HAWAIIAN TRIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 49, 28 January 1932, Page 7

HAWAIIAN TRIAL.

INDICTMENT BY JURY,

HONOLULU, Jan. 26.

An indictment on a charge of seo-and-degree murder, arising out of the killing of the Hawaiian youth Kahahawai, was voted against Mrs Forttescue, Lieutenant Massie,. two naval enlisted men, Albert _Jones and Edmond Lord, after the" Grand Jury had deliberated for ten hotirs. The arraignment date has not been set. ' This action removes the possibility of the death sentence being passed,, as the maximum penalty for this offence if life imprisonment, and the’ minimum 20 years. ;-, ;■ ! Also, it is now possible for the United States Navy to assume jurisdiction over all except Mrs Fortescue, according to a gentleman’s agreement with the local authorities providing the Navy’s jurisdiction aver the Navy personnel in cases not involving capital punishment. There is to be a conference to-night on this subject. . Mrs FortescuO, being a civilian, must submit to a civilian trial. The defence will move on Wednesday to quash the indictment on the ground that the Court coerced the Grand July. \ ' -SYlien the Grand Jury reassembled earlier, Judge Cristy revealed that the jriry on Friday had presented a report whioh he had refused to accept. . ;,; The Judge issued new instructions admonishing the grand jurors to put aside the personal prejudice which had hitherto interfered in their voting for the indictment.

i Mrs Fortescu© and Liteutenant Massie, of the United States Navy, are ■to - be charged with the murder of a youth, Kabahawai, who, late last year, was acquitted of a charge of criminally assaulting Mrs Massie, daughter of Mrs Fortescue. ' ■,