The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-06-22
REPORT FILED
BY GRAND JURY
Federal lnquisitors Declare the
Charges by Thwing Are
Unf0unded.

The Federal Grand Jury filed its
final report yesterday, completing its
labors with the finding of thirty true
bills against violators of the Federal
statutes.
In addition to commenting the
prosecuting arm of the United States
Government in the Territory of Ha-
wall, the report finds that the charges
made by Rev. E. W. Thwing could not
be substantiated and also suggests that
accusations against officials should not
be made unless supported by evidence.
The work of United States Marshal
Hendry is also commended. The re-
port is as follows:
Honorable Sanford B. Dole, Judge
of the United States Circuit Court,
Territory of Hawaii
rSir-The Grand Jury empaneled,
charged and sworn by you for the April
A. D. 1909 term on April IL, 1909, has
concluded its duties and begs to sub
nit herewith its final report.
"All of the cases presented by the
United States District Attorney TO
this Grand Jury have been carefully
investigated and thirty true bills have
been found and returned, and in one
case a return made of no bill.
tMost of the time was occupied by
your Grand Jury investigating cases
dealing with the harboring and i'm
portation of alien women for immoral
purposes, within the period of three
years of their arrival in the Territory,
and with the traffic in women within
the Territory. A large number of
witnesses We're examined and the evil
dence submitted discloses an absolute
disregard of the Federal laws relative
to the question. In most cases the
testimony adduced was given with
great reluctance, showing a desire
upon the part of witnesses to shield
and protect others in these offenses.
tWe commend the Department of
Justice for it's work in endeavoring TO
put stop to these practices and rec
ommend that persons obtaining a
livelihood by keeping and otherwise as
sisting women to live immoral lives
should be vigorously prosecuted.
''Certain charges preferred to the
administration at Washington by the
Rev. Z. w. Thwing and embodying al
legged violation of Federal statutes
within this Territory, through either
the carelessness or connivance of cer-
tain Federal Territorial officials, have
been under consideration and investi-
"a
of this Grand jury that the charges,
in SO far as they relate to the viola
ton of any Federal laws within the
Territory through the carelessness or
incompetence or connivance of any
Federal official, are absolutely unwar-
ranted by any direct evidence that the
author thereof was able to place be-
fore this body and that in preferring
charges of this nature, unsupported by
proof, the Rev. Thwing had laid him
self open to the most severe censure.
This jury deprecates requests for in
vestigation of charges which cannot
be reasonably substantiated.
"Several questions of smuggling
were presented and investigated and
we recommend no abatement III the
prosecution of such eases as it is only
right that the merchandise of this
Territory should be protected against
such practices.
"We desire to express our apprecia-
ton of the able manner in which cases
have been presented by the United
States District Attorney and to com
mend his vigorous prosecution of the
infringement of the Federal laws. We
also commend L. S. Marshal E. R.
Hendry for his assistance to this
Grand Jury in the performance of its
duties.
Respectfully submitted, Gerrit P.
Wilder, foreman; Frank Hustace, Rich
ard Ivers, James L. Mclean, R. r.
Reidford, Fred C. Miller, James l..
Holt, W. NJ. Graham, Emil A. Berndt,
John H. Craig. A. W. Richardson,
George Desha, IT., John Bohnenberg,
". Weinrich, Jr, B. F. Beardmore, D.
". Anderson.