Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-26
BAKER TRIED TO
lay BLAME ON
MRS. FRANCIS

o,
Honolulu, charged with bringing $685.
600 worth of black opals and blue sap
phires ashore at the behest OF Mrs.
Catherine Francis. the baby stare"
smuggler, was placed on trial in the
United States district court at San
francisco, Mrs. Francis was brought
from the Naval Hospital, where she
has been on account of her impend-
ing motherhood, and was the chief wit
hess for the prosecution. She testi.
fled with manifest unwillingness
against her alleged accomplice, but de
clared that Baker willingly brought
the gems ashore and delivered them
tC her at the Hotel Stewart.
Baker, in his own defense, mani
tested no reluctance in accusing Mrs.
Francis. Almost eagerly he insisted
that his supposed companion in crime
had told him of her intention to snug
gle opals and sapphires, and declared
that he had urged her to declare every
thing. He did not deny that, after re-
buking her for her evil intentions, he
had carried ashore sealed packages
for her and delivered them to her at
the Stewart -.~
William t. Tidwell, special treasury
agent, testified to admissions which
he claimed Baker had made immedt
ately after his arrest. He declared
the prisoner had acknowledged carry
ing the packages of gems on to the
wharf where the steamship Ventura
locked, throwing them into a waste
can, and from there removing them al
night. Mrs. Francis, wife of Sydney.
Australia, gem dealer, was a passen-
ger in April on the Ventura.
The gems, including famous $1O,.
000 black opal, we're Struggled ashore
April 20. Mrs. Francis was arrested
by Tidwell May 1, in chop suey res
taurant in Powell street after she had
sold some of the jewels. Baker was
arrested the following day.,
Throughout the proceedings the de-
PENDANT displayed nervousness. at
times pretending to read newspaper
with a show of indifference to his sur
but glancing out furtively
from behind the pages. While on the
witness stand he frequently smiled
engagingly at the jury.
s5ss4s a. -
Caught His Sea Serpent
A member of the Big Stove club OF
Bath, Me-. told the following expert
ence with a sea serpent. He was at
the wheel of his little fishing schoon-
er in Long Island Sound when he
heard a swishins sound behind his
vessel. Peering behind he could just
make out the long, sinuous body OF
q sea serpent with an enormous head
and a pair af flashing eyes. The SER
pent, however, kept his distance The
next morning the sailor found that a
rope from the schooner had become
in a lobster trap anu had
towed it up the Sound.
R
Cleaner Hall on Special Mission.
A marked increase in sugar await.
ing shipment at Ahukini, Kauai,
caused the Inter-Island to despatch the
steamer w. G. Hall on special trip
to the Garden Island today. The yes-
sci returned before daylight to be
discharged of 5000 sacks of products.
It left the port a few hours later and
Is due to land another large consign-
ment of sugar tomorrow. II is ex-
pected to steam to its regular ports OF
call next Monday evening
81 n
Ne Neutral Line Says 5alIin.
II Is denied from Hamburg that
Herr BALM has plans to establish q
new steamship line. with neutral yes
sells, between New York and Hamburg.
He admits that the income Of the Ham
line since the outbreak
Of the war has been small, but lsays
that the company's financial reserves
are so huge that, even If the war last
ed 10 years, the English could not
ruin his business, with its 200 ships.
Hasten Efforts 10 Move Crops.
Two freighters to load at Hilo will
take $4,000 tons of sugar to both
coasts of the mainland The Matson
steamer Francis Hanify, an arrival
rom the Pacific coast yesterday, |
steamed to island ports last evening.
rhe American-Hawaiian freighter
rexan is expected to take the last of
II 500 tons of sugar at Hilo today. 1t |
will proceed to New York via Panama. |
~
Few Passengers in Steamer Lurline.
The following wireless message has
,een received by the agents Of the
J. 8. Lurline, bound for Honolulu: For
honolulu, 35 passengers, 80 bags mail.
] packages W. F. X. matter, 10 auto
mobiles, 1875 tons cargo. For Kahu-
vi. 333 tons cargo. Ship arrives Tues
lay and will dock at Pier Is.
Leaves Ship for Shore.
p. T. Phillips, purser in the steam
r Mauna Kea, temporarily took over
he duties of Hilo representative of
he Inter-Island Steam Navigation Co,
r the absence of William Mckay, +
manager, who has made a flying trip /
o Honolulu. Freight Clerk Thompson
as substituted as purser in the Maui
"a Kea while Phillips remained ashore.
Phillips will fill the position OF
hief clerk at the Inter-Island wharf
Il this city while James Friel is abb
ent on the mainland with the Honolu-
!, c,J, ,-fT, arg. Tie oxnacfc IN he acGion-