The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-01
BODY FOUND
IN THE BAY
Probably a Case of Accident
---coroner's Jury Hears
Testimony.

| Jose de Ponte, the Portuguese VIII
was convicted in police court on Tues
day of conducting a ablind pig,' OF
| Punehbowl, the arrest having beer
made on Saturday night by License
Inspector Fennell, was found dead in
the harbor yesterday morning.
At first it was suggested that de
Ponte may have committed suicide. but
at the inquest last night circumstances
were brought to light to indicate that
death came accidentally. De Ponte had
been drinking heavily all day Tuesday
after his conviction, and at D m.
when ne was last seen by his acquain-
tanees, ne was quite drunk. I. is
thought he wandered down to the wa
terfront, and in his drunken condition
fell off the wharf into the harhor.
There were certain indications that
death was due to an accident and the
jury so found
he Ponte was to have appeared in
court yesterday morning for sentence.
AT clock his attorney was in court
waiting for him, when it was announe
ed that his body was at the morgue.
The ease was at once stricken from the
calendar by Judge Andrade. At the
inquest last night several witnesses
were examined, including the de-
OH fS 4 l.
late in the afternoon and last saw him.
somewhat drunk, about 5 clock. The
body was found in the harbor half
way between the Alakea wharf and the
lighthouse
At the inquest DR.. Emerson, police
surgeon, stated that the body gave evi-
denee of death having occurred at least
twelve hours previous to his examina- |
ton. The examination was made at !
10 a. M, which would place the time i
II death at about 10 p. m. Tuesday |
hight. He found no bones broken and /
10 bruises on the body.
A juror wanted to know whether the /
foetor knew whether the man had com |
nitted suicide or met with foul play. T
The doctor could not answer /
Uaia Napoleon, who is employed at /
he harbor lighthouse, testified that at /
Flo he went to the harbor to go to /
work. The boat had gone about half I
way across when he saw body along
ide the bow. He asked man to take
loid. Nobody would do so Napoleon
nut a rope around the body and pulled
t ashore and tied it to the wharf.
Chas. Dudoit Jr., also employed at
he lighthouse, testified to similar de-
ails as the previous witness. He said
lie was afraid to touch the body, as it
vas the first time he had ever seen
body floating in the water.
A. Andrade, painter. saw the de-
eased on the postoffice corner just af
er his case in police court was decided.
be Ponte spoke about liquor and said
get a man crazy. One day he had
cen drinking and went to the DillIng-
am wharf and fell over some lumber.
When he awoke he found he had almost
allen into the water. He said, 81
lmost got drowned through drinking.
Andrade said he saw De Ponte in
aloon and then again in another
aloon at the corner of Hotel and Ma
nakea street with another bottle of
inc. He thought de Ponte had been
rinking little too much. He saw him
he last time about p. m. Witness
lid de Ponte drank a great deal.
ever had heard him say anything
bout taking his life. He acted as il
: didn t care about his case.
don t think that he would throw
mself over the wharf, - said Andrade
His experience at the Dillingham; <
harf seems TO show that he would not
ant to get drowned. The men / saw
m drinking with were old friends
de Ponte s. -
August Santos said he saw de Ponte
Tuesday afternoon. This was after
o clock near King and Smith streets. {
? yelled out to me in ioshing way:
want to fight with you today A
shed back and said, 4sOh, Won re too
nnk today, eouidn t fight you now
was driving a wagon and / went
ing. Witness said-d de Ponte was a
mixing man. He was walking TO-
lrd the fshmarket when / left him.