Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-26

TRIED TO
LAY BLAME ON
MRS. FRANCIS

When F. V F. Baker. former pur.
ser on the Ventura, we'll known in
Honolulu. charged with bringing S2S,
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 ar San
Francisco. Mrs. Francis was brought
from the Naval Hospital, where she
has been on account of her simpend
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 immedi
ately after his arrest. He declared
the prisoner had acknowledged carry
ing the packages of gems on to the
wharf where the steamship Ventura
docked, throwing them into a waste
can, and from there removing them al
night. Mrs. Francis, wife of Sydney
gem dealer, was a passen-
ger in April on the Ventura,
The gems. including famous So.
200 black opal, we're Struggled ashore
April IS. Mrs. Francis was arrested
by Tidwell May l, 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-
fendant displayed nervousness, at
times pretending to read a newspaper
With show of indifference to his sur
but glancing out furtiyely
rom behind the pages. While on the
stand he frequently smiled
at the jury. ..."I
... ..-..: - .-.
Caught His Sea Serpent.
A member of the Big Stove club or
Bath, Me-. told the following expert
ence VITA sea serpent. He was at
he wheel of his little fishing schoon-
sr in Long Island Sound when he
heard a swishins sound behind his
ressel. Peering behind he could just
make out the long, sinuous body oil
/ sea serpent with an enormous head
md a pair at flashing eyes. The SER
,ent, however, kept his distance. The
text morning the sailor found that
ope from the schooner had become
in lobster trap and had
owed it up the Sound.
.teamer Hall on Special Mission.
A marked increase in sugar await
ng shipment at Ahukini, Kauai,
,aused the Inter-Island to despatch the
steamer w. e. Hall on special trip
o the Garden Island today. The YES
iel returned before daylight to be
of 5000 sacks of products.
I left the port few hours later and
s due to land another large consign-
nent of sugar tomorrow. II is ex-
,ected to steam to it's regular ports of
all next Monday evening.
p
70 Neutral Line Says BalIin.
1t is denied from Hamburg that
Herr BALM has plans to establish
lew steamship line. with neutral YES
els, between New York and Hamburg.
lie admits that the income of the Ham
urg-American line since the outbreak
# the war has been small, but says
hat the company's financial reserves
re SO huge that, even If the war last.
d 10 years, the English could not
uin his business, with its 200 ships.
1884, -#--
Iasten Efforts to Move Crops.
Two freighters to load at Hilo will
axe $4,000 tons of sugar to both
casts of the mainland The Matson
teamer Francis Hanify, an arrival
rom the Pacific coast yesterday,
teamed to island portz last evening.
he American-Haw freighter
exam is expected to take the last of
1 800 tons of sugar at Hilo today. 1t
ill proceed to New York via Panama.
ew Passengers in Steamer Lurline.
The following wireless message has
cen received by the agents of the
!. S. Lurline. boUEd for Honolulu: For
honolulu. 80 passengers, 80 bags mail.
packages w. F. X matter. 10 auto
1obiles, 1876 tons cargo. For Kahu /
ii, 1873 tons cargo. Ship arrives Tues
ay and will dock at Pier Is. -. r. |
hiIIips Leaves Ship for Shore.
p T. Phillips, purser in the steam |
r Mauna Kea. temporarily took over
re duties of HiIo representative of
Ie Inter-Island Steam Navigation Co,
, the absence of William Mckay, /
lanager. who has made a flying trip
} Honolulu. Freight Clerk Thompson
as substituted as purser in the Maui |
a Kea while Phillips remained ashore
m "a. E:1 Al