Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-05
JURIST HAS QUIT
Bench, BELIEVED
ON CABLE NOTICE
Third Judge of Local Court Said
TO Resent Combinations OF.
Chief Justice Robertson and
Circuit Judge Whitney
WON'T GIVE REASON
BUT CONFIRMS RUM0R
Strained Relations Among Lo-
cal Wearers of Ermine Laid
to His 0utspoken Sentiments

Thomas B. Stuart. third Judge of
the first circuit court, Honolulu. has
sent his resignation to the department
OF Justice in Washington, ID. c.
when confronted today with a re-
rort from an suthentic source to the
effect that he was contemplating re-
signing. Judge Stuart simply stated
that HIS resignation is already In
Washington. 1t Is believed the resig-
nation went by cable either yesterday
or the Previous day.
"WiIl you state the reasons for your
resignation ?" the jurist was asked.
"Thece is no need TO state any
causes" he answered. But see no
reason why the fact that ! have ten
dered my resignation should not be
made public"
Judge Stuart was asked to confirm
a report 70 the effect that he had stat
ed to a local attorney that he would
resign II the nominations of Chief Jas
tice A. G. M. Robertson and Circuit
Judge William L. Whitney were con-
firmed by, the senate.
There is no need to say anything
about that" Judge Stuart said. Just
cay that In an interview with Judge
Stuart as 10 the probability OF his re-
signing, he stated that his resigna-
ton was already in washington"
The Star-Builetin learned today
from authoritative sources that some
time ago 5adge Stuart infofIned tse
department Of justice that IL Jlidges
Robertson and Whitney were retained
he would resign.
They were retained.
Strained relations with Circuit
Judges Ashford and Whitney, as well
as with Chief Justice Robertson and
Governor Pinkham, are believed to be
the reasons for Judge Stuart's resig-
nation. During the last year Judge
Stuart filed in circuit court a suit
against Governor Pinkham in which
he condemned the homestead policy
of the chief executive, following it up
with open letters to the press giving
further light on his own idea of the
homestead situation. The governor $
demurrer to the complaint was sus-
tanned by Circuit Judge Ashford, thus
closing the matter as far as the lower
court was concerned. Judge Stuart
has never taken the case to the SUI
IRENE court
Prior to the bringing of the suit, and
while the matters of the reappoint-
ments Of Chief Justice Robertson and
Judge Whitney were pending Judge
Stuart filed with the department of
justice an affidavit In which, it is un-
derstood, the chief Justice, Associate
Justice E. M. Watson, and Circuit
Judges Ashford and Whitney were
fiawed. While admitting at the time
that some such affidavit had been
sent to washington, Judge Stuart de-
clined TO make it public.
Only recently judge Stuart wrote an
open letter to local. newspapers in
which lie advocated commission gov
ernment for the territory of Hawaii,
end criticized the present territorial
government under Governor Pinkham,
as well as the government of the city
and county and the conduct of the To-
cal courts.
Yesterday afternoon the Star-Bul-
letin received a cablegram from its
Washington correspondent to the eff
feet that the reappointments OF Chief
Justice Robertson and Circuit Judge
Whitney had been confirmed by the
senate.
Since Judge Stuart says that his
resignation is already lin Washing
ton" it is presumed it went by cable.