The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-26
CRAWFORD At
HIS OLD TRICKS
City Attorneys Assistant Is
Accused of Grating
by Chinese.

Suspension from duty of William
H. Crawford, an assistant in the Office
of the City and County Attorney, was
ordered by City Attorney Cathcart
yesterday morning, and this order
was followed by a supposed investiga-
ton 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
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
Lai Dack as a member of the City and
County Attorneys office force. Craw-
ford is a Hawaiian, but speaks Chi
nese f1uently, 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
tLa
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 jewelers., being first duly sworn
deposes and says:
On May 8, 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. l
then replied that l cannot let you know
at present. Then he, Crawford, said
to me, that if l 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 | said,
IL think it over, and we parted. That
night, May 3, about s o. clock l looked
for Crawford; found him; [ told him
Mr.. Crawford you need not trouble
about the matter, I 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 | should let him
settle the matter. Then | said no
I'd better think it over before l prom
Use you. The following morning, May
4, about $50 or 6:45, 1 saw VIM H
Crawford walking along the Eva side
of Maunakea street, mauka, on the side
walk. l 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, | II settle the matter
up for you. [ told him, I'll think it
over, and let you know or give you
a definite answer about half past eight
in the morning At half past eight
| went to his Office on Maunakea
street. I did not find him there. Then
] went down to the police court.
intended to have my case continued,
postponed. 1 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. [ replied to him,
Yes, lucky. When L said that he sat
down in the store, and asked me, Say,
how about that? / knew what he
[ 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 case
would not have been nol-prossed or
dropped. Then / asked him, What are
you doing here; what are you waiting
fors / smiled, for [ knew what he
Then he put out his hand,
palm upward making motions and said,
Money dig up. Then / told him. Here,
didn t promise you; I didn't tell you
to do anything for me; | didn t order
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 you |
and quick too. I replied. |
I'd better think that over. Then [ |
asked Crawford, How about this case? |
I didn't do any opium business. And |
he said to me, There is tin of opium
down at the police station marked in
the name of Tin Wo, the said opium |
was bought by Leong 10y at your shop, |
and he is the informer. Crawford went |
on to say that he believed Leong 10y |
had tin of opium in his possession |
when he went into my store and had |
put up a job on me and fooled the de-
tectives who were on the other side of |
the street watching. Then | told him,
Well, | IL think it over by and by. |
Then at half past nine that same even.
ing I was fixing up my accounts for
the day in the store when William
Crawford came IN saying, All Dack. how
is it? And | told him, IN not salts
fed with the story You told me- Then
he said Well Won a better nav mo that