The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-06-11
Maui Men Charged
Stealing Cattle
Grand Jury Indicts On Evidence
Presented By Attorney-General
Irwin - BevinS Resents Implica.
tiOn-0ther Cases

The mystery connected with the
presence of Attorney General Harry
Irwin on Maui was solved, in part al
least, when the grand jury on Tues
day morning returned indictments
against ( Ulupalakua men for alleged
cattle stealing. The men indicted
are-Charles E. Thompson, Willie
Thompson, Mailani Morton and Willie
Malta.
Mr.. Irwin presented the evidence
upon which the indictments are based
to the grand jury, and so far as is
known this was the only matter which
he did bring to the inquisitorial body's
attention. Why the Attorney General
thought it necessary to supersede
County Attorney e. r. Bevins in the
matter is not at all clear to most per.
sons.
Attorney Enos Vincent, of the Maui
bar, worked up the evidence on which
the indictments were found, having
been appointed a special deputy for
the purpose.
When the End circuit court conven-
ed at 10 o'clock on Monday morning,
Attorney General Irwin announced his
intention to wait upon the grand jury
in person to present certain matters.
County Attorney Bevins interposed a
vigorous objection to the unusual pro-
cedure, denying the right of the
attorney general to go over his head
in such way, contending that amend
ments to the county act gave the
county attorney sole or first right to
handle matters before the grand jury.
In this he was overruled.
Bevins was clearly hot in the collar
over the matter. He declared that
such action was insulting and was ac-
tuated with intent to cast reflection
upon his integrity and character and
to leave him no way to defend him
self. He noted an exception to the
ruling of the court and stated later
that if possible to do so he will carry
the matter to the supreme court for
an opinion.
Charlie Thompson, one of the in
dicted men, has heretofor been a
client of Bevins.'
Try Cases Next Week
Following the returning of the in
dictments, which charge larceny in
first degree, the accused were arrested
on Tuesday afternoon, and on Wednes-
day morning they were arraigned,
pleaded not guilty, and trial Of their
cases was set for next Monday morn
ing.
The alleged calIle stealing took
place, according 10 the charge, on
January II, last, and consisted of one
red polled heifer and black bulls,
the property of Edgar Morton. Willie
Thompson is the son of Charles Il.
Thompson. Mailani Morton is Thomp-
son, seniors nephew. He is also
nephew of Edgar Morton, whose
cattle are alleged to have been
stolen.
1t is known that there has been
bad blood between a number of fam
lies in the Ulupalakua district for a
long time past, and it is probable that
the present case is elimination Of
some of this trouble.
Other Indictments
After the cattle stealing indict-
ments had been returned, the grand
jury resumed its investigations of a
of matters which this time
were presented to it by the County
Attorney, and Tuesday afternoon five
more true bills were returned as fol-
lows:
Territory VS.. Cleofa Ruiz, murder in
first degree.
Territory VS.. Roman Crespo, bur
glary in 1st degree q counts.)
Territory VS.. Chung Tai Kin, bur
glary in End degree.
Territory VS.. Kim Young Chin, lar
ceny in 1st degree.
Ruiz, who shot and killed another
Porto Rican named Frank Riva, at
Ulumalu, in the pineapple section,
some weeks ago, after the latter had
succeeded in getting his wife away
from Ruiz with whom she had been
living, was arraigned on Wednesday
morning. He entered a technical de-
murrer to the indictment, which was