Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-28
Federal Grand Jury Returns
"No Bill" in Case of Ex-Sol-
dier Charged With Recruit
ing for Allies; He Had Plead
ed Guilty

Honolulu's first and only war plot
the alleged attempt to recruit local
men for service with the fighting
forces of the Allies-colIapsed at ii
O'Clock this morning when the federal
grand jury returned mo bill'' against
Guy B. RandeIl, held as the purported
''recruiter."
The grand jury, however, did not
dispense with the handell case by
merely refusing TO indict him. In a
communication TO Judge Charles +.
Clemons, signed by Foreman Elwood
e.. Wilder, the inquisitors state that
they are of the opinion that Randell is
mentally unbalanced, and that the con.
dition OF his sanity be investigated.
Following Is the text of the commu.
nication:
After Investigating the case of Guy
b. Randell, charged with Illegally re-
cruiting for q foreign country, the jury
Is OF the opinion from the testimony
presented, that the individual is
mentally unbalanced and recommends
that the matter Of his sanity be looked
into"
The Randell case is peculiar N that
two other persons arrested with the
defendant were speedily dismissed,
and that Randell himself entered a
formal plea OF guilty at the prelimin.
airy hearing of his case before U. 5.
Commissioner George s. Curry. The
other persons arrested were w. r. Sell
igsen, proprietor of the New York
Dress Company on Union street, and
a former soldier named Jefferson. JEFF
ferson was released for the reason
that he assisted the city attorneys
office In working up the case against
Randell; Seligsen, because the COM
missioner was unable to find sufficient
evidence to warrant his being bound
over to the grand jury.
Il was charged against Randell that
on or about February 20. this. years
he attempted 70 hire Eorpls. John lry.
Ing and ]. F. Greelish of the 4th Cav
airy, schofield Barracks, to enter the
service OF the British army. In a
statement to the Star-Bulletin. Ran
dell stated that he did approach Gree
lish and Irving with recruiting prop
osition, but that he was doing it ITO
aid friend" presumably Jefferson.
atiawkshaw' Appears.
At the commissioners hearing, Ran
dell stated that the expenses of get
ting Irving and Greelish to Vancouver,
B. c., were to be paid by man
named Hawkshaw, who, according to
Randell. was q wealthy Australian far
mer. This check was made a part Of
the evidence at the hearing, but Com
missioner Curry made the statement
that, in his opinion, Randell had
signed the name '.Hawkshaw" to the
check. Randell also testified to hav-
ing hobnobbed with various high Aus
tralian officials travei1hg through Ho-
nolulu.
Irving and Greelish, however,
claimed that they had no intention of
deserting the army In response to RAN
dell's proposals. They informed their
commanding officer of what Randell
had told them, and were instructed to
''lead him on" until the proper Off
cials could take action.
Seligsen was arrested on the alle-
CATION that he had written a letter to
the effect that he would give Corpl
Irving q position after the latter had
purchased his discharge from the
army With "HavkEhaw's" money. Sell
igsen denied having written the let
ter. and gave testimony to the effect
that Randell had been employed by
the New York Dress Company for a
short while.
Randell has been confined in Oahu
prison since his arrest. being unable
to secure bond. Whether he will con-
tinue to be confined until an examin.
alton is made as to his sanity has not
YET been decided by federal officials.