The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-12-13
Maui Boy Charged
With Killing Man
Off Eagle Boat
Louis Lake Admits Hitting
Member of Engine Crew
Who Afterward Died In
Puunene Hospital.

Louis Lake is under arrest for COM
plicity in the death of H. T. White,
member of the engine crew of Eagle
boat 5S. White was found in semi
conscious condition at the entrance of
Claudine wharf about $3.50 Sunday
morning by five sailors from the boat,
taken to Puunene hospital and died at
$3.50 yesterday morning. Lake was
taken into custody yesterday after
noon and shortly after o'clock told
his story of the affair. Previously the
stories going about were to the effect
that White had been assaulted and
robbed.
Sheriff Evolves Story,
The story of the affair as Sheriff
Crowell has evolved it, is in effect
as follows:
White had shore leave and came up
to Wailuku and had an appointment
to meet friend from off ship but
missed him. On Market street White
met Ned Nicholas and told of missing
his engagement. He asked Nicholas
to get together some Hawaiian boys
who could sing and take him for a
drive. Nicholas got together a party
of seven and they started out.
White asked Nicholas to drive first
to Kahului to pick UP couple of
others from the naval craft. When
they did not come ashore White said
1t made no difference as they had no
money any way. The party drove
about at various places for drinks.
White displayed a purse with con-
siderable sum of money and seemed
careless in the handling of 1t. Before
his death he Is reported to have said
that he had $65 in the purse which
was missing when he was found. Mem
bers of the party say they saw him
slip 1t into his blouse pocket after he
was warned to be more careful of it
and he Is said to have replied that he
could look after himself.
About midnight the party came UP
to Wailuku and all but two of the
party dropped off on the way up. Nj
cholas says he intended to put White
up at the Grand Hotel for the night
but on arrival there the sailor missed
his hat and said he must go back for
it. The party then consisted of White,
Louis Lake and Harvey Cornwell.
White said he must get his hat and
they drove back to the place where 1t
was thought he had left 1t and it was
found and given to him. He then said
he must go aboard ship.
Trouble over Payment
After one o'clock the party reached
Claudine wharf and White got out.
Putting his hand in his pocket he drew
out some silver and handed it to Nj
cholas who told him that was not
enough for three or four hours driv-
ing. White is said to have replied
that it was all he had. Lake and
Cornwell say that Nicholas opened the
door and started to get out from be
hind the wheel and that Lake jumped
out from the back seat, struck White
and knocked him down. Cornwen Is
reported to have said that Lake help
ed the fallen man up and struck him
again, knocking him down a second
time. Lake is reported to have ad
mitted hitting him once and to have
said he intended only to prevent a
fight between White and Nicholas. II
Is agreed that they then lifted him
again and when he did not stand
went away and left him. They say
they did not think he was badly hurt
but thought he was very drunk.
Lake says he had no intention OF
killing or seriously injuring White but
merely wanted to prevent fight be-
tween Nicholas and his passenger.
Sailors Find White
1t was more than an hour later that
the sailors found him. He was then
semi-unconscious and later said he
remembered nothing after the auto
mobile ride, did not even remember
leaving the car. He was taken to the
hospital and fingered for more than a
day. The autopsy showed fracture OF
the skull in front and on top. The
body was taken to Pearl Harbor last
night.
White is said to have been about AZ
years of age, married. and leaves
widow and two children in Kansas
City.
Cornwell appears to have been in
volved only so far as that he was q
member of the party and in the car
when the affair occurred at the en-
trance to the wharf.