Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-11-02
BRANDS ROBBERY
MYSTERY AS ONE
GREAT BIG JOKE
U. S. Court Messenger Forgot
Keys and Climbed Through
Transom, Says Marshal

Lau Wah, federal court messenger,
forgot his keys last Saturday morning
and was forced to climb into the
chambers OF Judges Sanford B. Dole
and Charles F. Clemens through the
up the chambers, the clerks office
and the court room, and give them
their daily busting.
This Is Marshal J. j. Smiddy's solu-
tion OF the robbery mystery pub
lished this morning, which was TO the
effect that the judges chambers had
been entered by an outside person, .
who had rurnmaged about in the
judges desks This mornings story
inferred that the intruder might have
been a member of the local Bourbon
contingent in search of cablegrams or
other documents having bearing on
the status OF Judge Dole regarding
his reappointment or retirement.
Both the judges chambers were en-.
tered. Hand-prints and indentures in
the solid rows of volumes in the book
shelves gave evidence that whoever
entered the chambers got in through
the transoms and then climbed to the
floor via the bookshelyes.
One federal official said today that
II might have been one of the trus-
ties. Judge Clemens said that the
rooms had been entered, but added
that he had no idea as to who the
intruder was. Marshal Smiddy de-
clared that it was the forgetful Lau
Wah.
The marshal said that Lau Wah has
been in the habit of forgetting his
keys, and that on several occasions
he has had to enter the judges cham
hers by way OF the transoms in order
to open those offices and the Others
on the third floor Of the Model block.
BY entering Judge Clemens chamber.
said the marshal, the doors from that
room leading to the corridor may be
opened. The doors leading from
Judge Clemens chamber to the court
room, and those leading from the
court room to the corridor, also may
be opened from the inside.
BY entering the chambers of Judge
Dole, the latter's chambers and the Of
fee Of the clerk may be opened, the
marshal added.
AS against statements published
this morning, Judge Clemens said to-
day that nothing was disturbed in
either his office OF that of Judge Dole.
He inferred that there was absolutely
no indication of ransacking of desk
drawers.
Lau Wah today denied that he had
entered either the chambers OF Judge
Dole or Judge Clemens through the
transoms on the morning in question.
He said that he had had his keys on
that morning. Marshal Smiddy point
ed out that, on one occasion, Lau Wah
lost his set of keys and was Obliged
to purchase a new set at his own ex-
pense.
It was further pointed out that no
money is kept in either Judge Dole
or Judge Clemens chambers. Judge
Dole said that the alleged burglar"
might have been looking for money:
that he certainly was not looking
for law books. :" Marshal Smiddy
classed the mystery as a huge joke.
as did several other federal officials.
The marshal adhered to his theory
despite the denials of Lau Wah.
AS to. the report published this
morning that an official investiga-
tionr of the alleged attempted rob-
berry will be made, Horace W. Waugh
an. assistant district attorney, said
that he certainly would make an in.
vestigation II he believed there had
been an attempted robbery.
Mr.. Vaughan and Judge Clemens
went over the premises this morning.
but declined to make any statement
regarding their findings, if there were
any. They also questioned Lau Wah.
Thus far. however. nothing has been
missed from Judge Dole's or Judge
Clemens office.