The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-12-06
GIRL IN CUSTODY,
MAN PAYS A FINE
McCorriston Pleads Guilty and
CathCart Rows With
Attorney Thayer.
(From Thursday Advertiser)


In the presence a score or so of
ministers of the gospel, teachers and
other persons interested in the ease, Ed.
ward McCorriston pleaded guilty in
Judge Robinson S court yesterday morn
ing to statutory offense involving
pupil at the Industrial School, and was
fined fifty dollars and costs. The 9TH
er charge against him, that of trespass
was dropped, the prosecuting attorney
declaring that under the evidence no
jury would find him guilty.
Evidence in former hearings of the
cases showed that the Hawaiian girl
with whom McCorriston was guilty of
misconduct, had been guilty of previous
lapses from virtue; that he had not in
any way assaulted her, and that his
alleged trespass consisted in his visit
ing her at the home where she was
staying while out on probation from
the reform school.
The hearing, aside from the atten-
dance of prominent people, was marked
by verbal alteration between Coun-
tv Attorney Cathcart and Attorney
Wade Warren Thayer.
Cathcart took exception to an article
appearing in The Advertiser yesterday
morning, in which he was quoted as
saying "rhe interest of the public be
damned, - when questioned by Attorney
| Thayer as to the reason for his agree
ment for McCorriston to plead guilty.
Cathcart declared that he had not
used the words imputed to him, assert
ed that the article was inspired, and
that the man who had furnished the
article to The Advertiser had :" fasi-
| fed himself. -
Cathcart said that Thayer had ask
ed him on Tuesday as to the disposition
of the case, which he considered as
rather improper conduct for an attor-
ney in view of the fact that he, Cath
cart, was the public prosecutor in the
case. Cathcart asserted that what he
said at the time was my actions are
determined solely on what l think the
case demands, and not on what the pub
lie demands, - and further that the pub
lie might sometimes lose sight of the
fundamentals in the case itself.
Just after sentence was passed on
McCorriston, Thayer approached Cath
cart and heated exchange of words
began. The debate was waxing warm
with charges and counter charges fly
ing, when Bishop Restarick appeared
in the role of peacemaker and called
Cathcart away to conference.
Attorney r. C. Peters for McCorris-
ton made brief, but clear statement
of the case, which carried weight.
Cathcart took the ground that men
| ,uN I.a haN hnx IN
private homes for unlawful purposes
with impunity, but that in this instance
he was positive that McCOrriston could
not be found guilty of trespass.
Cathcart devote the most of his
time on the floor TO explaining his posi-.
tion In the past ms to the prosecution
of such cases, and assured those pres
ent that he was ready TO do his duty
in the future
Harry Lake, detective in Cathcart =
Office, informed some of those present
at the trial that with the evidence OF
public support as shown by their ap'
lpearance In court, he thought 1t would
be easier in the future TO get eyi'
denee In this class Of cases, In the
past, he said, he had worked hard to
get proofs but found Il very diiieult
Among those present Ia court We're
hishop Restariek. the Reys, A A, Eher'
sole aud a. Y. smith, r. n, Trent 10,
IT, Pope, School Inspector Gibson, W
A Rowen w. y lowen W. A. Rice
", %, Alkrn, l.. u kilhm, PAM supeT
|F q. Ath'rt0p A, ~ iarimpr j A
Gilman, Miss = a. steuiii snpeHn
iendent of che Girt Industrial school
ani several other women prominent in
benevolent ana social m0, rments