The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-09-08
Authorities Believe They Have
Clue To Man Who Killed
George o. Cooper
INFORMATION LEADS TO
QUICK APPREHENSION
Oriental Had Worked On PIanta-
ton and Had Made Threats,
K Il Is Said

A Japanese laborcr. now under mr.
rest in Maui, is suspected of the m6r
der Of George o. Cooper. accord, no =,
information brought to this city yes
terday by B. +. Vickers, salesman n,
1heo. H. Davies & Co., who learned
of the arrest of the Japanese lust be
fore sailing in the Claudine or
Wednesday,.
According to the information
brought here, Coopcr's brotbor-inlou
saw japanese riding a gay horse
up the railroad track where The road
cuts across the main road. Tuon tho
approach of the brotherin.i law az
cooper the. Japanese whipped the
morse into gallon and rode rapidIv
toward Keanae. This was sbortIy
after the supposed time of the murder
and before Cooper's body had been
| found. '~F
Incident Is Recalled
Of Later, when the body of the Ham
man was found, his brother.in law "a.
| membered the incident of the deetino
japanese, and he was pursued and ar.
rested on the ditch trail half way TO
Keanae.
The name of the japanese now in
custody is not definitely known, but ia
supposed to be John Ginza and his re-
lahon to the tragedy, if any, was not
determined at the time the Claudine
sailed. All that Vickers could learn
was that the Japanese had formerly
worked on the plantation, but was
supposed to be in another part Of the
lSiahd at the time Cooper was slain.
Because Of thu fact that the pround
was torn up in the vicinity where thc
body was found it is believed that I,
struggle ensued before Cooper was
killed. Robbery as a motive for the
crime is no longer considered, because
when the body was found sixty dollars
aud twenty cents in coin and a check
for seVenty-fVe dollars was foInd in
the pockets of the murdered man. Or.
dinarily, it is said, Cooper took the
railroad for the Office of the transpor.
tation company, but for several DAYS
previous to his death he had gone bv
the much longer route of the regular
road.
NAoANOASo Vi hoNOubc
One of the theories current in Maui
is that Cooper was murdered for re.
venge. Capt. X. Williamson OF the
lnter-Island steamer Kaiulani, who ar
rived yesterday from Hama, is author.
ity for the report that in Hama it is be
heVed Cooper was put TO death in a
spirit of vengeance. Captain William
son said:
~ was told that the japanese was
positively identified by John Pokini.
a blacksmith : helper on the planta-
ton, as luborcr who had left the
plantation about twelve months ago,
and had sworn he would come back
and kill someone
1.-THE story being told in Hama yes
t"rday was to the effect that the jap
anese, whose name l was not told, had
been brought up as an orphan from
childhood by Hawaiian family. He
is said to be pure blOoded japanese,
and when arrested had a gun on him,
so I was told.'
The inquest. over the body of Cooper,
according to Captain Williamson, show.
ed that a struggle took place before
the man was done to death One of
the dead man = eyes was bruised and
his shoulder showed livid bruisc.
Record OF Ginza Wanted
Capt. Arthur McDuffie last night re.
c"iVed wireless from Maui askinu
for the record of a japanese named
John Gina, and it was presumed by
the chief of detectives that Gina is
the name of the japanese who is be-
ing held for the murder of Cooper.
A wireless also was received by
Deputy Sheriff Asch, asking for rec
ord of thirty eight caliber Harriug-
ton & Richardson revolver that has
fcen found and which is thought to be
the weapon used in the killing.
Local records show that Gina, who
attended the st. Louis college here
with Cooper, has been arrested several
times on charges Of burglary and re
ceiving stolen goods.