Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 171, 14 April 1891 — The Old Nick in Hilo. [ARTICLE]

The Old Nick in Hilo.

One fine.mormng jn Hilo the polke court was dispensing just!ee. It was a case of Sngar Co. ts. S«rf. A young lawyer, Mr. Huntsmaii, said that he wished to appear for the defendant. Then rose the plantation lawyer, Mr. Hitchcock, and Said that Huiitsman had no nght to appear in the case; the dtfendant did not want a lawyer. The t)risoner, being interrogated, said that he had employed the gentleman in questiou as his attorney. He was officially lnformed that he would have more pilikia qn tha{ aeeounl. He was cross examined, but per- * sisted in saving that he wanted a lawyer. Agam he was reminded that it would be worse for him. Then the judge asked the prisoner's eounsel what plea h© wou!d enter fn behalf of his client. Mr. Hitchcock aid th i l lawver h*d nothmg t©. d > with it; the Japanese must plea& guilty ox not guilty. The opposing c«unsel insisted that, jt being a civil case he had a right to speak for his client. The digcussion grew heated; Hitehcock orderfed the Jap . to stand up; his lawyer told him to sit down. At this ju ncture Hitchcock's brother, the sheriff, rushed across the room in a cioud of profanity and seized the offending lawyerbytbe throat t and cal!ing to the polieemen, eried fiercely, "Another word and you go*to jaii. ,; After some difficulty Mr. Huntsraan was allowed to leave the co«rt roo in. As soon as he had departed the Japauese was quietly and expeditiously fined and the business of the court resumed.

There is nothiag remarkable in this incident;such things aiu eomon in Hilo. Our reason fot publiahing - that both the present Attor»ejGeneral and his deputy wer» prssent; and though they exf>ressed their d sapproval at the time, itappear& that they officially approveef~ that brotherly eombination to * vent eompeUUon,