Honolulu star-bulletin., 1916-04-05
JURIST HAS QUIT
BENCH; RUMOR HE
THUS THREATENED
Third Judge of LEGAL 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. G.
When confronted today with re-
port from an authentic 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.
"Wili you state the reasons for your
resignation?" the jurist was asked.
There Is no need TO state any
causes" he answered But | see no
reason why the fact that ] have ten
dered my resignation shonld not be
made pEblic."
Judge Stuart was asked to confirm
a report to the effect that he had stat
ed to q local attorney that he would
resign II the nominations of Chief JUS
tice A. g. M. Robertson and Circuit
Judge William L. Whitney we're con-
firmed by the senate.
There Is no need to say anything
about that, Judge Stuart said. Just
say that In an interview with Judge
Stuart as TO the probability Of his re-
signing, he stated that his resigna-
tion Eas alreadx, IN Washington. (.
The SIAr-Bmietfn learned today
from authoritative sources that some
Tina aso Jni1S Stuart iHformed the
department Of Justice that II Judges
Robertson and Whitney we're 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 q salt
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 governors s
demurrer 10 the complaint was sus-
tanned by Circuit Judge Ashford, thus
closing the matter as far as the lower
court was concerned. Judge Stuart
has ne7er taken the case to the su-
preme 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 fled with the department of
justice an affidavit in which, it is un-
defstood, the chief justice, Associate
Justice e. NJ. Watson, and Circuit
Judges Ashford AMI whitney were
fiayed While admitting at the time
that some such AFFIDAVIT had been
sent to Washington, Judge Stuart de-
clined to make 1t public.
Only recently Judge Stuart wrote an
open letter TO locei newspapers in
which he advocated commission gov
ernment for the territory OF Hawaii,
and 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.