JUSTICE IN HONOLULU

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 241, 10 September 1929, Page 8

JUSTICE IN HONOLULU

THE DISTRICT COURT. COMMON-SENSE METHODS USED. While in Honolulu a local resident was introduced to Judge Steiner, of the District High Court, by Mr M. A. Eliott, of Palmreston North, who also was on a visit to the city, and both the New Zealanders, being Justices ol the Peace, were invited to take seats on the Bench beside the Judge one Monday morning. This gave tneni a good opportunity of comparing Court procedure and practice with that existing in New Zealand. It should be mentioned that the District High Court in Honolulu compares in status with stipendiary magistrate’s courts in New Zealand, and the procedure is much the same, except that the Crown Prosecutor calls the cases in order instead of a clerk of the court. The former’s advice and suggestions as to adjournments are usually accepted by the Judge and advocates (solicitors). This Court deals with such cases as gambling charges, infringement of automobile regulations, maintenance charges and minor offences. The morning the New Zealanders were present 75 cases were listed, including 15 for gambling, all. with one exception, forfeiting a bail of 10 dollars, and in each of these cases no further action was taken. The gambler who put in an appearance got off with a tive-dollar fine.

The prosecutor, Mr Haneburg, is a young man of about 30 years of age, being of German and Hawaiian extraction. He was born in the Islands. He is a most able official, as he proved in a case in which a clever Hawaiian advocate appeared for a Chinese who was charged with a serious breach oi the automobile regulations which resulted in a collision between defendant’s motor cycle and a motor car. COURT PRACTICE.

The practice of the District Court also differs from New Zealand Courts in another direction, viz., the court sits at 9 a.m. for an hour. Then there is a’ short session or interval during which the officials retire to their rooms for a rest or smoke. At 10 o’clock the Court sits for another hour, and again a brief rest.

A lady stenographer takes a complete record of the proceedings in .northand, and there is a check on her work by other officials in order to avoid errors. Few notes are taken by the Judge who displays leniency where contrition is sincere, but penalties are severe in cases where defendants have been previously before tho Court for .ecldess driving of automobiles. A case in point was that of a seaman from one of the American warships who was sent to gaol for 21 days for careless ingjudge Steiner, in discussing the court work with the New Zealand visitors, said: “We use common-sense methods in our work in this Court, and every defendant is encouraged to show the right traits of citizenship, but with those who are careless of the public weal we impose punishment of a nature which will help them to see the need of reform.” Judge Harrv Steiner, who is a son if Mr J. Steiner, who went to the Islands in the early days and proved one of its most successful colonists, extended a hearty welcome to the New Zealanders and invited them to pay rurther visits to his Court. VISIT TO GAOLS. In the afternoon, through the courtesy of Judge Steiner, tho visitors met Sheriff Gieuson, who arranged for them to pay an immediate visit to the two Honolulu gaols, placing his car at their disposal. The New Zealanders were accompanied by Mr Smith, a member of tue detective force, and, incidentally, it may bo mentioned that the acting-chief detective of Honolulu (Mr Mclntosh) was formerly in the Police Force in New Zealand and South Africa. He had at different times been stationed in Devonport (Auckland) Hamilton and the Wairarapa. I'h'j first gaol visited was Iwilei, in the hec.it or the city, which accommodates* prisoners serving terms of imprisonment up to twelve months. The gaol is scrupulously clean, but few of the cells were occupied, most of the prisoners being out exercising. The prisoners prepare their own food, the kitchen being a model of cleanliness. Kindly treatment is shown to the inmates from the head warder down to the humblest official. The next gaol visited was Oahu, on the edge of the city, where longsentence prisoners and others held tor trial for serious crimes are incarcerated. The New Zealanders visited the dark cells where several hardened criminals were awaiting trial. In one of the cells was a young Japanese named Fukunaga, who is awaiting execution for the murder of a young boy, Gill Jamieson last year and whose appeals have been carried tiom court to court and will be finally heaid by the Supreme Court of the united States this year. Execution in this case will have been delayed over one year. While the last appeal has yet to be heard, thfi authorities are of the opinion that ■it cannot be sustained and that Fukunaga will meet his punishment before the efid of the year. The execution chamber was visited where the grim preparations for the execution have already been made. The rope used in the last execution, in March of this year was still hanging from the beam DESPERATE CRIMINALS. Two desperate criminals had escaped from this gaol the previous night by cutting through the bars of their cells with a hack saw, which had been smuggled to them. This prison was erected many years ago by prison labour and an investigation has shown that in some instances soft steel had been used instead of a higher grade article. This is being immediately remedied. One of the prisoners who escaped—a Filipino named Candido—is a desperate character, and capture without the use of arms is not exP6 The d party also visited the/gaol yard where large numbers of Oriental prisoners were taking exercise, some engaged in plaiting belts and making other articles which are sold on their behalf. Prison clothes are made in prison tailoring shops, also police uniforms. Prisoners also make boots and shoes. There is a hairdresser’s shop, laundry, baths, hospital, surgery and a dental room. Prisoners are graded according to conduct, and those who are exceptionally well behaved are known as “trusties,” descending in scale to more hardened criminals who are given solitary confinement in dark cells. Treatment on the whole is lenient. The warders are unarmed and in many cases prisoners are known to mistake kindness for weakness.