The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Friday, January 23, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"
The Reverend Alexander O. Forbes and his wife Maria Jane Chamberlain were living in Hilo in 1878 when Mr. Forbes called to serve as a juror on circuit court cases.
The Circuit court traveled in those days and held sessions in each important town. Natives could ask for a jury of all white men or half native and half white.
BUSY TIME
At the end of the 1878 session Mr. Forbes wrote his wife:
"This has been a long busy session of the court. Folsom was unanimously acquitted by the jury, on the charge of manslaughter -
"The case of Atai and the two other Chinamen taken up to Hilo last May for smuggling opium, was tried. One of the three plead guilty, and the other two where acquitted...It was a sharp dodge, for the jurymen have since said that they let those two off under the idea that the one who pleaded guilty exonerated them.
"The verdict certainly was an unexpected one. However, they have already had six months imprisonment and it is hoped their opium den will be broken up.
"Today the whole day has been occupied with a trial from Hamakua between C(harles) Notley and a native named Nainoa. It is the culmination of a series of difficulties going on between them for nearly two years past.
"The verdict of the jury which was half native and half white was in Notley's favor - giving him damage of $100 instead of $1000 which he claimed.
FORTY CASES
"Tonight they are having an evening session to finish up on the divorce cases - there were nearly forty divorce cases on the calendar - they have already disposed of a good many.
"Although there have been between 60 and 70 cases on the calendar at this term - They have had two evening sessions, and this makes the third; working as late as ten o'clock each time.
"I have got myself excused this evening as I have quite a cold - I am now using diluted carbolic acid for my throat."
Next: A coal stove.
The Reverend Alexander O. Forbes and his wife Maria Jane Chamberlain were living in Hilo in 1878 when Mr. Forbes called to serve as a juror on circuit court cases.
The Circuit court traveled in those days and held sessions in each important town. Natives could ask for a jury of all white men or half native and half white.
BUSY TIME
At the end of the 1878 session Mr. Forbes wrote his wife:
"This has been a long busy session of the court. Folsom was unanimously acquitted by the jury, on the charge of manslaughter -
"The case of Atai and the two other Chinamen taken up to Hilo last May for smuggling opium, was tried. One of the three plead guilty, and the other two where acquitted...It was a sharp dodge, for the jurymen have since said that they let those two off under the idea that the one who pleaded guilty exonerated them.
"The verdict certainly was an unexpected one. However, they have already had six months imprisonment and it is hoped their opium den will be broken up.
"Today the whole day has been occupied with a trial from Hamakua between C(harles) Notley and a native named Nainoa. It is the culmination of a series of difficulties going on between them for nearly two years past.
"The verdict of the jury which was half native and half white was in Notley's favor - giving him damage of $100 instead of $1000 which he claimed.
FORTY CASES
"Tonight they are having an evening session to finish up on the divorce cases - there were nearly forty divorce cases on the calendar - they have already disposed of a good many.
"Although there have been between 60 and 70 cases on the calendar at this term - They have had two evening sessions, and this makes the third; working as late as ten o'clock each time.
"I have got myself excused this evening as I have quite a cold - I am now using diluted carbolic acid for my throat."
Next: A coal stove.
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