The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-01-23
DAUGHTER HELD
PRISONER A YEAR
Locked in Small Room for Eielt
Months - HiIea Scandal
Grows Worse.
(Mail spoeiaI to Tho Advortlsor.l

mail Special to The Advortiser.)
HIL0, January l9.--That the school
commissioners did the only thing in re-
fusing to accept the assurances first
given out by Miss Bertha Ben Taylor
that everything was as it should be
at the Hilea school is becoming moro
and more plain. AS further information
becomes available, tho worse the tale
of the Kau school scandal becomes.
1t has just developed that Principal
Wilson had been holding his eldest
daughter in close confinement for
months. From February of last year
until September of this year she was
never allowed to leave her home and
after that, until taken in charge by
the police, never going out without be-
ing accompanied by someone to prevent
any telling of what she might know.
This, if it is proven, absolutely disposes
of any idea of conspiracy" ON her
part and on the part of the other wit.
nesses against her father.
Tells of Imprisonment.
The Wilson girl is now being kept
at the home of Sheriff Pua, in Hilo, and
was interviewed by representative of
The Advertiser yesterday. The story
she tells, while 1t is an extraordinary
one for any girl to relate, appears to be
straightforward. She denies absolute
ly having conspired with the other
girls to fabricate evidence AGAINST her
father. She showed further that, even
Lad she so desired, it would have been
impossible for her to do it, as she had
not spoken to any of the other girls
for many months. She stated as proof
of this assertion that she had ever since
last February been under constant sur
veillance, first at her fathers home and
later on at the house of Deputy Sheriff
Kekaula, with the exception of couple
of days, when she made her escape to
Honuapo.
ran away from my fathers house
in Hilea last February" she said. ~
ran away because / would not stand
for the way in which he treated me.
81 was away for three days. Then
1 was brought home and was kept in
the house ever since until last month,
when / ran away again.
"My father locked ME up in a small
room. He barred the windows and the
door was kept locked. During the first
couple of weeks / was given nothing
hut bread and water. but after that /
was given ordinary food.
so was kept prisoner in that little
room until last September, and was not
allowed to leave the house at all. This
is true. The fact that I was locked
up in that way is known through the
the whole neighborhood. The stories
about my father had been circulating
for long time, yes, for more than a
year.
Escaped Through window.
In September was let out of the
little room, and was put to work in
the kitchen, but my, father nailed up
the Kitchen windows, and / was not
able to get away. When / was not in
the Kitchen, / was kept in the small
room. Since September I was allowed
10 go out at times, but there was al
ways some one with me to watch me.
81 finally broke away, on Monday,
by picking out the bTads which held
the window of the room where 1 was
locked up. hid through the day among
some kukul trees. That same night /
went down to Honuapo. i intended to
go to the captain of the police and tell
nm about my father, but he was not
there. Then | met my lover, whom 1
had met first in February, and he per
shaded me to come and stay with him.
L was with him for couple of days
Ihen was arrested. ] was taken to
hekaula' g house where 1 stayed about
month, until I came over here. It
was only after / had been told that 7
was to be taken to the reform school
tifat tod kekaula about my father"