Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-05

: plea in lesser degree. might have
gone ahead and pressed for ths-hang-
ing Of the man, but preferred to take
the plea of guilty in the second. Straus
did all he could have done by his
client" r
Trial Ends Abruptly. II =
The murder trial ended abruptly at
10 O'Clock this morning. with a climax
made dramatic both by its unexpected
ness an by he prisoners apparently
sudden change of froat. From the
day on which it began last week,
throughout the two full days. hearing
this week and the two hours session
this morning, required to complete the
ST. te' sevidence, Benito GalmendeZ.
the defendant. displayed not trace of
ton OF any kind.
He swung his big, burly form back
into hi court chair and twisted and
gaZed around with all the seeming
non-comittaI action of merely an inter-
ested spectator. There was not the
slightest intimation OF fear for the
outcome. He did not even dikplay
any unusual interest in the work of
-; his counsel, and spoke to Attorney
Straus or Mandez, his interpreter, only
when they leaned over ana whispered
! ueries or comments In his ear. =
In short he had the bearing OF
/ ran trimming over with confidence
in his own Innocence and the feeling
! that the Jury could not convict him, or
OF man so deeply STEPPED in crime.
that he knew almost to a nicely what
, the trials ending had in store for him.
| But he had more the air of a fighter
than one who would yield to advice,
and that made his final admission of
guilt the more surprising. He seemed
| the sort Of man who, once committing
a crime and denying 1t, would stick TO
his; story and battle to uphold 1t
against arr or all odds short Of death.
When Deputy City and County At
torney A. NJ. Brown; who has been con-
! Quoting the prosecution, left the Wit
ness-stand after telling of his inspec-
tton of the premises on which the
murder was committed, the court an
neunced the usual 10 o'clock recess.
! It was then 9:25 a. m. Attorney Leon
M. Straus Immediately asked that the
recess be made longer than ordinary,
saying he wished to prepare for the
defensefs opening evidence. The re-
quest was granted. the court instruct
, ing the jury to return at 10 o'clock.
At that hour the Jury filed in. Judge
Robinson asked the members to retire
from the courtroom, but to remain
within call, and following their with
drawal Attorney Straus arose and an.
nounced that the defendant, through
plea of mot guilty. to the charge.
That granted. County Attorney Cath
cart stepped forward from the desk
| which he and Brown have been occu-
pying during the hearing, and asked
that in view of the change he would,
recommend the court that the charge
against Galmendez be reduced from
the original to murder in the second
degree.
This also granted, Galmendez, again
through the interpreter, stated he was
willing toplea guilty. He was then.
given the sentence of not less than
twenty years at hard labor in Oahu
prison. IN less than five minutes from
the time the jury had been excused. 1t
was back in the box again, when the
Judge informed the members of what
had TRANSFERRED, and dismissed them
from further service in this case.
Prisoner Shows Agitation. r
Galmenez showed no change in his
usual manner during this interval, but
the moment the jury was excused he
arose, turned and began talking furi-
.I.RN-. =