Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-22
OPIUM LETTERS
MAY prove TO BE-
ONE HUGE HOAX
District-Attorney Says No Big
Fight win Be Made Through
His Department

This office is not going to start a
fight on the sO-called opium ring. 1t
is not going to start fight against
anything or anybody. Also, it is not
going to give out to any newspapers
any information as TO official business.
The duties of this office will be con-
Quoted in order and, as u opium mat
tiers, such raids will be made as in
formation warrants"
Making the foregoing statement.
United States District Attorney Jeff
McCarn this morning outlined the
status of the opium situation as it
appears to his office. According to Mr..
McCarn, there is nothing Of startling
nature connected with the opium raids
which have been made recently by
the marshal and his deputies.
That the federal grand jury will not
be called into session until sometime
early next month, and that there will
be bat little work for the tribunal at
that time, is the information which
has been given the Star-Bulletin by
the district attorney. This statement
was made in reply to a question as to
whether he intends calling a special
session of the jury to investigate the
opium ring which is said to pc in eX-
istence in Honolulu, and the three let
tiers which it is alleged the marshal
secured in a recent raid on an opium
den, and which are said to incriminate
several "higher-ups' in territorial or
federal circles. 1t was reported this
morning that Mr.. McCarn would soon
call a special session of the federal
grand jury for this purpose.
Il have made no statement that
would call a special session OF the
grand jury to investigate opium mat
ters," says the district attorney. Such
a thought has never entered my mind"
1t further has been reported that
the marshal has turned the alleged in
eliminating letters over to the district
attorney, but Mr.. McCarn declined to
discuss the matter today. He said
that he did not intend to give out
for publication any matters pertaining
to the official business Of his office,
and, although watching closely the
movements of the marshars office, and
directing them to a great extent, Mr..
McCarn is noncommitt7l regarding the
opium situation and the plans, If any,
which the district attorneys office has
in mind toward striking''a final blow
at the alleged ring.
{ According to statements which have
been: made in federal circles, Mr.. Nc;
earn is acting cautiously in the opium
matter. and intends to make no vital
L., Df h
The marshal also is noncommittal re-
garding the letters and the opium sit
uation in general. Late yesterday aft
ernoon he quietly raided joss house
in River street near Vineyard and Ku-
kui, and arrested Chan Man Noon.
This makes the sixth raid to be con-
Quoted by the marshal and his depu-
ties within the pSst two weeks, and,
as a result, another quantity of opium
smoking paraphernalia has been added
to the already large pile in the mar
shais private office. simultaneously
with these raids, it is reported that
the price of smoking opium has risen
from 1925 to $3.50 pound within the
past two weeks. y! - ~
The interest which was aroused
when it was announced that the mar
shall had secured three discriminating
letters in a recent rafd-alleged to be
written en- government paper and sign
ed by certain federal or territorial Of
f1cials-appears to be dying out as
rapidly as it was given birth. Six Of
ficials in federal, offices, when inter
viewed today, stated that, in their be-
lief, the letter proposition is a hoax
to brighten certain people who may
be under suspicion by the marshal s
or the district attorneys office.
Attorneys and other officials, who
have been watching the opium raids
with some interest, declare that they
would like to see the bomb" drop
ped, IL there is any bomb" On the
other hand, the marshal Is being criti-
cized for having given out information
regarding his aIIeged possession of the
three letters without first having
placed the matter in the hands of the
district attorney.