The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-05-28
CRAWFORD At
HIS OLD TRICKS
tFrOm Wednesdays Advertiser,

of the City and Coz! \ Attorney, was
ordered by City Attorney Cathcart
yesterday morning, and this order
was followed by a supposed investiga-
tion of the charges in the latter's
Office. The suspension followed the
filing of affidavits with the attorney
by Mayor Fern, to whom the report
of the alleged grating was made last
week.
In the affidavits, Crawford is alleged
to have collected $40 in gold coin for
managing to get the case of one Lai
Dack, charged with selling opium in
violation of the law, dismissed in the
police court. In brief Lai Dack states
that Crawford claimed that he could
dispose of the case so that there
would be no prosecution, through his
influence, Crawford being known to
Iai Dack as a member of the City and
County Attorneys office force. Craw-
ford is a Hawaiian, but speaks Chi
nese fiuently, and for many years
was regarded as a Chinaman because
he wore a queue.
The investigation only served to
corroborate the affidavits, the Chinese
witnesses stating positively that
Crawford received the money after
dickering for the amount before and
after the case was stricken from the
| court calendar. The matter will be
brought before the Grand Jury. The
affidavits of the Chinese witnesses
are as follows
Territory of Hawaii, City and County
of Honolulu, IS.
Lai Dack in business at 1929 Mauna
kea street under the firm name of Tin
Wo, as jewellers, being first duly sworn
deposes and says:
On May 3, 1909, / was arrested charg-
ed with selling opium or poisoned drugs
The same afternoon William H. Craw-
ford met me in front of Quong San
Kee store on the sidewalk and asked
me how much it would cost me to hire
an attorney to defend my case.
then replied that cannot let you know
at present. Then he, Crawford, said
to me, that if would pay him the sum
of $40 he would be willing to help me
out, and would guarantee to get the
case dropped. / said to him, had
| better consult with the others, meaning
| those arrested at about the same time
on the same charge, first to hire an
attorney to defend our case. Then he
, said to me, never you mind the others,
you take care of your own self. Then
he said, you better look after your own
matter or your own case. Then L said,
L II think it over, and we parted. That
night, May 3, about clock L looked
for Crawford; found him; L told him
Mr.. Crawford you need not trouble
about the matter, l will get my case
postponed tomorrow. Then Crawford
said, never mind; you better take care
of your own case, look after your own
affairs; get it settled up. Then he con-
tinued to insist that l should let him
settle the matter. Then l said, no
/ l d better think it over before prom
Use you. The following morning, May
4, about $3.50 or 6:45, l saw VIM. H.
Crawford walking along the Eva side
of Maunakea street, mauka, on the side
walk. i was standing by the doorway
of my shop. Then he approached to-
wards me, crossing the street, then he
said to me, you needn It spend money
| for an attorney, l III settle the matter
up for you. l told him, III think it
over, and let you know or give you
a definite answer about half past eight
in the morning At half past eight
| l went to his Office on Maunakea
street. l did not find him there. Then
! went down to the police court. l
intended to have my case continued,
postponed. l saw Mr.. Crawford there
with his smiling face. When my name
was called in the court the interpreter
told me my case was nol-prossed. Then
walked back TO my store. In the
afternoon of May 4, about half past
four, William Crawford came into my
shop with his smiling face and said to
me: You are lucky. l replied to him
Yes, lucky. When 1 said that he sal
down in the store, and asked me, Say
how about thati i knew what he
meant; / told him there was no proof
against me, that is why they dropped
my case. Then Mr.. William Crawford
said, if it was not through me your cast
would not have been nolprossed oil
dropped. Then / asked him, What are
you doing here; what are you waiting
fort | smiled, for l knew what h'
wanted. Then he put out his hand
palm upward making motions and said
Money. dig up. Then / told him. Here
didn t promise you; / didn't tell yol
to do anything for me; L didn't orde
You to settle my case; the government
dropped my case. Then Willie Craw
ford said to me, if you are not satisfied
to pay me this $40 1 will have yol
rearrested, and quick too. replied
I'd better think that over. Then
asked Crawford, How about this case
I didn Il do any opium business. AM
he said to me, There is tin of opium
down at the police station marked II
i the name of Tin Wo, the said opium
was bought by Leong 10y at your shoI
5 and he is the informer. Crawford wen
a on to say that he believed Leong Lo
i had tin of opium in his possessio
. when he went into my store and ha
put up job on me and fooled the dc
tectives who were on the other side o
the street watching Then told hin
a Well, IN think it over by and by
Then at half past nine that same ever
y ing was fixing up my accounts fo
{, the day in the store when Williai
u Crawford came in saying, All Dack, ho'
), is III And told him, I'm not satii
- aaA ,.,tth tho etnWy Unu fold me- The