Millennium Moments
IN the annals of Hawaii courtroom drama, the notorious "Massie Case" had it all. 'Massie Case'
A brutal beating and alleged rape. Racism. Violent death. Famous defense lawyer Clarence Darrow. And ultimately, lingering injustice.
On the night of Sept. 12, 1931, Navy wife Thalia Fortescue Massie disappeared for several hours after a party at the Ala Wai Inn. Found beaten with a broken jaw by the beach at Waikiki, Massie cried rape and claimed five "local boys" had attacked her. Charged with criminal assault were five youths: two Hawaiians, two part-Hawaiians and one person of Japanese ancestry.
That trial ended with a hung jury. But while awaiting a retrial, one of the defendants was kidnapped and beaten; another, Joseph Kahahawai, was kidnapped, beaten and shot to death in the rented Manoa house of Massie's mother, Grace Fortescue.
Though defended by the nationally renowned Darrow, then 75, four people in April 1932 were convicted of manslaughter for Kahahawai's death: Fortescue, Thalia's husband, Lt. Thomas Massie, and two Navy enlisted men.
Each was sentenced to 10 years' hard labor. But none of them went to prison.
Immediately after sentencing, the four were taken to the office of Territorial Gov. Lawrence M. Judd -- who quickly commuted their sentences to just one hour in the sheriff's custody.
City's population rises by 5 percent since '90
WASHINGTON -- Census Bureau figures released today show that the population of urban Honolulu was 395,789 last year compared to 377,059 in 1990 -- a 5 percent increase.That growth, however, was smaller than the national population increase of 8.7 percent. During the decade, Honolulu actually has dropped from 39th to 41st place on the list of the country's biggest cities.
The Census Bureau defines urban Honolulu as the area between Hickam Air Force Base and Makapuu Point.
Among the nation's 2,578 largest cities, 72 percent gained population between 1990 and 1998, and the rest lost population.
Although generally regarded as a healthy sign, population growth can be attributed to a variety of factors, said demographers.
Previous Census Bureau reports have found that Hawaii's historically high birth rates and low death rates, coupled with a high immigration rate, have helped offset a high rate of domestic migration to keep the state population growing slightly.
From 1990 to 1998, the state population rose 7.6 percent, from 1,108,000 to 1,193,000.
Correction
King Lunalilo's tomb is at the Kawaiahao Church grounds, not at the Royal Mausoleum as stated in June 17's "Millennium Moments."
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffTwo teens arrested in attack at Salt Lake
Police yesterday arrested two 16-year-old boys on suspicion of attempted murder in an alleged attack on a Salt Lake man.The man, 19, was hit on the head with a metal rod and stabbed near the left rib cage with a knife during a confrontation at his Likini Street residence.
Police arrested the boy who allegedly stabbed the man shortly after the incident was reported at 12:40 p.m. The second suspect turned himself in at the Kalihi substation at 5:30 p.m.
Tip leads to arrest in Guam bank fraud
A CrimeStoppers tip led to the arrest yesterday of a 26-year-old man wanted for defrauding a bank in Guam.Sinterson Linter was arrested at a Piikoi address by FBI Special Agent Tyrone Arnold, police Det. Letha DeCaires said.
Linter is being held on a no-bail federal warrant charging him with bank fraud. He and several others are accused of passing and forging stolen checks in the amount of $4,812.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
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