May 17, 1851: Letter from Attorney General to Dr. Greenfield

Below is a letter from the Attorney General, H.A.P. Carter to Dr. D.B. Greenfield dated May 17,1851.

Department of the Attorney General

Honolulu, H.I., May 17, 1881

Dr. C.B. Greenfield

Hamakua, Hawaii

Sir:

The Sheriff of Hawaii has informed the Marshal that you refused to answer to a subpoena served on you to attend the Police Court in Hilo –

I beg to inform you that the Police Magistrate of Hilo has criminal jurisdiction of the whole Island of Hawaii, and has power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses before him on the trial of criminal causes.

If a physician has critical cases in charge requiring his immediate and constant attendance, and his evidence is indispensable at the trial before the Court, a statement to that effect would authorize a postponement of the trial until such proper time as he could appear before the Court.

I write this as I apprehend that there . . .

2

[pencil: May 17, 1881]

Department of the Attorney General

Honolulu, H.I., _____, 187_

may have been some misunderstanding in the case referred to.

I am Respectfully Yours

H.A.P. Carter

Attorney General ad interim