The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-01-17
Almost Three Hundred Bottles of
Liquor Found on Kukui
Street Premises.
COMMENCE WAR IN EARNEST
Criticism Aimed at Former Grand
Jury Foreman for Position
in Matter.
CFrOm Sundays Advertiser.l

(From Sundays Advertiser.)
A raid, resulting in the conascation
of twenty-five dozen bottles of liquor,
was made on the premises of the
Hirano and "Charley'' Hotels on Ku-
kui street yesterday, by Liquor Inspec-
tor Fennell, assisted by several officers
of Chief McDutie g special staff, armed
with search warrants sworn to by the
former.
Not only was the raid a success from
the standpoint of the results aimed at,
but it also eliminated the first step in
a war that has been opened by the
board of liquor commissioners on the
Illegal selling Of liquor on this island.
The two hotels have been running in
full blast for a week, their fancied
security largely due, it is asserted, to
the report of the last grand jury, which
diseountenaneed the employment of in
formers and which they miseonstrued
to mean that this method of police work
was to be done away with.
Fennell is now working ON the case,
as developed yesterday, and it is prob
able that the presence of over 249 bot
ties of beer on premises licensed as
a "hotel" will result in the arrest of
both II. Miyamoto and II. Hirano, the
proprietors of the places. The former,
according to evidence in the hands of
Fennen regarding the sale of liquor on
a previous occasion, may soon be wanted
on another charge.
Not only was liquor found yesterday
but the immoral practises, which have
been known to be going ON there since
the opening of the houses, was proved
af nall ottfn
driver with young girl, eighteen years
of age, their names being now on police
records, pigeonholed for future refer
enee.
Storm Brewing.
The raid yesterday was but the end
of week of stringent investigation
under direction of the liquor commits
sion, much of it being unknown to the
proprietors themselves.
Several days ago Fennell, accom-
panied by one of the commissioners,
inspected the premises and found one
of the rooms just vacated showing I'M
mistakable signs of immoral practises.
The same room, which has a secret en-
trance, was found in the same condi-
ton yesterday, the occupants having
been alarmed in time and leaving the
place few minutes before the officers
progressed that far in their examina-
tiou.
Chairman Brown of the liq1or com
missioners and FeDnell called on Treas
urer Single two days ago and laid the
matter before him, as there is clause
in the city license under which the ho-
tells operate, which says that should
they be used for immoral practises or
should the liquor be sold unlawfully on
the premises it would be revoked.
Shingle is to take the matter up with
City Attorney Catheart tomorrow.
Juryman Criticized.
Official criticism is now being direct
ed toward R. R. Reidford, foreman of
the grand jury, which has just rendered
its final report and been dissolved,
owing to the report on illegal selling
of liquor which that jury made.
His connection with the case is a
double one, he being not only active in
the grand jury's Investigation of the
liquor situation, as instructed by Judge
Cooper, but also manager of tine com
pany which manages the property on
which the hotels are situated.
Full evidence was presented before
the grand jury on these two hotels, and
other joints of a similar nature, among
the Portuguese on Punchbowl. but its
report named no names, and returned
no indictments, while at the same time
stating positively that certain houses
(unnamed) were selling the liquor with
out license.
''Three Landlords"
The owner Of the property on which
the two hotels are situated is the b.
p Bishop Estate. This estate is leas-
ing the land to Bishop & Co. The
Bishop Trust Company is manager of
the property for Bishop & Co., and Mr..
Reidford is manager of the Bishop
Trust Company. New leases, accord
ing to report, have just been made ont
by the latter for the two hotels in ques-
ton.
There is clause in the lease made
by the Bishop Estate TO Bishop Co.
which is yet to be heard from, and
which might yet result in the lease
being cancelled. This clause refers TO
only one piece of property, the other
being under an original rice patch
lease.
Should the evidence produced on
several occasions be considered sufil.
eient 10 act ON this clause, the sub
lease made to the hotels will have a
peculiar and ineonvenient position.
A few weeks ago s. NJ Damon, one
OF the trustees Of the Bishop Estate,
told Fennell that should he secure a
conviction against the propTietors, the
lease would be revoked according to
the clause.
Prevents Plea Of Guilty.
Fennall accepted tbs Offer and was
soon afterwards approached By Char
lies and HlTanO's Representatives, via
had heard that evidence had been ~.
enfea against them. They stated that
II ~ Noaia 80 that they we're loi N
nlih She minlmlm lne ~ 800 they
Houll plead guilty,
ffnpfll q tui refused ~ ~ pro