The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-12-24
Mayor Fern Makes Frantic Effort
to Keep Particulars From
the Public.
MCCLELLAN BACKS HIM UP
Affidavits Charging Road Over
seer With Crime Already
Sworn To.
rrom wednesdays Advertlser.)

From Wednesdays Advertiser.)
]. X. Paele, road overseer for the
Koolaupoko district, is facing charges
which, if proven, may send him to the
penitentiary for a long term. Joseph
J. Fern, Mayor of the City and County
of Honolulu, last night successfully op-
posed every move to have the charges
made public and but for the fact that
Deputy County Attorney Milverton re-
fused to wear the executive muzzle,
would have kept all knowledge of the
affair from the board of supervisors.
Though an Advertiser reporter was
advised by the deputy county attorney
that the affidavits and other documents
connected with the case are public prop
erty, and that he was entitled to have
access to them, City Clerk Kalauokala-
nj, acting under the orders of Mayor
Fern, fatty declined to allow the re-
porter to see them.
Though the exact nature of the
charges is being kept secret by the
executive, it is known that they are
criminal in nature. The complainants
who brought them to the attention of
the county attorney wanted them pre-
sented to the grand jury at once. AS
they affected county officer, Milver-
ton suggested that they should first be
brought to the attention of the board
in the form of n communication to the
Mayor and board of supervisors. the
idea being that the board would then
be in a position to take official cog
nizance of them and to make an in
vestigation.
Milverton supposed that they would
be presented at last night s meeting of
the board. When, toward the end of
the session, it became patent that such
was not the intention, Milverton ques-
TONED the Mayor. There was whis-
pered consultation. Mcclellan the
Mayors IS henchman on the board, evil
IDENTIFY seeing what was in the wind,
jumped to his feet with the words:
81 move that this board continue
with the business under consideration. -
Before any notice could be taken
of Mcclellan IS motion, Milverton arose
and explained that certain affidavits,
connected with charges preferred
against j. K. Paele, had been submitted
for transmittal to the Mayor and board
Mayor Is Ratified.
Fern then became greatly flustered
and showed a very evident desire to
get out of the mixup in the easiest way
possible. After lot of backing and
filling he stated that the documents had
been withheld from the board by Clerk
Kalauokalani acting under his express
instructions.
At least one member of the board
Supervisor Logan, who voted to hav,
action on the communication postponed
was absolutely ignorant of its natur,
and voted simply because he supposed
the whole matter to be of little mo
ment and was anxious to get the bust
ness at hand disposed Of He was great
ly surprised later when he heard of tn,
nature of the charges
Mcclellan seemed equally as anxious
as the Mayor, to have the charge,
smothered, though he later admitted
when driven into a corner, that the,
are of criminal nature. 1t was very
evident from his actions during tn,
evening that he was conversant will
the affair and was, as usual, actinl
under Ferns orders.
After being advised by the deput,
county attorney that he had right Il
inspect the documents, the Advertise,
reporter made a demand for them OF
Clerk Kalauokalani. He was informe,
later informed the clerk that Milver
ton had advised him that they wer
public documents, and again demand
ed them. Kalauokalani, in doubt
turned to the Mayor.
Documents Demanded.
"Acton has been deferred, "mdmble
Fern, as he darted for the door.
The reporter followed him into tn
hall and again demanded them, callin
the deputy county attorney to bea
him out in his statement that as publ
documents he had a perfect right Il
see them. Fern rocked from one foo
TO the other in an idiotic manner an,
Kept mumbling that action had beer
deferred.
The fact remains that Paele has beer
charged with serious crime. Pael,
Is Joseph Ferns pet appointee an,
last night she executive made desper
ate efforts TO keep the particulars Il
the case from reaching either the boar,
OF supervisors or the public. Super
visor Mcclellan, who invariably back
mn the Mayor In all of his action,
irrespective Of rhyme or reason, show
ed equal anxiety lest Paele's allege
shortcomings should become known.
Ever hinre his appointment, Pael
has been a thorn IN the side of IA
road committee of the board. Ho /
alleged 20 be- grossly incompetent, an
rhafgnH Oi serious shortcomings har
been many. Tho present are The dfs
definite charges Of criminal uatur
which have been presented, 10 far d
known.
hihmanAgement
A
ihr lohd committee presented fopoi
holsss h Knolauiobo disnet. ma,
paele, fofi tiO3 head lan mont
iAe highest pdes r.A unyshere !
80 lflAna u iaflhff irpohtd ihl