Judge: I take pleasure in
presenting to the Supreme Court the |
three chairs which we spoke about a
few days since.
I believe that these chairs are quite /
historical so far as the Hawaiian SUI |
preme Court is concerned, having been
used for many years by that court |
during the time of Judges Allen and |
Harris, and possibly at an earlier |
date, though I have no record as to |
where they originally came from or
when they first came into use.
I obtained possession of these chairs |
by sale at auction about the time of |
the overthrow of the Monarchy, when
many relics of this description were
disposed of.
With kind regards to yourself and
colleagues, 1 am, very truly yours,
W. G. IRWIN.
Supreme Court, Territory of Hawaii.
October Il, 1907.
Hon w. G. Irwin, City.
NV Dear Mr.. Irwin: On behalf of |
myself and the Associate Justices of /
the Supreme Court I beg to tender to |
you our very sincere thanks for your |
gift to the Supreme Court of the |
three historical chairs which were used |
for many years upon the bench.
As you say in your letter, these /
chairs are quite historical so far as
the Hawaiian Supreme Court is con-
cerned, having been used for many i
years by that court during the time |
of Judges Allen and Harris, and pos
sibly at an earlier date" My own rec
objection concerning them dates back