Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-04
GRAND Jury ASKED
!. TO PROBE IWILEI
BY JUDGE ASHFORD
Letter From City Attorney
Suggests Course; Jurors
Called for Monday
Y. AHlN IN COURT BUT
CASE IS POSTPONED
Arrested Yesterday, Released
Without Bail; His Hearing
Set for November 8


inc conducted against commereialized
vice include the calling Of the grand
Jury by Circuit Judge Ashford to- meet
Monday, when he will recommend that
IL investigate certain matters pertain
e ing 70 lwliei, following . letter from
the city and county attorney made
public today.
Y. Ahin was arraioned in police
court on charges Of conducting q
house Of iII fame 10 lwIIei and the
case postponed to November 8.
The city attorneys office indicates
THAT u will not allow counsel for the
anti-vice committee 70 assist Ia prose-
cutting In the Ahin case.
Sheriff Rose denies that he eneour-
ages inmates to remain In IwiIei, but
admits that he has told some Of them
that they had nothing to worry about.
n. Mlyake, for many years a resi-
dent here, 10 refused readmission from
Japan and takes appeal 70 the secre-
tary Of labor. Miyake's wife was ar
rested on charges Of conducting q
lodging house az q disorderly house
and the case against her was noile
pressed today.
trict at Iwilei should be abolished or
maintained is question which VIII be
laid before the territorial grand jury
at O'Clock 'Ieyt Monday afternoon for
investigation.
Circuit Judge Ashford on Friday no
titled the members Of the jury that
they would be wanted In court Moa-a
day. Recommendation that the in
quisltors be requested to Investigate
matters pertaining to Iwilei were re-
ceived by Judge Ashford on Friday in
letter from City Attorney Arthur NJ.
Brown.
The letter, which Is self-explanatory
and which was made public by Judge
Ashford and City Attorney Brown to-
day, is as follows:
"ln view OF the recent agitation
against, and more or less publicity
concerning the so-called Iwilei dis
trict, wherein 1t is generally under
stood that prostitution, under certain
regulations concerning health and the
maintenance of law and order. is be-
ing carried on, and in view of the
further fact that this office may be
called upon by certain citizens oppos-
ed to the maintenance of any such re-
stricted district, to prosecute all such
offenders and the owners ofithe prop
erty used for the purpose OF public
prostitution Within such district
Public Opinion Divided"
And in view further that pubic
opinion is apparently divided as to
whether such RESTRICTED district
should be tolerated as it has been in
the. past, as so-called necessary
evil would yely respectfully request
that this entire matter be made the
subject OF most thorough investiga-
fton by the grand jury of this circuit,
u nd their attention called to the same
1y you officially. with the end in view !
that such grand jury. as representing
public opinion in so far as the enforce
ment of law and order is concerned.
may make such recommendations con-
cerning the abolition or maintenance
of this so-called restricted district as
will enable this office and the police
department, working together to car
ny cut TO the fullest extent the recon-
mendations Of this body Of public citi-
zens concerning this alleged evil and
all matters connected Herewith"
Ahin In Police Court
Y. Ahin, alleged owner Of disorderly
houses in lwilei, was arrested yes
terday and arraigned in police court
this morning and then developed what
may prove to be a feature of the en-
tire effort to close the disorderly dis
trict. It appeared that the city and
county attorneys office will refuse
to allow any handling OF the case ex-
cept by its own staff.
Robert w. Breckons, who has been !
engaged as counsel by the anti-vice !!
committee, appeared in court and said |
that at the instance Of several reput- |
able gentlemen Of the community he |
has been asked to look after the legal |
aspects of the fight on Iwilei and that |
he had requested OF the city attorn-
ey's office TO allow him to appear as
assisting in the prosecution of the
cases which might be brought up. He /
said indications were that the city
attorney would refuse to allow this.
fS Breckons said later that he would
9dress a letter to City Attorney |
Brown to ascertain the latter's exact
attitude.
Ahin was arrested and released on |
his own without bail
Rose Explains Position
Although some houses were dark
last night, Iwilei showed little sign
of a general closing. most of the in
mates now awaiting the outcome Of
the Ahin case. Sheriff Rose says he
has been asked BY several inmates of
that district If the police were going
TO close their places and that he told
them the position of the police was
(Continree on page two) !