The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-19
SAY COSTA CAVE
GIANT POWDER
Charges Made Against Road
Department Emp!oye by
Arrested Men.

The arrest of Sam Kanoho and Aka
for using giant powder in fishing fol-
ImulIet near the Kakaako rifle range
which was made by the police on Mon
day, may prove TO be more in
teresting than appeared at first. The
men arrested state that they were fur
nished the dynamite with which they
broke the laws of the Territory, by
Charles Costa, the foreman Of the road
department stables. They recite in de-
tail meeting Costa, being given the
giant powder and using it. After they
brought the dead fish ashore they as
sert that they gave part to Costa and
to other road department men who
were with him
The road department uses giant pow
der in large quantities, and the charges
are being carefully investigated. The
trial of the men who were caught last
Monday will take place this morning
pected that they will plead guilty, as
they hade made full confessions to the
Sheriff.
When his attention was called to the
matter, Road Supervisor Sam Johnson
stated that Costa had spoken to him
of the matter yesterday morning, say
ing that he understood that he was
accused of giving powder to the men
who were arrested and that he denied |
the charge altogether. johnson stated |
that there was no powder kept at the /
stables and that it was all sent direct
y to the quarries as soon as it was
bought. 1t was strictly against the
orders Of the department to keep pow
Ter in the stables.
He sent for Costa and asked him
Ibout the matter, telling him first that
f it was found that he was guilty,
hat he need expect no help from him
md must take his medicine. Costa
tated that the fishing with giant
powder had been going on for more
han month every day at Kakaako
nd that he had happened to be in
hat vicinity on Monday, shortly be-
ore the arrests were made. He was
own there at the time on work con-
ected with the department, and had
card the blasting but had not at
ached any significance to it till he
'as told of the arrests later He
tated that he had not been questioned |
y the police at all in regard to the
latter.
When asked about taking fish from
lie men who were arrested he said that
4 one occasion he had taken a single
Juliet from one of the road department
en who was with him and who had :
zen given several. He stated that he :,
ad never given any powder to the :.
en arrested or to any one else and :.
lat the powder was never kept at '
lie stables where he could get hold
it.
Costa is a captain in the National u
uard and has been in the employ of =
e Road Department for some time .
Id always with a good record He
Republican in politics and in the
st election failed to carry his precinct :.
r the party, which occasioned a good :.
al of talk among the Republican !,
aders who had expected a large ma ?
rity. He is man of considerable .
ealth in his own name, according to .
ports being worth at least $50 000 :
10 estate is IN the nanQS of Judge
ole, as guardian, and is said to con- q
st of Oahu Railway and Land stock
Id of local bonds e
In all probability the matter will be :,
ought out this morning in the police y
urt and also be brought before the -
oard of Supervisors at their meeting =
night. Road Supervisor Johnson says :. =,
at he can hardly believe that Costa =
guilty of the offense charged but
at II he is he will let him out at =.
ce Chairman Hustace, when told =
the affair, said: >
The matter shall be investigated %
ID 1T makes no difference who the =.
an is, if he is guilty the axe shall =.
rtainly fall and fall hard" - -
The penalty for fishing with explo- =,
yes is not over 800 or less than s25 -
lie, or six months Imprisonment at =,
I'd labor or both 81
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TRANSPORT LAWTON SOLD. n;
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