► Court News From Waimea, Hawaii

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 Morning Star Missionaries

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Thursday, January 22, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"

     Treasured in the collection of family letters preserved by young David Forbes are those of his grandfather, the Reverend Alexander O. Forbes, written to his wife Maria Jane Chamberlain.

     The Reverend Forbes was the son of missionaries Cochran Forbes and his wife was the daughter of missionaries Levi and Maria Patton Chamberlain.

     The letters speak of changing fashion. Whereas the missionary parents had addressed their mates as "Dear friends," or "Dear companions" their children addressed their's as "My darling wife" or "My dearest one."

     Reverend Forbes signed himself "Ever your own."

TRAVELS MUCH
     As a missionary, Reverend Forbes traveled a great deal about the Islands and wrote letters at each stop to his "dearest one."

     In the letter written from Honolulu June 18, 1877, he gives us a picture of another set of missionaries - the Hawaiians who went to the Marshall Islands. His news is interesting as it concerns Missionary Simeon P.K. Nawaa, father of the present  Simeon K. Nawaa who is living today at the age of 88.

     "I preached at Kaumakapili in the morning - the people at Kaumakapili were very cordial - they send a great deal of aloha - the old church is kept in good repair, and looks very nicely.

SHIP SAILS
     "The Morning Star got off last Thursday - Dr. and Mrs. Pease, Mrs. Logan and adopted child, Rev. S. P. Kaaia and wife, and Mr. Nawaa & wife went in her.

     "Nawaa, you know, has married the widow of his brother, Kahelemauna, who returned her in the M. Star last trip. -  Nawaa sent a great deal of aloha to you.

     "I met Lukia (Princess Ruth) there that day and have seen her twice since - she appears more steady and does not look so hard and dissipated as she did. I have not been able yet to find out anything about her present mode of life."

     Next: Court News

► Stylish Missionary Wedding: 1855

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Monday, January 19, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"

     The early missionary families formed a close circle of friends further cemented when their children attended Punahou school.

     The children became lifelong friends such as Mary Jane Chamberlain, daughter of Levis Chamberlain, and Abigail, daughter of Dr. Dwight Baldwin.

     When the girls were separated, they wrote letters relating the gossip and latest news to each other.

     The intense interest taken in each other's affairs is reflected in a letter written by Mary J. Chamberlain to "Dear Abbie" in May 1855.

     "I must be up betimes tomorrow, for I am going to help Anna C. make her last dress on her wedding list. This is her last week as Miss Clark - she is to be married Saturday eve'g in the annual meeting of the H(awaiian) M(ission) C(hildren's) Society.

INTERRUPTED
     The letter interrupted by the session of the General Meeting of the mission and resumed a week later. The young people being married were Orramel Gulick, son of Reverend P. J. Guilick and Anna Clark, daughter of Ephraim Clark.

     About the wedding - Anna is now no longer a girl like us - but a married woman. She did look sweet dressed in simple muslin which however was made elegantly.

     She had two skirts & the upper was looped up at .... with white satin ... text is unclear

     ...Reverend Mr. Strong. After it was through the bridal party sat down, & remained through the meeting allowing those who sat near to have a good view - the house was very full - 

     "Immediately after the bridal party left for Mr. Clark's - where a few friends were invited to stop in and present wedding  congratulations & eat cake. - Our family was one of the privileged & we spent fifteen to twenty minutes there."

     NEXT: Death of Lunalilo.