The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-08-15
ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS
HONOLULU, Aug. 14-Proceedings
for the disbarment of E. r. Bevins,
county attorney of Maui, entered on
their second week before the supreme
court today with indications that they
will run on into next week for the de
fense still has eight or 10 witnesses
to put on the stand, it is reported.
Walter A. Engle, former treasurer
of Maui county was first witness call
ed to the stand, recalled after brief
testimony that was interrupted on
Friday. He told of his granting
license to Charles Thompson which
the prosecution had claimed was
wrongfully advised by Bevins. Engle
was a good witness for the defense.
The second and only other witness
to take the stand was Tom Brown
who was questioned at length as to
ownership of lands which were in
volved in the Boteilho case, another
subject involved in the charges made
by the Attorney general
Attorney Smith, one of the counsel
for the defense will have to go to
Hilo Friday with the board of public
utilities and it is not apparent that
the defense can finish before that
time
HONOLULU Aug. 15,-With the
completion of the testimony of John
H. Waiwaiole, former deputy sheriff
| for Maui, the territory rested its
case Friday in the hearing in supreme
court, on the petition for disbarment
! of f. r. Bevins, county attorney of
Maui and the defense took up its
side of the matter. Court was ad-
! journed at noon until 9 a. m. Mon
day.
Waiwaiole was recalled Friday
morning and questioned by Deputy
Attorney General Lightfoot as to the
conversation that was said to have
taken place in courthouse at Wailuku
! between Waiwaiole and Bevins on
! the morning of the day when Wal
waiole's case went to trial.
Under Lightfoot's questioning Wal
waiole told the court that he had
! gone to Bevins 'as a friend" to ask
him his advice in the case. Waiwai-
ole said that he informed Bevins that
he wanted to plead guilty and to tell
the court all that he knew. According
to Waiwaioles testimony today
Bevins replied:
Advised to Fight Case
"You might as well fight the case.
I'll try my best and see what l can
do for you"
Waiwaiole was subsequently con-
victed of conspiracy and served a
Jail term for appropriating money
seized in a gambling game.
With the dismissal of Waiwaiole,
Attorney Lightfoot informed the
court that "the informant rests" and
Attorney Arthur G. Smith, represent
ing Bevins, called D. T. Fleming as
his first witness, Fleming was fore,
man of the grand jury in the year
1918 told his version of the grand
jury investigation of the Waiwaiole
case, and continued under Smiths
questions, to give details of the hap
penings as result of which Bevins
was barred from appearing in the
court of Judge Burr due to remarks
Bevins was alleged to have made and
which the court interpreted as insult
ing to its dignity.
Fleming said that he had had q
conference with Bevins on this mat
ter and that he had advised BevinS
to get the best counsel possible anC
to make an endeavor to straighteT
matters out, believing that count!
business was suffering severely by
the absence of the county attorney
from court.
Reputation is Good
There then followed an eXamina
tion into the character of Bevin
as it is known on the island of Mau
Fleming said that 80 per cent of tn,
people there held Bevins reputation
for honesty and integrity as absolute
ly unquestionable. The other 10 pc
! cent, or those who differed from tn
: general opinion on the subject, h
said were persons "who didn'
! amount to much" In regards t
Bevins' conduct of his Office as t
fairness, impartiality and integrit!
Fleming said the opinion also wa
held that Bevins' actions were abov
question.
At this point the witness was turn
? ed over to Attorney Lightfoot VIII
t probed the matter of Bevins cha"at
ter thoroughly. Fleming was asEe
t how he came to the opinion thG
2 Bevins' character was unquestionabl
and the tUitnaGg panliaa haf