Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-10-27
Sheriff and Jail Wardens Scout
Story Told BY Cough; An
other Witness Secured

City and County Attorney Brown
win have ready to present to the ter
ritorial grand jury tomorrow the sto-
ries of at least three witnesses in the
proposed investigation of county jail
conditions. This investigation, result
ing from the statements made to the
county attorney, as published yester.
day In the Star-Bulletin, deals with
the alleged liberties allowed the Nc
Grath-S cully- Boggs-Bo~er gang prior
TO the escape of McGrath from the
county Jail on the night OF April 80.
At least one more witness has been
secured by the county attorney. He
had both Fred Cough and George Will
colt, whose statements had already
taken, in his office today. presumab-
ly securing further details to pre-
sent to the jury.
Rumors were afIoat today that
Cough and Willcott were trying TO
get out Of town, also that they had
got out. The rumors were set at rest
by the appearance of the men when
they were wanted by the county at
torney. Rumors were also afloat of
influences that might be brought to
bear to prevent the men testifying
before the grand jury. presumably by
petsons who feared the testimony, but
both Cough and Willcott adhere to
their original stories and today de-
elared that they are ready to go be-
fore the jury at any time they are
called upon to do SO.
In the morning paper, DR.. r. G.
Aver, the jail physician, was quoted
as saying he thought Cough addicted
to drugs, and apparently an effort was
made to show that Coughs story was
that OF a drug-user. The Star Bulle-
tin, however, has the statements Of
both DR.. George F. Straub, who attend
ed Cough when he was taken to
Queens hospital to be operated upon
for apnendicities, and DR.. A. F. Plum,
the resident physician, and neither of
them know anything about a drug
habit II he has one-and they have
been in position to observe.
DR.. Straub said today:
There is absolutely no evidence
that Cough had any drug while under
my care, except the drugs necessary
for the operation for appendicitis and
the resultant treatment"
DR.. A. r. Plum, resident physician
at Queens hospital, who saw the pa
tient every day, says.
Cough was admitted to Queens
hospital on September 8, received the
regular surgical preparation, was OPP
Grated on next day, and according to
the charts, made an uneyentful re-
coyery.p
He corroborates DIR. Straub's state
ment that he had morphine during the
month while he was In the charge OF
the physicians.
Fern Dodres Responsibility.
Joseph j. Fern, jailor at the city and
county jail, and his deputy. w. x.
Punohu, disclaim responsibility for
the escape Of John ]. McGrath, April
30, when he made "clean getaway
from the jail and later from the
Islands.
Sheriff Rose sent two special
guards to watch Bower, Boggs, Nc
Grath, Ecully and Lewis" Fern stated
today. sThey were stationed at the
hospital, where the men were confined
by special order. At any time the
men could get out of the hospital and
it was the duty of these two officers
to watch them. The officers were not
always the same. Different officers
were on duty every night. On the
night OF the escape Officers Joseph
Lii and William e. Legros were sta
toned at the hospital to watch the
prisoners.
Cough was trusty. He was made
one at his own request, was put in
charge Of the dispensary, and was the
best treated prisoner we had.
Deputy Jailer Punohu gave graph.
ic account of the escape of McGrath
as Il was reported to him the night
the prisoner got away. Fern was
home sick at the time.
McGrath Went TO Take Bath.
OFFICER Legros was on the porch
here watching the door," Punohu
said. There is no other way out, ex-
cept by the window. Some of the men
were playing cards in the big room
here. Officer Joseph Lii was watch
ing them. In the next room, with the
door open, Cough, the trusty. was
standing near the bathroom door
where McGrath had gone for a bath.
Cough was sent to watch McGrath.
Lii, noticing that McGrath was gone
long time, called to Cough:
Is McGrath still bathing?'
Cough answered yes, and as the
water was running, Lii did not inyes-
tigate. In few minutes he began to
suspect something, and stepped in
and pushed open the door of the bath
room. There was no one there. Cough
had let McGrath escape.
"McGrath went out of the bathroom
window. We found his tracks on the
sand, and we know he went over the
fence, because the gate was closed.
Cough did not let McGrath out of the
gate for two reasons. He had no key
to open the gate, which is always