The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-01-27
FAVORS
HAWAIIAN RACE
Such Is Opinion Expressed Re.
garding Decision in Kealoha
Case by Mixed Jury.
tMail Special to The Advertiser

1 To- s e d
mail Special to The Advertiser.)
lIILo, January 25.-supervisor John
Kealoha was last Saturday afternoon
found Guilty Of the cmDezzIement Of
$45, paid to him as road supervisor by
former Auditor Chas. Mcguire for
crushed rock belonging 70 the county,.
The verdict was a great surprise TO
every one. IL had been expected quite
generally that a mistfial would result.
The defense counted confidently on sew.
eral of the jurors as being too friendly
towards IL to allow verdict Of guilty.
The verdict Is regarded as victory
for those lighting for good government,
but as stu greater victory for the
HAWAIIAN electorate, which has shown,
through its Representatives, ON the jury,
that II will allow no thicving Of public
funds, no matter what may be the race
Of the offender.
The cnse has been a hard fought one
throughout. Prosecutor Breckons and
Deputy County Attorney Heen deserve
great credit FOR the admirable way In
which they conducted the case. Not
only their legal prowess, but also the
fairntss, the tact and unbiased spirit
displayed contributed towards the vic
tory, which must be counted as ono Of
tho very first Importance, particularly
in view Of the fact that IL was pre-.
dicted that, no matter how strong a
case they put up, a verdict of guilty
could not be secured.
The defeat was no liscfedit to Attor-
ncy Mcbride, who In many ways con.
Quoted n wonderful defense. Driven to
a technical defense, he showed re-
sourccfulncss and quiekness which
would have been credit to veterans
Of the bar. Tho untiring vitality
which he displayed in his single-handed
Gght, the rapidity with which he was
able to present voluminous and care
fully prepared argument on difficult
points on short notice. deserve the
greatest praise from his supporters,
even though his game fight failed to win
him the victory. II Is unfortunate that
Mcbride marred his otherwise splendid
performance by his incorporate attack
on qoodihg Field and his very deplor.
able charge against Judge Parsons.
The former may be explicable, If not
wholly excusabie, by a desire to dis.
credit the Field testimony with the
jury. The latter was nothing but de.
plorable, unfortunate and unwise.
Church Activity.
The case was not lacking In human
interest features. Prominent among
these was the attitude taken by the
Mormon church, which has been roundly
condemned by many, and which seems
to have been close TO blasphemy, IL the
reports concerning il are true. Report
had il that the Mormon church, with
which Kealoha sought refuge when he
got into trouble, had offered players
for him, not only in Hilo, but on the
other Islands as we'll IL was further
reported that the elders promised that
their prayers would secure verdict
of not guilty for Kealoha, and that such
a verdict would be proof Of the efficacy
of their prayers. Finally, report had il
that large number of Hawaiians were
on the tentative waiting list as prose
lytes in case the miracle should prove
the assertion Of the elders.
Hard on Mcbride. a.rs
II is said that Kealoha went TO his
COUNSEL telling him about this. "The
Mormon God is with me, - he is report
ed to have said. "If You let me 90
TO Jail, you will go to hell. 4"
"That may be true, Claudius is said
to have retorted, with ready wit. "But
| 90 to hell. y
Chas, Mcguire is reported to have
said that one of the guards at the
Oahu prison, a Mormon, told him that
his congregation was praying for the
acquittal of Kealoha. - -.
During the trial Mcbride was openly
given much sympathy; for, if he lost
the case, he got the blame; If he won,
the Mormons were believed to be ready
to claim the credit. g'g..a
A Mormon elder was present during
the trial, following the proceedings
with much interest.
A notable feature of the case was the
absence of the famous Kealoha smile
during the last two days of the case.
II is said to have been banished for the
time being by the order of Mcbride,
who thought IL might have a bad effect
on the jury. Certain it is that for a
couple of DAYS the smile was absont,
although Kealoha good -humoredly let i
Thence, we hope that in eallitg
your attention TO these matters, we are
giving you constructive not destruc
tive criticism, and we are confident
that If You are Interested in creator
efficiency and economy with deeper
fahd more effective sympathy as well
as wider social sphere of activity,
You will not only support the follow
ing resolution, but sustain the new
officials elected TO carry out this